I can’t count the number of times that I’ve heard someone say “As soon as you buy a new computer it is obsolete.” While I’m sure this is a slight exaggeration, we are all aware of how fast technology changes.
Software developers, like anyone in the technology industry, need to be fully aware of what this means. Your job is constantly changing. If you don’t keep adding to your knowledge, your job will soon leave you behind, and like your new computer, you will become obsolete.
Sadly, I know of two people who worked in the software development industry for ten or twenty years who failed to catch on to this principle. One lost his job because he was no longer capable of it, and the other was laid off when the company went out of business, and he could not get another job because he lacked the skills needed to get hired. Fortunately, I know at least one of these two people eventually recovered and got another job.
Let’s face the facts, though. If you aren’t learning new things right now, you’re falling behind. A software developer does not need to know everything that’s out there. That’s impossible. But take the time to expand your knowledge.
Here are a few suggestions that you may find helpful as you try to keep up with technology:
- Learn something new every month. Pick a topic that you think might be interesting, that might help you in your job, or that will help you land your dream job. What new thing have you learned in the last 30 days?
- Take a class. Most universities do a fairly decent job of ensuring their graduates are prepared for a career. If there’s a new amazing technology out there, you can probably find a class to take that will teach it to you. You can even audit the class, so you won’t have to worry about tests and assignments. If classes aren’t for you, try a book on a topic you are interested in learning, or view online tutorials. (There is no guarantee about the quality of online tutorials, but there is no shortage in their quantity.)
- Ask your boss if you can spend time at work learning new things. Chances are, the answer is no. A lot of companies expect you to get done with your assignments as fast as possible and as well as possible, and then move on to the next task without delay. There are a few, though, that understand how important it is for their developers to stay on top of new technologies and will let you dedicate your time to learning new abilities if they apply directly to your job.
- Look at job postings for ideas. Perhaps you aren’t actively looking for a new job. Maybe you are. Either way, look at postings for jobs that may be of interest to you and see what qualifications they are looking for. See where you fall short and pick some of the skills that you may be missing to try out. This is especially important if you are a student, and don’t have a lot of work history to back you up. Look at the skills and plan what classes to take based on the requirements of the jobs that exist in the market.
- Find or create a group of people who want to learn more. Perhaps these are your co-workers, fellow students, or just some random people. Work with a group of other people. Let them teach you what they know about various topics, and share your knowledge with them. You’ll learn far more when you are working with a small group than you would alone.
- Work on a project outside of your day job. Always always always have a pet project that you are working on. For one, you never know when your fun side project will turn into a money making option. Two, it gives you the opportunity to work on an actual project where you can set the goals and direction. Because it is your own, you will enjoy it and have fun. Plus, it will give you the chance to get experience doing roles in the software development process that you wouldn’t normally get to do as a part of your job. This will make you more qualified for other jobs. If you can involve others, even better. Projects on SourceForge can be perfect for this if you don’t have one.
Obviously this list isn’t exhaustive. It is important, though, to frequently look around and make sure that technology hasn’t left you behind, programming away without a care in the world on your 486.
Do you have any other suggestions for keeping up with technology? Leave a comment and let us know!
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