What's one non-technical skill every great software engineer needs?
3
What's one non-technical skill every great software engineer needs?
With all the layoffs and general anxiety about what's next, I’m seriously overworking myself. I’m scared that if I don’t, I’ll get let go and never find anything else in this field. If you recently went through a job search, how long did it actually take?
I previously worked at a credit union where software developer salaries were way under market ($50k–$60k), prompting me to leave and triple my income. I later discovered that the chief of technology hired a former developer and close friend as a remote, part-time contractor at a triple-digit hourly rate. This individual maintains a separate full-time job and works completely flexible hours, 20-40 hours. This feels like blatant cronyism. Is there any recourse?
My manager keeps pressuring me to go for a promotion, but the payoff is terrible. I was passed over last year, so now I feel good about my decision to resist. It's basically endless paperwork and corporate politics for a tiny bump in salary. I'd much rather continue writing code remotely, do my job, and stay under the radar. Is it okay to resist the push to move up?
I’m the only woman on a 4-person team. We get along great, but during technical talks, a senior dev always double-checks my answers with the other guys, even though my code reviews are stronger. Is this a safe topic for a 1:1 with my lead, or should I just let it go?
Anyone else in their 40s facing assumptions about their skills in interviews? I keep getting asked if I'm "comfortable with modern tools," which feels like a polite way of questioning my age. Is it even appropriate for them to be asking?
The ability to effectively communicate with non-technical people. A lot of the people you'll meet in your professional life will not have the same skills and knowledge that you have. Being able to explain things in layman's terms is a huge asset.
+1 for effective communication. You can be the most skilled dev in the world, but without the ability to communicate effectively, you'll struggle to make a difference. It's the most important soft skill by a mile.
I believe we need to work better as a team and be more social in order to overcome the struggles and challenges more efficiently.
The ability to communicate to any and everyone, prioritize your work and manage your time.
The ability to read deeply, the ability to explain complex things in simple ways, the ability to focus for hours at a time.
Consise, clear, and non-ambiguous writing (technical documents, design documents, proposal responses, etc.)
Patience.
Be a people pleaser, networking a ton and being friendly always helps