Landing a job can be quite a work and has a long process. There are a lot of things you should do and consider. It’s not just about creating your resumé and sending them to as many companies as you would like. It’s also about researching what you are applying for; the company, the location, the job description, job roles, job duties, and responsibilities, and especially the skills these companies are looking for in a candidate or potential hire.
As a developer, there are many skills that recruiters or companies look for — both programming and non-programming skills. Here are some of the must-have skills to get hired as a developer in 2022:
1. Data Structure and Algorithms
“A data structure is a named location that can be used to store and organize data. And, an algorithm is a collection of steps to solve a particular problem.” — Programiz
Data structure and algorithms (DSA) are essential aspects of computer science that make a more manageable process flow. Learning it will help you become a better developer because you can perform better when it comes to tasks related to data processing, calculations, and automated reasoning.
Reasons to learn Data Structure and Algorithms:
- A great addition to your portfolio
- Not limited to a single programming language
- Better chance of getting hired
2. Cloud Computing (AWS, GCP, or Azure)
“Simply put, cloud computing is the delivery of computing services — including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence — over the Internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. You typically pay only for cloud services you use, helping you lower your operating costs, run your infrastructure more efficiently, and scale as your business needs change.” — Azure Microsoft
Instead of going through traditional physical servers, cloud computing allows people to access software applications, data storage, and other services over the internet. Cloud computing made the internet more reliable and faster. Staying up-to-date with the latest technology trends, being productive, and accessing data are also easier.
Reasons to learn Data Structure and Algorithms:
- In demand
- Plenty of job opportunities
- Competitive edge
3. SQL — Structured Querying Language
“Structured Query Language (SQL) is a standardized programming language that is used to manage relational databases and perform various operations on the data in them.” — TechTarget
Data is one of the most critical things in the tech world. Thus, it is crucial to have a place to store them. And a database does the job; it stores both large and small in an organized and secured way. One of the most common database structures is the relational database which works well with Structured Querying Language or SQL.
SQL is a domain-specific language used by databases. This makes accessing, managing, updating, and deleting data a lot easier. Inputting specific queries would give specific results.
Reasons to learn Data Structure and Algorithms:
- Gives you more value as a developer
- Has a secure future
- Can be used in many roles
4. Git and GitHub
“Git is a version control system that lets you manage and keep track of your source code history. GitHub is a cloud-based hosting service that lets you manage Git repositories.” — DevMountain
Git and GitHub are tools that every developer should learn and know, whether you’re Javascript developers, Java developers, or Python developers. No matter what language you use, knowing how to use Git and GitHub is a must.
Git is a version control system that allows developers to manage and keep track of source code history. GitHub is a cloud-based hosting service that enables developers to manage Git repositories.
Reasons to learn Git and Github:
- Helps you get better at coding
- You can show off
- You need it anyway
5. Containers (Docker and Kubernetes)
“Containers are software-defined application environments that typically host individual applications or services.” — ITProToday
Contains are your go-to to get software run reliably when moved from one computing environment to another. They consist of an application and all its dependencies, libraries and other binaries, and configuration files needed to run it, all into one package. Docker and Kubernetes caused excitement in the tech industry because of the application container technology provided by Docker in 2013.
Docker is an open-source containerization platform, a tool for creating, sharing, and running individual containers. Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration system for automating software deployment, management, and scaling.
Reasons to learn how to use containers and Docker and Kubernetes:
- Great application support
- High salary
- A plus point on your resume
6. Problem Solving and Logical Thinking
“The first step in mastering the thought process behind problem-solving is to deepen understanding of the significance and necessity of logical and critical thinking processes..” — People Focus Consulting
Problem-solving skill in software development isn’t about mathematics about apples and oranges; it’s about solving problems related to programming. To rephrase, you provide programming solutions to programming problems. You correct bugs with a better algorithm to make it work. And to do this, you will need logical thinking.
Logical thinking is breaking things down and combining them into an overall solution. When you have identified the problem and already thought about a clear solution, logical thinking will help you analyze the solution and think of ways to implement it.
For example:
The situation or the problem
You need to go to your boss’ office immediately. You’re on the ground floor, and his office is on the 100th floor.
The solution
Use the shortest and fastest way to get there.
The implementation of the solution
Use the elevator.
A possible implementation that could work, too, is using the stairs. But that would take some time and would be tedious. The logical and most practical way is to use the elevator. And that’s what recruiters and hiring managers look for. Someone who can think of a solution and come up with the fastest and easiest way to implement it.
7. Positive Attitude
“Having a positive attitude in the workplace won’t necessarily make you better at your job, but it will improve the way people view you as a person, so they may be more inclined to help you succeed and cheer you on.” — Business News Daily
As they always say, “Positive attitude will lead to positive outcomes.” having a positive attitude makes you more approachable and easy to work with. When you’re easy to work with, the teamwork is good. When the teamwork is good, they produce better results. And good, better, or best results are always what everybody loves.
Your positive attitude can also inspire and motivate others, not just the people on your team but even the other teams. If you can, be someone anyone would be excited to work with.
Have a positive attitude by:
- Being optimistic.
- Being kind, polite, respectful, and respectable.
- Lifting others through encouragement and faith in them.
Skills are good, but attitude is more important.
8. Effective Written and Verbal Communication
“Effective communication can punctuate the success or failure of a software engineering team, a project, or an entire business operation. Poor communication (or miscommunication) often creates unnecessary expenditures. When solutions and ideas are communicated clearly across all channels, the overall budget will most certainly benefit from a cost-savings standpoint — and everyone can appreciate that!” — Santext Group
When you’re good at communicating with or to people directly and clearly, it will make life not just yours but the people around you better. This applies to personal life; family, love, and, of course, work.
When you communicate clearly and effectively, you save time, reduce errors and create a peaceful environment. Why? Because clear and effective communication means no miscommunication. You will be understood clearly, and there are also no misunderstandings, which usually cause the delay or failure of a project.
Your communication skills can be showcased during your phone, video, or face-to-face interview. Impress your interviewer by:
- Listening carefully to what they are saying.
- Answering their questions clearly and succinctly and asking topic-related questions.
- Being confident yet polite and respectful.
With effective communication, you can market yourself and your skills better than when you are not.
9. Works Well Alone and In a Team
“The age-old question, is individual work or teamwork better? We will never have a definite answer to this question, as different people have different working styles. Some people prefer working alone while others in a team. The most important thing is to always assess the task and figure out if it will be done better in a team or individually. Knowing when to go alone, and when to work together is vital for the successful completion of any task.” — Inmotion
The discussion or debate about individual work versus teamwork will never end if our mindset is one is better than the other. That’s because the answer always depends on the situation or the task. Some tasks can be done better alone or in a team.
For example, job interviews. When you are trying to market yourself during a job interview, you usually don’t need a whole team. But on the other side, hiring managers can bring someone or even an entire team and work with them to assess an interviewee better.
And that’s why you must be able to work well both alone and in a team.
Work well alone
- Do not make your supervisors micro-manage you.
- Finish your work earlier than the deadline or on time.
- Provide outputs that don’t give more work to your supervisor or teammates and even yourself.
Work well in a team
- Clearly and effectively communicate with your team.
- Participate in discussions and give valuable insights.
- Help the team to make quality outputs, not just to finish the project or the task.
Working well alone and with others is an asset to you, the team, and the company. Be flexible and easy to adjust. This way, you can contribute more effectively.
10. Willing to Learn
“Having the ability and willingness to learn helps you get to grips with a job quickly. It helps you develop the best techniques and take on important information — such as how to stay safe in the workplace. Employers look for people who can demonstrate a willingness to learn.” — EDF Energy
Learning is endless, and therefore, there’s always something to learn more. When you demonstrate your willingness to learn during an interview, you prove your commitment to being better than you are now. It shows that you are willing to enhance your skills, you are disciplined, and you have the motivation to do more than you can offer at the moment for the company.
When we say “willing to learn,” it’s not just learning the new tasks assigned to you; it’s also about searching for new knowledge and skills to learn. You take the initiative to stay ahead of modern trends and complete challenging tasks.
Of course, the skills and knowledge you will learn will not be just for the company you are working for or going to work for but also for you and your career. So be willing, motivated, and excited to learn new things.
If you have the willingness to learn:
- You are excited to know more about something you don’t.
- You strive to be better by studying and doing.
- You constantly go out of your comfort zone to explore new things.
It Might Take Time, But You Will Get Hired
Let’s say you have all these skills, but you still can’t get a job. This happens! You can code well, work well, use tools, and have a great character, but that doesn’t mean you can land immediately. You can send your resume to 500 companies, get interviewed ten times, and get rejected 100% of the time. It happens! It happens because we are not always the best. There is always someone better than us — skill-wise or personality-wise.
Accept those facts and try again. If applying to 500 companies doesn’t work, apply to another 1,000 companies. Get interviewed as many times as you can. Get rejected some more. It’s okay to feel bad about it. It’s okay to be discouraged.
What’s not okay is if you stop.
Be patient and wait for the right time. Have faith in yourself and your skills. You will get hired.
