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

How to select a mentor

Write out your goals for your career and make sure they are SMARTER. This will help you to understand where you have gaps in achieving your goals and help you to see where you could use mentorship. Some examples are to develop new skills, expand your network in a specific industry sector, or build confidence to have some difficult conversations. Once your goals are outlined and you have identified your gaps, think about how a mentor could help you to achieve your goals. Create a specific plan or description of how they could help you, whether it is working on a certain project, introducing you to their network, or coaching you on how to have a particular conversation that is hindering your success. Next, you can start to search your network. Consider people you have met at events or conferences, through current or previous roles, from your academic career, or even second-degree connections. Look for someone who fits the description or has the skills you are...