The Complete Software Developer's Career Guide: How to Learn Your Next Programming Language, ACE Your Programming Interview, and Land the Coding Job of Your Dreams
- 11h 24m
- John Sonmez
- Simple Programmer
- 2017
Technical Knowledge Alone Isn't Enough - Increase Your Income by Leveling Up Your Soft Skills
Early in his software developer career, John Sonmez discovered that technical knowledge alone isn't enough to break through to the next income level - developers need "soft skills" like the ability to learn new technologies just in time, communicate clearly with management and consulting clients, negotiate a fair hourly rate, and unite teammates and coworkers in working toward a common goal.
As John invested in these skills his career took off, and he became a highly paid, highly sought-after developer and consultant.
Today John helps more than 1.4 million programmers every year to increase their income by developing this unique blend of skills.
What You Will Learn in This Book
- How to systematically find and fill the gaps in your technical knowledge so you can face any new challenge with confidence
- Should you take contract work - or hold out for a salaried position? Which will earn you more, what the tradeoffs are, and how your personality should sway your choice
- Should you learn JavaScript, C#, Python, C++? How to decide which programming language you should master first
- Ever notice how every job ever posted requires "3-5 years of experience," which you don't have?
- Simple solution for this frustrating chicken-and-egg problem that allows you to build legitimate job experience while you learn to code
- Is earning a computer science degree a necessity - or a total waste of time? How to get a college degree with maximum credibility and minimum debt
- Coding bootcamps some are great, some are complete scams. How to tell the difference so you don't find yourself cheated out of $10,000
- Interviewer tells you, "Dress code is casual around here - the development team wears flipflops." What should you wear?
- How do you deal with a boss who's a micromanager. Plus how helping your manager with his goals can make you the MVP of your team
- The technical skills that every professional developer must have - but no one teaches you (most developers are missing some critical pieces, they don't teach this stuff in college, you're expected to just "know" this)
- An inside look at the recruiting industry. What that "friendly" recruiter really wants from you, how they get paid, and how to avoid getting pigeonholed into a job you'll hate
Who Should Read This Book
Entry-Level Developers
This book will show you how to ensure you have the technical skills your future boss is looking for, create a resume that leaps off a hiring manager's desk, and escape the "no work experience" trap.
Mid-Career Developers
You'll see how to find and fill in gaps in your technical knowledge, position yourself as the one team member your boss can't live without, and turn those dreaded annual reviews into chance to make an iron-clad case for your salary bump.
Senior Developers
This book will show you how to become a specialist who can command above-market wages, how building a name for yourself can make opportunities come to you, and how to decide whether consulting or entrepreneurship are paths you should pursue.
Brand New Developers
In this book you'll discover what it's like to be a professional software developer, how to go from "I know some code" to possessing the skills to work on a development team, how to speed along your learning by avoiding common beginner traps, and how to decide whether you should invest in a programming degree or "bootcamp."
About the Author
John Sonmez is a software developer and the author of two best-selling books, The Complete Software Developer's Career Guide and Soft Skills: The Software Developer's Life Manual.
He's also the founder of the Simple Programmer blog and YouTube channel, where he reaches 1.4 million software developers yearly with a central message:
Technical skills alone aren't enough for a successful career—or life.
By focusing on "soft skills" like the ability to communicate clearly and lead by example, the mental resilience to bounce back from failure and even an improved level of personal fitness, software developers can break through the "glass ceiling" and enjoy extraordinary success.
John learned these lessons himself the hard way—through trial and error over his 17+ year career as a developer—and he's candid about the fits and starts he struggled through during those early years.
John started his software development career at age 10, hacking C and C++ to create virtual worlds for his favorite MUDs.
When John landed a coveted six-figure Silicon Beach job at age 19, he thought his career was set.
In reality he was only set up for years of frustration and disappointment—from getting "laid off" from that cushy job after underwhelming his boss with his C++ skills, to a spectacular implosion during an intense onsite interview with Microsoft, to finally taking a job outside of programming just to pay the bills.
Eventually though John realized that there's a huge difference between knowing how to program and having all the skills to be a successful, professional software developer—and he set out to develop the technical, leadership and communication skills he lacked.
John went on to become a highly paid consultant in test automation and Agile methodology, and the 55 courses he published with the technical education powerhouse PluralSight makes him one of the most prolific online trainers in the field of software development.
John effectively retired at 32 and moved to San Diego with his wife and daughter.
Today he focuses his energy on helping other developers achieve the success they desire through the videos, books and courses in his Simple Programmer platform.
In this Book
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How to Use This Book
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How to Get Started
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The Technical Skills You Need to Have
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How to Develop Technical Skills
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What Programming Language Should I Learn?
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Learning Your First Programming Language
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Going to College
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Coding Boot Camps
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Teaching Yourself
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Internships
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Getting a Job Without Experience
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How to Find a Job
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Creating a Resume
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The Interview Process
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Salaries and Negotiation
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How to Leave a Job
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Switching Mid-Career (Late Entry)
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Going from QA or Another Technical Role to Development
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Contracting vs. Salary
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How the Recruiting Industry Works
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Overview of Programming Languages
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What is Web Development?
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Mobile Development
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Back-End Development
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Career in Video Game Development
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DBAs and DevOps
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Software Development Methodologies
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Testing and QA Basics
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Test Driven Development and Unit Testing
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Source Control
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Continuous Integration
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Debugging
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Maintaining Code
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Jobs and Job Titles
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Types of Work
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Dealing with Coworkers
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Dealing with Your Boss
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Working with QA
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Work / Life Balance
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Working on a Team
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Selling Your Ideas
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How to Dress
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Acing the Review Process
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Dealing with Prejudice
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Being in a Leadership Position
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Getting a Raise or Promotion
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Women in Tech
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Creating a Reputation
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Networking and Groups
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Keeping Your Skills Up to Date
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Generalist vs. Specialist
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Speaking and Conferences
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Creating a Blog
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Freelancing and Starting a Business
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Career Paths
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Job Stability and Security
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Training and Certifications
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Side Projects
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Best Books to Read
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Parting Words
