From time to time, software developers embody age-old wisdom without even realizing it. Here are three lessons recent college graduates can learn from software developers to get ahead in their careers.
Graduating college is a funny thing. Depending on your major, you’re either really excited to enter the workforce or totally terrified by all that’s in store for you. Either way, it’s exciting and scary at the same time.
In all of these: a recent college grad might be wondering how to get ahead in the world.
A software developer may seem like an unlikely person to ask, but the skills that they have are actually applicable for many other professions.
Software developers can teach you about learning to work with others, collaborating efficiently, and managing your time effectively. These three things will help recent graduates learn important life lessons outside of their chosen career path.
In this article, we will explore 3 things recent college graduates can learn from software developers.
Table of Contents
What can recent college graduates learn from software developers?
Focus on getting better at your craft
Graduating college means you’re probably pretty good at what you do. However, no one is perfect and there’s always room for improvement. Software developers are no different, even though they may think that they’re the best at what they do; nothing is perfect and there’s always something to learn.
Software developers constantly focus on improving their craft, whether it be learning new mobile programming languages like Swift or watching tutorials on how to build more complex applications.
Recent college grads need to find opportunities for growth or they may soon feel stagnant in their careers or irrelevant in the job market.
Some ways to find new opportunities include:
- Networking with people in your industry and building a strong professional network,
- Researching and applying for opportunities that interest you.
- Building a solid profile on freelancing platforms like Freelancer.com or Hiremotely.com
- Learning new skills while still employed (such as coding) to make yourself more marketable.
Remember: Practice makes perfect. And this mantra applies for many scenarios. The only way you’ll get better at your job is by constantly learning and improving. And the more you learn, the more valuable you’ll be to your employer.
So, go on: start practicing your craft!
Be open to change: you never know where it will take you
A software developer has to be able to constantly adapt as the world of technology is always evolving and changing. They have to be able to learn new languages, technologies and programming paradigms as they come along.
This can make a software developer seem like they are constantly changing jobs, but with all the new technology out there they often find it more rewarding to be able to keep learning different things rather than getting stuck at a job that does not challenge them or allow for growth.
In the same way, recent college graduates have to be open to change as well. There are many things that people can do to be successful outside of the traditional college degree, and recent graduates need to keep an open mind and stay eager to learn.
There are many new opportunities out there for recent graduates, but not all of them will be the right fit.
For instance:
Freelancing is a new wind that is blowing.
A lot of software developers have embraced the idea of freelancing over traditional full time work. This sort of adaptation – or openness to change – is important for success.
Those leaving college should also imbibe this quality and be open to trying new things.
Finally, the third thing recent college grads can learn from software developers is that no matter what happens, there’s always a way around any obstacle!
How to work with others effectively
Working in a team is often seen as a difficult task because you have to work with other people and coordinate different ideas.
But, as the saying goes: “Many hands make light work.”
Software developers are almost always part of a great team that has many members with different roles, but everyone works together towards the same goal. Working with others is an important part of development, and can often lead to better results than if the developer had worked alone.
This doesn’t mean that software developers don’t work alone, because they do. But it’s important to be able to communicate and coordinate ideas with other members of the team as well.
The best developers are excellent at communication(written and verbal), collaboration and coordination. As well as managing cultural diversity.
This is also true for recent college grads looking to enter the workforce. They should be able to work well with others, but they should also be able to work on their own.
Teamwork is important for both groups, so recent college graduates should learn the skills necessary to work well with others.
New college graduates should have this in mind: you’ll often need the help of other people to get things done – and there are many benefits to working well in a team.
Conclusion
There you have it! A few things that recent college graduates can learn from software developers if they’re looking to break into the industry.
Again: remember that the only way to stay relevant and successful in this industry is by constantly learning. So, do not stop thinking about how you can improve yourself and your craft.