How to become a Software Developer – The Quiz

It’s important to understand what you bring to the table, understanding strengths and weaknesses, as you prepare to move into Software Development.  This post is intended to quiz you and challenge you to think further before moving forward.  It’s to help you set expectations and get the right mindset so that you can go on with confidence.  I’ve tried to come up with the hard questions to help you to build a strong foundation for your career as a Software Developer.

Here are some important questions that you should ask yourself along with some commentary to help you along.

•  Are you interested in creating things?  As developers, we’re constantly challenged with creating things and doing it as well as possible.  There needs to be a strong drive to create something seeing it all of the way through to completion.
• Are you a detailed person?  The devil is in the details right?  I’ve been bitten and seen others get in trouble by missing small but important details in their design and/or code among other things.  If you tend to skip over details then you’re going to have to get better at drilling in so that you don’t miss important details during any phase of a project.  We’re human and mistakes will happen.  The idea is to learn from mistakes to get better and put things, such as solid unit tests in place to catch mistakes when they do happen. 
• Are you curious?  Do you ask why something is done the way it is?  Do you want to find other ways of doing things, thinking outside of the box?  It’s important to ask a lot of questions when developing software.  It’s okay to even question yourself.  I often find myself looking at code from the day before or even earlier in the day and asking myself why I did it that way.  There’s so many ways to write software and often a better way.  You’ve got to be curious to find the better way so that you can continue improving.
• Are you a problem solver?  Do you enjoy solving a problem?  It really matters if you see it as a ‘problem’ versus an opportunity.  Do you feel dread when you’re told of a problem?  It’s okay to feel this way but as a developer you’ve got to pull up your big girl/boy pants and move on taking on the issue with confidence.  Even if this is a problem that you created, it’s important to stay positive and confident that you’re going to figure it out.
• Are you persistent?  When you’re stumped do you get frustrated and give up?  You’ve got to keep going until you find an answer.  Keep in mind that it’s never been easier to find answers and help to get you through/over the obstacles.
• Does Software Development align with your personality?  If you’re an extrovert and feel the need for frequent contact with people then you need to think about being isolated from others as you work.  There will be collaboration time but if you’re primarily a coder then you may find yourself starved for some people time.
• Would you rather work alone or on a team? Most likely, you’re going to be working on a team of other technology professionals and developers.  In my experience, I’ve had or seen the most success when a team comes together to accomplish something.  That’s when the best things are built.  I look for assignments where I can contribute to make a larger impact and encourage you to do the same.
• Do you see yourself writing code every day, or at least most days, for a living?  If you’re not into sitting behind a desk (or maybe standing) then you might want to reconsider your path.  It’s good to break the day up but you’ve got to have the drive to get back to the task at hand which is going to require many hours at a computer screen.  This sounds obvious but I want you to really think about it!
• Do you like learning? One of the most important aspects is being a continual and lifelong learner.  I think that everyone should be this way but it’s critical to working and succeeding in Software Development.

So, how do you measure up?  Do these questions scare you or encourage you?  I think that it’s good be have a little of both when starting something new.  Keep reading the “How to become a Software Developer” series and get in touch with me via the contact page with any questions.  Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter (top right sidebar) to get posts like this one and other useful info in your inbox.