How I succeeded as a Software Engineer

And why I’m not worried about the current market

Towards the end of my career with PHP, I felt like I was learning but needed to move forward. Nothing has worked. I learned new programming languages and new code-creation strategies for no results. Also, after reaching the top salary for a PHP dev, it felt terrible to be stuck and not get a pay raise for a long time. It was one reason I switched to Java, and there was another lesson I understood later.

Today in Code.Lead.Succeed Newsletter I’ll discuss how you can successfully navigate the current Software Engineering market, get promoted and feel secure about your future career.

The market between 2011 and now

Supply is how many developers are there

Demand is how many developers are needed

12 years ago, Software Engineering wasn’t popular — a couple of nerds who liked maths typing things on their keyboards. Supply was limited; demand grew, and more and more businesses started seeing the power of Software.

Fast forward to the pandemic. All countries around the globe started printing money to support people during the lockdown. People also had more time. The Internet is a commodity now, so all the software companies started hiring to cover the growing demand for their services.

In 2022, when the government's money ended, inflation rose. Companies started laying off developers they hired a few years earlier to keep the finances in check.

Today, Software Engineering is the most popular career to earn easy money. You don’t need a degree. All you need is to learn to code. We also have thousands of unemployed engineers who fall victim to the inflation.

The demand has lowered, and the supply is the highest ever.

Designing your strategy

A market with high supply and low demand leads to two results. There will be fierce competition on the lower end, which we can see on the Junior market. With more and more people becoming experienced engineers, staying unique long-term will be more challenging. The salaries will be lower as there will always be a person who will type code for less.

Programming as a skill becomes a commodity. Soon enough, kids will taught a school how to code. Getting better at it is necessary, but it’s a baseline skill like the ability to boil water for a chef.

My way of thinking shifted over the last few years, and what I think will become important:

Domain-specific engineering

From being a Java developer, I became a FInTech engineer. Even as a Manager now, I have accumulated a lot of insight into building finance systems and integrating with partners.

You can make your pick based on your experience or what you enjoy. Specialise in programming in an industry driven by software — for example, finance, advertising, or e-commerce. Pick your favourite and learn the business beyond the code.

Soft skills

The most significant impact on my career over the last 5 years was putting more effort into soft skills. Communication and problem-solving are the top two.

I know you may be an introvert who dislikes speaking with people. The majority of developers are. Becoming a good communicator is a skill that can be taught and learned. Developers who do that will gain an instant advantage.

Leadership

Leading doesn’t mean management. I led projects long before I became a manager. The secret sauce of leadership is inspiring people and the openness to making decisions and being accountable for them.

Another simple one if you want to commit to it. Even in management and across departments, a few people will take that responsibility, and even fewer are good at it.

Job search

CV and your online presence are your marketing. Essentially, a CV is an advertisement of yourself to the company you apply for. The interview process is a series of sales calls where you present your product, yourself, to the buyer, the company you want to work for.

Shifting your mindset of saying “I can code” in the market where everybody can to “I deliver value” will put you above many other applicants.

Putting it all together

The lesson is that the bar is now higher. Your knowledge of code won't be an advantage any more. It’s common. Besides the technical skills, what else you know will become more critical than ever in the current and future markets.

To become a 1% earner, you must deliver a 1% set of skills. Focusing on specialising in a specific industry and improving your soft skills is the easiest way to get there.

Spend this weekend making a list of your strengths and what skills you miss. On Monday, act on your plan and learn them. Treat it as an investment into the future.

P.S.

If you want to become the 1% as a Software Engineer

I can help you in three ways

→ Make sure you subscribe for the weekly dose of actionable advice
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