In this era, the demand for software developers is very high. It is considered to be one of the top 10 best jobs in the World today with a handsome salary. But having a bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering is not enough to get a software development job. There are some other factors discussed below which can increase your worth as a Software developer.
An Excellent CV and Cover letter
Your CV and the cover letter is always the first
impression. It is like a brochure of a person indicating the skills and
quality of the candidate. Hence, it should be kept error-free. Moreover, it
should not be copied from Google. If you want to stand out from the crowd, come
up with unique words that describe you.
LinkedIn Account
Your presence on the internet is mandatory to catch the
attention of employers and recruiters. For this purpose, LinkedIn is the best platform to showcase your
profile.
Strong Programming concepts and in-depth knowledge
Coding is not only copying and pasting the code from
StackOverflow. Solutions from StackOverflow can be used for references and
hints with giving the credits. But you should make sure that you research and
try to understand the solution that you are using. If your basics are strong,
you will be able to create more efficient solutions. If there will be any
problem, you will be able to predict the reason and eventually find a better
approach. Hence, keep studying about Object Oriented Programming, Object Oriented
Designs and Design patterns.
Choose One Technology and Become its master
Knowledge never gets wasted. Keep yourself aware of all the
latest technologies and try to learn these whenever you get a chance. It is
always good to be Jack of all trades but it is great to be a master of one.
Choose one technology and make sure you acquire its core knowledge.
Programming Best Practices and techniques
The readability and maintainability of your code also matter.
Moreover, the best practices and the use of design pattern also gives a hint
about your programming practice and techniques. Take care of the conventions
and write clean code. You should read the book 'Clean Code' by Robert C. Martin
Repos on Github (or Gitlab )
Upload your quality code on Github to give an idea to the
employer about your programming techniques.
Live Projects
Your live projects are the proof of your hands-on
experience. It always gives you an edge. Be it a Mobile Application or a Web
application.
Contribution to StackOverflow
Your ranking and points on your StackOverflow also determine
your willingness to contribute to the software developer’s community and
sharing your knowledge with others.
Knowledge of updates and new trends
Make sure you keep yourself updated about the latest trends
and technologies. Refrain yourself from being outdated. The more you are aware
of the latest technologies, the higher you are in demand.
Online Courses and Tutorials
Taking online courses from platforms such as
Udacity, edX and Coursera are very helpful to improve your skillset.
Additionally, watching tutorials on YouTube is also a good way to learn new
things.
Enthusiasm and love towards coding
If you love your job, you will never have to work a single
day. You will practice more and learn more if you love to code and you will be
consistent as well.
IN A NUTSHELL
The more efforts you do, the more positive results you will
witness. Hard work is the key to success. Therefore, you should be investing in
yourself. Keep learning, practice a lot and be consistent. To increase your
worth as a software developer, you should make sure about all the aspects
which are discussed above.