How can you develop new skills while working full-time in software engineering?

1 Identify your goals and interests

Before you dive into learning new skills, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and why. What are your career aspirations and how do they align with your current role and company? What are the skills that are most in demand and relevant for your domain and industry? What are the skills that you are passionate about and enjoy learning? Having a vision and a purpose for your learning will help you prioritize, plan, and stay motivated.

2 Make a realistic plan and schedule

Once you have identified your goals and interests, you need to make a plan and a schedule that fits your availability and lifestyle. You can use online platforms, books, courses, podcasts, blogs, or other resources to find the best way to learn the skills you want. However, you also need to be realistic about how much time and energy you can dedicate to learning without compromising your work performance and well-being. Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives and milestones for your learning and track your progress regularly.

4 Experiment and practice

Learning new skills is not only about acquiring theoretical knowledge, but also about applying it to real-world scenarios. To consolidate your learning and improve your confidence and competence, you need to experiment and practice as much as possible. You can use personal or professional projects, side hustles, hackathons, competitions, or other platforms to test your skills and learn from your mistakes. You can also use code review, pair programming, or other collaborative methods to enhance your skills and learn from others.

5 Review and reflect

Finally, to develop new skills while working full-time, you need to review and reflect on your learning journey. You need to evaluate your achievements, challenges, and gaps and identify areas for improvement or further exploration. You also need to celebrate your successes and reward yourself for your efforts. You can use journals, blogs, portfolios, or other tools to document your learning and showcase your skills. You can also use feedback, surveys, assessments, or certifications to measure your learning outcomes and impact.