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

Asking for help

When you ask for help, you are asking the other person to take time from what they want to do, to help you do what you want to do. It is reasonable that people prefer to do what they want, instead of what you want!

So, when you ask for help, try to help the other person to help you.

That may sound strange because you are the one trying to get help. How can you possibly help the other person?

Make sure that the other person has a number of reasons to help you and the least amount of resistance.

When you ask someone for help, make clear that you just need them for a few minutes. They won’t need to spend a long time or make a big effort to help you. Ask for five minutes from them, so they can point the way or help you unblock.

Also, you may want to try a “no” oriented question. People have less resistance to saying “no” than “yes.” Experiment with “Would it be a ridiculous idea if I asked you to help...