Here's how you can stand out as an entry-level Software Design professional.

To stand out as an entry-level software design professional, focus on mastering fundamental programming skills and understanding software design principles. Build a portfolio with diverse projects showcasing your skills. Contribute to open-source projects to gain experience and visibility. Stay updated with industry trends and technologies. Develop strong problem-solving abilities and a collaborative attitude. Network through events, online communities, and internships. Highlight soft skills like communication and teamwork. Continuous learning and adaptability are key to distinguishing yourself in this competitive field.

Another major skill to learn will be c#, though c+ would you give an edge in most modern programming language, but it definitely puts you on the top curve. And amidst all of the learning.. do projects , doesn't matter how small build task and understandomh git will make a whole lot of differences for you.

This can never do or be wrong, some once asked, is it really necessary to build a portfolio, and the enquirer was shocked at my emphatic yes, I simply replied with a question, would you rather to listen to what someone tells you In confidence or see that confidence practically at work.. a portfolio gives you a visual presence, just a little something to back up your words, it shows your practicality and sets you on edge amongst peers, employers and boost your own self confidence and there are free platforms offerinh services my personal preference anytime will be GitHub.io, best of luck

Creating a compelling portfolio is indeed a vital part of presenting yourself effectively to potential employers, especially in fields like design, development, and other creative industries. Personal Style: Your portfolio should reflect your unique style and personality. This personal touch can make your work stand out and give potential employers a sense of who you are as a designer or creator. Be authentic and let your individuality shine through your portfolio. Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Employers are interested in how you approach challenges and develop solutions. Include case studies or project descriptions that explain the problems you faced, your thought process, and the solutions you implemented.

Learning truly never ends, If you ever think it ended in school, then I am sorry to say you are delusional, as I was at some point, tired of the rigorous routine of picking up my research intuition but I every time I do I realized they become more sharepened, the more you learn the more vast you become, mostly in new trends, technology is ever evolving and so should you, being weary is part of the learning process but overcoming it is your ticket pass to the stars, recall again it's one thing to learn it's another to apply.. who knows you could probably find a niche in researching.

This is the mother of it all.. you can have all the essentials, necessary skills and knowledge but with no platform to exhibit this skills, it's likened to one who spent hours to make a meal and returns to self and complaining of hunger, you must be able to. Connect with other developers as yourself, collaborate, contribute and connect, this is one essential way to connect and there are lots of platform that gives you the opportunity to, linkedin for example, stackoverflow, GitHub and so on..

Constructive criticism never kills but moulds, words are powerful and it could put anyone at their worst or best, but in my years of experience I have learnt that it's mostly rest on the recipient, how you receive a thing matters way more than it's presentation, don't get me started on how some people have no idea on how to present, but the focus is on you, rather control what is within your reach than what you can't, you cannot control your employers, clients mood or words but you can control how you receive it, if you can adopt see everything around you as a facility and life has a training ground, it will give you a different perspective towards life, believe me this is coming From someone who has failed so much, persistence keeps me on

One addition would be to seek to understand the broader context. While you might have been assigned a narrow scope of tasks, understanding what the larger impact of the feature or feature set to the system and ultimately the customer is a differentiating factor between entry level programmers. You should always be able to answer the question "Why are you working on this?" if asked by a senior manager. College hires that do this are alsoable to operate more independently as they have the context to make decisions on their own without running to ask their lead for guidance. It also helps them develop and demonstrate strategic thinking