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

The Secret to Learning about Technology Quickly and Continuously

Software development is a creative and innovative field. Although the main concepts last for many decades, the applications of those concepts, as well as technologies and tools, come and go in short periods of time. Because of this, software developers need the right skills and habits to continuously learn and adapt.

There is no better way to start a book on technology careers than by going directly into the number one career problem that you may be facing: how to stay up-to-date with the fast pace and changes of the technology world.

In our many talks and presentations around the world, the question of how to learn all the new things is common angst for technology professionals. It is common to find people that reserve several hours each day for learning, and still feel outdated and unable to catch up. To get out of this predicament, the best solution is to stop focusing on knowledge and start focusing on skills.

We, therefore, bring you this chapter, where we’ll unravel the secrets to learning about technology constantly and quickly. You’ll learn about the following main topics in this chapter:

  • Knowledge versus skills
  • Finding focus and priorities
  • Applying just-in-time learning
  • Practicing deliberately to learn a tech
  • Implementing important good habits

Let’s dive right in!