Book Image

Developer Career Masterplan

By : Heather VanCura, Bruno Souza
5 (1)
Book Image

Developer Career Masterplan

5 (1)
By: Heather VanCura, Bruno Souza

Overview of this book

Written by industry experts that have spent the last 20+ years helping developers grow their careers, this book offers invaluable insights and guidance tailored to the specific needs of technical professionals. By discovering the secret of continuous learning and adapting in the ever-evolving field of software development, you’ll explore various learning paths with formal and informal methods, as well as gain an understanding of the value of certifications to validate your skills. This book will teach you the significance of building a strong support network, holding crucial conversations, and taking ownership of your career growth. You'll delve into acquiring both soft and hard skills, becoming a well-rounded and sought-after developer. Packed with practical examples, stories of successful developers, and real-world applications, the chapters will equip you with actionable advice on how to push beyond your comfort zone and embracing communities to enhance your teamwork abilities. Additionally, you’ll uncover the benefits of joining open-source projects, speaking at conferences, and building a personal brand to amplify your visibility and reputation. By the end of this book, you'll have a well-laid-out long-term and short-term plan for your career progression, equipping you with advanced technical skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to effectively manage relationships within your organization.
Table of Contents (21 chapters)
1
Part 1 The Basics: Learn and Practice the Technical Skills
7
Part 2 Get Involved: Participate in the Community
13
Part 3 Create Impact: Share and Lead

Time and money – making your attendance worthwhile

There is a cost to attend conferences. How do you make the costs of both your time and money worth the investment? The word investment is intentionally selected here because it is an investment in yourself. It costs you both your time and money – travel costs, food and beverage costs, and potentially, time you could be billing for compensation at an hourly rate. There are some best practices for attending conferences that will help you to make your attendance worthwhile.

When you are attending conferences, introduce yourself to others – this is the best way to get something out of the experience. When you introduce yourself, remember to be authentic. Be yourself in personality and appearance. Ask for their contact information and social media details. Make sure to follow up with a message, and be specific with your follow-up.

Review the conference schedule in advance – sketch out a flexible schedule...