While most developers obsess over “fancy frameworks,” smart engineers focus on 3 timeless skills instead

What are the 3 most important things to do/learn to move your career forward as a software engineer?

Great question from one of my subscribers.

It is a tricky one because boiling down the millions of things one needs to do/learn in only 3 is not always easy. 

But after personally working with 140+ devs helping them do just that, here is what I learned that works best and makes the difference between developers that make it to tech lead, architect, and even CTO and developers that get stuck in the coder ranks. 

Listed below in order of importance: 

1. Clear vision and goals 

The biggest and most important. Most developers I talk with, and I must have chatted with thousands already, don’t have a clear goal of what they want to accomplish.

Some have an idea; others are waiting for their company/boss to define it for them. Which leaves their future up to chance. That is a poor way to manage your career and life in general.

I get it. Setting goals is daunting, and the more specific you want to get, the harder it becomes. But, what’s the alternative? When you have a goal, a vision for yourself, and a deadline, you can at least measure your progress and stay on track when you don’t feel like it, when things don’t work your way or when distractions come up.

Now it doesn’t have to be this big glorious essay detailing everything you would like to achieve. It is more about setting a long-term goal and a short-term goal. And going for it and doing whatever it takes to make it happen. Maybe it involves waking up a bit earlier, reading certain books, eliminating some bad habits, switching companies, or, if you were inclined to do so, joining a community or mentorship filled with people doing the same.

Whatever it is, you have to define it. Where do you want to be in 6 months from now? What technical level would you like to achieve? What salary level would you like to get to? What about 12 months from now? What about three years from now?

Spend some time on it. Write it down. (if you want feedback on this, this is what we do in the free technical strategy call, of course, if you want us to help you implement that plan and I see a match, I will make you an offer for us to work together in a client relationship)

2. Consistency

The second most important ingredient to the mix is implementing that vision from step one over the long term. You can have the best plan in the world; if you end up watching Netflix, you won’t get anywhere.

After years in this sector, I’ve seen people coming in and out. They try it for a few months, sometimes years, and then they end up doing something else. It is easy to do something for a few days, even weeks. But, if you manage to stay consistent in your learning over the long term, over the course of years, your skills will compound, and you will benefit 10x.

That’s when you realize squeezing 15 hours on the weekend to catch up or to build some side projects is actually a bad idea. Because it is not something you can commit to. I would instead do 1 hour a day for the next 15 days. Make learning a habit that you can accommodate in your daily routine for the years to come.

The best time I found is in the morning before you start working. Dedicate 1 hour to make progress on that plan. Most developers wake up late, put something on, grab a coffee and jump into the daily. Don’t be that person. You will survive, but you won’t get to the top, let alone be happy and productive.

Habits are your system for personal success; use them as the tool to execute your vision on “auto-pilot,” making progress every day without even thinking about it.

3. Giving back

If you implement steps one and two, you will already be ahead of 99.9% of devs out there hoping for things to happen.

This last skill or thing to do is aimed at keeping you motivated and building a sense of passion that will go even beyond your software development career. It is human nature that we are the happiest when we do something for others (and expect nothing in return).

Now I am not saying working for less salary or for free. As a professional, that’s out of the question. What I am saying is that now that you are achieving stuff and going places, it is an excellent opportunity to look back from time to time and help someone on their way up.

It will allow you to revisit your own motivations, solidify your knowledge as you pass it on, and feel like the incredible human being you are. It will increase your sense of worth and happiness. And hey, what goes around comes around. Let karma work for you.

So, in that busy week of yours, squeeze some time to help another developer out. It can be a junior at your job or any other dev that is struggling with something you can help with. Offer a helping hand. Don’t expect anything in return.

Amazing things will happen :) 

That’s it.

I could have gone into technical skills, like programming fundamentals, OOP, testing, or Sofware Architecture, but knowledge is only the result. The result of a strong vision that is cemented by great habits. Put these three things in place, and the technical part will be a piece of cake.

You will nail it and have a lot more FUN doing so!

If you want me and my team to personally help you find out what are your technical gaps and put in place a step-by-step plan for you to achieve your wildest dreams as a software developer, click here and book a call with me.

Together, we will deep dive into your situation and draft a plan for you to move towards the senior level, earn more, and live life on your terms! If you want us to help you implement that plan and I see a fit, I will also make you an offer to join our private mentorship program. 

Bogdan and I are packing for the holidays already, so if you want to do this sooner than later, I advise you to check it out now. Click here and book a call now!

Take care, 

Dragos