How do you stay marketable as a programmer?

While it is tempting and interesting to specialize in multiple areas, given the speed of change and advancement in the field, it is going to be very challenging to stay "marketable" and competitive in all. It is more achievable to pick an area or two and go deep; however, it is important to make sure you pick the most forward looking area to guarantee a longer run way. Pick your "niche" and try to stay on top of it. How? 1. Continuous learning 2. Continuous practice 3. Participating in community activities in both giving and receiving capacity 4. Create your own touch and make it visible to others to appreciate and promote it for you.

I’ve found that creating resources for others, such as articles and tutorials, are just as valuable (if not more so) than side projects/code applications. These written resources show that you have a deep understanding of certain topics, and that you’re able to share this knowledge with others.

Understanding that programming is not the end goal, it is just a tool. The best programmers are inherently good problem solvers and collaborate well within a team of varied skills, disciplines and levels of expertise. You are relevant/marketable when your skills can be applied to real-world (user) problems.

One way to do this is to always looks at the market trends and be connected with your peers to understand what's going on in the market. You may not know everything but you should understand the breadth of your area of work and go deep into areas that you are working upon. The market is ever evolving so the things that work today will be outdated tomorrow.

One of the best ways to stay marketable as a programmer is to learn new technologies. There are many different programming languages, frameworks, and libraries available, and it is important to have a strong understanding of at least a few of them. You can learn new technologies by taking online courses, reading books, or attending conferences and meetups. When choosing which technologies to learn, it is important to consider the following factors: Your interests: Choose technologies that you are interested in and that you can see yourself using in your career. Demand: Consider which technologies are in high demand from employers.

Drawing from my personal experience, it’s crucial to cultivate confidence in your expertise. Once you sense that assurance, empower yourself to broaden your skill set and enthusiastically seek out new challenges. Don’t shy away from exploring unfamiliar subjects, languages, frameworks, or technologies—it’s a key strategy to remain relevant in the ever-evolving market of technologies.

There are many reasons or incentives to learn a new language. As a developer, I have had to learn a new language because it was needed as part of the toolset and stack in a project I was involved in. As an instructor, I learned a new language because I was selected to teach junior devs that language, and its applications - building a real software with it. I saw this as a great opportunity for me to learn and earn; it was some huge motivation ??. Regardless, It is inevitable as a programmer to stick to a single language. You must learn new things and new tools. You must also learn to leverage any updated package or module and newer syntax to existing programming languages you know.

Throughout my tenure as a Software Engineer, specializing in .NET, C#, and Microsoft Dynamics, I've grasped the importance of diving deep into existing tech over merely chasing the latest trends. Integrating newer frameworks like React, Vue.js with established systems yields a potent mix of innovation and dependability. But it's more than just mastering a fresh language; it's the synergy they form with our known tools. Additionally, while tech knowledge is crucial, leadership and the ability to translate tech intricacies into actionable insights are paramount. Such a balance is the cornerstone for ushering genuine change and novel solutions.

This recommendation can be tempting, with each new job post citing a different language the developer rushes to learn it. But learning a language is more than just get used to a new syntax (which is usually really easy and fast to do). Learning a new language is also embracing a new ecosystem, with its own tools, communities, libraries, frameworks and best practices. Therefore, having proficiency in more than one language is interesting, but having a deep understanding of several languages and their ecosystems can be costly. Make this career choice with conscience, and don't jump from language to language all the time without good reasons behind this decision.

I don't recommend learn multiple languages doing the same thing. I recommend you use languages in your stack only in order not to waste time and make syntax errors due to different syntax of languages in your mind. Imagine you learned Java and C#, while writing code, you will make a lot of typos which will waste your time. But, if you're a Java developer, or C# developer, you can enhance your skills by learning frontend technologies like Angular or ReactJS for example.

For juniors who don't have projects to show in their portfolio, good advice will be to join open source projects. They will get good feedback on their coding skills, contribute to the community and gain good projects to showcase on their portfolio.

In my experience, curating a focused portfolio has proven essential. When I was captivated by a one-time React Native project, I strategically showcased projects that underscored my growth and adaptability within this niche. An illustrative example is when I undertook a complex BLE-powered mobile app side gig, architecting it from the ground up and progressively integrating new features that directly addressed potential employers' requirements. Always remember, prioritizing quality over quantity genuinely highlights your value.

This is a recommendation that can be interpreted in controversial ways. Usually who has an incredible portfolio is either: 1. A freelancer who works on several projects in a short time. 2. A student who has plenty of time to create sample applications but isn't really working yet. But the paradox is clear, a lot of people work on private projects with Non Disclosure Agreements for years, then have nothing to show when it's time to try a new job. Precisely for this reason, whenever I was recruiting developers, I gave very little importance to the portfolio as a whole, but total importance to check the candidates skills using other methods: good technical interview questions, async code challenges, live coding, etc.

Think out of the box to find ways to create your portfolio. Having time to write code in collaborative environments isn't for everybody. If this doesn't fit in your lifestyle, that's ok. There is always a way to show the great job you've done. Discuss with your leader how can you share something from your workplace without creating problems for the company.

Your resume should show a history of ever-increasing accomplishments and continually-increasing responsibility at each job. Whenever possible, describe the quantitative outcomes of each project. Avoid language that doesn’t accomplish these things For example, phrases like “worked on” doesn’t say much about your contribution or its impact for the company.

Don't join a community just because someone told you to do so. Look for people with the same goals and values as you. Look for a place where you can grow, but are comfortable enough to be yourself. The place where you find the solutions for most of your problems probably is the place where your community is.

Building your own community can significantly boost your marketability more than just joining one. As a community founder, you gain leadership skills, develop deeper connections, and tailor learning experiences. This initiative showcases your passion and expertise, setting you apart in the tech industry. Moreover, you foster innovation and collaboration, creating a diverse, inclusive environment that enhances personal and professional growth. Establishing your own community not only propels your career forward but also enriches the tech ecosystem, making it a highly rewarding endeavor.

One of the pivotal steps to maintaining your edge as a programmer is immersing yourself in a vibrant community. Engaging with peers offers support, inspiration, and constructive challenges. Such platforms pave the way for networking, collaborative learning, and fresh perspectives. But, it's essential to be selective. Join communities that align with your goals, niche, and personal interests, ensuring they foster growth and valuable feedback. For instance, game developers might lean towards communities centered around design, development, or testing across various platforms and genres.

I believe that active participation in communities allows you to get constructive feedback, access job opportunities and improve both your technical and interpersonal skills. Regular interaction with other members enriches your knowledge and contributes to the creation of a mutually supportive environment, which makes belonging to a community a valuable part of any programmer's journey.

Don't join an echo chamber/cult - you really don't want to be in the "if you only got a hammer everything looks like a nail". Remember the tech you are using has a specific niche, and oftentimes there are better tech for the job. I would very much recommend diversifying your sources.

If you solved a problem you couldn't find the solution online, share it. Teaching isn't just about giving lectures, is also about helping other people to solve their problems. Look for unsolved problems in the forums about the subject you are an expert, troubleshoot, and share the solutions.

Teaching others is a great way to both broaden and deepen your understanding. You will also develop your own communication skills whilst growing your credibility and influence. All of which helps you stay, relevant, humble and marketable.

For me this is the top strategy by far. You can try to assess your knowledge via courses or projects until you are blue in the face. But there is nothing like explaining things to somebody else that really tells you on the spot if you understand what you’re talking about or not. There have been many occasions where I thought I understood something but when I went to explain it I found gaps in my knowledge I wouldn’t have realized I had. When I learn to teach I tend to also retain material better than if I’m learning for a class or my own enrichment.

Being able to break down a complex, technical topic, into easily digestible pieces is a key skill that will allow you to bridge the gap between your technical and non-technical colleagues. This will be tremendously important in helping you to progress in your career. Additionally, being able to manage a classroom will be helpful when you need to manage your engineering team. As a teacher you must have the ability to read your students, for example, noting when they are not understanding, are tired, are confused, are un-motivated, are not learning properly because they are too cold or too hot. Similarly, as you move up in your career and start to manage people, you must be able to 'read' the team and respond their needs.

Programmers in my circle are mostly introverts and enjoy their own company - not open to public eyes or opinion. Really, believe when I say teaching others and being public with your approach, is one of the greatest challenge you will conquer as a programmer - if you decide to delve into this. What has helped me excel brilliantly at this is ensuring I only teach what I have solid understanding and experience in. This ensures I feel super confident throughout the session. 65% of my reputation is built on top of "Teaching Others to Code." This is proof that you can remain relevant in this industry by sharing your expertise knowledge on subjects needing attention. When you teach others, you build an indisputable reputation.

Fun doesn't negate responsibility or quality. Balancing fun with responsibility ensures that you continue to excel in your craft while finding fulfillment and motivation in your work. While dedication is essential, feeling drained or uninspired by your daily work could indicate a mismatch between your skills and interests. Don't just code for a paycheck, prioritize projects that spark your curiosity and creativity.

In my experience, the time when you become the best programmer is when you know know to solve a problem in multiple ways using multiple methodologies and you choose the most efficient and well designed code to implement it. It shows how knowledgeable you are in programming and also your thought process to solve a single problem in multiple ways. This capability puts you in the forefront of programmers and shows your intelligence.

Mastering programming thrives on transcending limitations, a catalyst for exponential growth. Often, the programming landscape seems like a repetitive cycle, offering solutions to varied projects. Reflecting on my diverse client projects in Go and Java, my initial enthusiasm waned into monotony. Yet, a eureka moment emerged: "What if I integrated Java and Python for microservices communication?" Though seemingly chaotic, this fusion sparked the most exhilarating and innovative coding experience in years. Embracing challenges and pushing boundaries is where programming ignites its most thrilling and rewarding moments in the industry.

Staying marketable in programming isn't just about skill acquisition but also passion preservation. Injecting fun into your programming tasks is crucial. It keeps motivation high, fosters creativity, and staves off burnout. However, ensure this doesn't compromise your responsibilities or the quality of your work. Dive into passion projects, tinker with emerging tech, or simply toy around with code. From crafting games, constructing chatbots, to puzzle-solving, explore using diverse tools and languages.

Learning is fun! Don't let the market scare you, especially those job platforms that insist on placing you in a only one very specific category (for example, you're either a web developer or a mobile developer, you can't inform to be both). They are wrong, simple as that. Stay curious and have fun on this journey through a field where new things appear every day, and where experimentation is not only okay, but also a lot of fun.

Aim for 1-3 courses per year. Divide this goal into multiple quarters. Prefer those online courses that allow you to engage with community. This practice will help you develop skillset and over time build connections with other engineers.

??#Education is #Investment???? ?Fact: Highly-skilled programming jobs like ??#Python and #CAD???#CAE are being automated by #GenerativeAI robots ??It is both #humbling and #exhilarating to watch because: ? 1??Humbling: Like cashiers and bank tellers before me, a big chunk of my #overall #programming #skillset has been assumed by ???? robots ? 2??Exhilarating: Since these programming tasks have been #automated, more time is spent on program design, project planning, systems engineering ??To #hedge this risk, #invest in your career with continuing #education and #networking ????#Education begets new skillsets & helps ??#earnings power Networking provides opportunities for those new skillsets #programming #software #jobmarket ??

As a programmer, continuous learning is essential. Keeping up with the evolution of technologies is crucial. However, here's a valuable tip: don't just limit yourself to theory. Engaging in practical projects provides an excellent way to truly grasp each new skill you acquire. Therefore, transforming ideas into side projects is a wise approach. This strategy not only enhances your skills but also enriches your portfolio, showcasing your passion and commitment. Moreover, you might even find enjoyment in the process! #StayCurious

ALWAYS write maintainable code. This might be an overstatement but there's some reality in it. When I go back and visit my previous projects on GitHub it's a complete mess, because there's no consistency, no documentation, leading to an un-maintainable codebase.

- Learn how to give a good presentation, and take every opportunity to present your work to people outside your group- ideally at VP level or higher. - Build a professional network who will vouch for the quality of your work and who will recommend you at their places of work. If you do nothing else, this will be by far the best strategy for consistent employment during your career. - Make a conscious effort to never stop learning, in particular things that are (or could be) of value to companies in your industry. Make sure your manager knows what you have learned, and document it on your annual performance reviews.