Software engineer? Then you got few important things to remember.

Each one of us wants to be good in whatever we are doing – that’s how we are raised, that’s the human nature. Constant improvement without being disappointed by tiny bumps and small failures on the way is the key to success. Although, software engineers are envisioned as geeks who live in their mother’s basement and lack social skills, these individuals actually acquire qualities that could make them fit to run as President of the U.S. People who love attention to detail and code can fit into the software field, but there are many more personality traits and skills that can help snag that coveted job. And, while looking in from the outside, the people who share these attributes are the same folks who would make you want to quit your job to start a company.

Life-changing tips for software engineers–

Tip # 1: Take control

Under no circumstances, surrender the control of your career to someone else. Take control from day one and always strive to be the better one in that field of work.  Always be curious about why something is done one way or another, along with the added ability of being objective about the solutions. Putting together software is a creative job, and this curiosity and creativity is essential to think outside the box while designing programs. The thrill keeps you going.

       Tip # 2: Be a group person

The software industry is a place where it’s fairly easy to ‘go solo’. It is very important to learn to work in a group and communicate with other people. Actively, search for contacts that will help you become a better professional. The larger the group of competent people around you, the higher the chances you have knowledge transfer. It enables you to learn to write concise and clear instructions and reports and also how to convey ideas to customers and clients.

Tip # 3: Get noticed

Receiving a feedback is extremely important in professional development. In order to get a     positive and meaningful feedback, you should get noticed first by people who have more knowledge than you. Living your entire professional career in a cubicle wouldn’t fetch you much. Do presentations, start writing stuff and start working on an open source product. And of course, get noticed for the right reasons, and not for reasons like crashing the production server or any other wrong reason.

Tip # 4: Experience

    

If you have been tinkering with the software stuff since you were a kid, then undoubtedly your abilities as an adult will be quadrupled. Besides the hands-on experience, you might as well be addicted to math and science, and also have the ability to be organized. At the same time, the ability to continue to learn is important as this a field where change is constant. Always measure whatever you can, without just ‘thinking’ that your solution will be good enough. See for yourself, without assuming, as human judgment and forecast can be faulty. And sometimes you will probably be surprised to know how far your estimate is from reality.

Tip # 5: Coach

The best way to learn is by teaching others. Sounds counter intuitive, but is definitely a reality. Not only the ones you teach will be better off, but so will you. It is hard to do right and a lot of skill is required to teach others. Keep patience and passion for you job, this love for your work will take you far in your job.

Tip # 6: Aspire to grow and learn

Like it is said, “the day you stop learning should be the day you die”, software engineers can never opt to put full-stop to their learning process. As we live in a fast-paced world, we are left only with two choices – learn and grow or fall behind. The fun thing kept in learning is that you sometimes we rediscover our current goals. Maybe goals today are not anymore what they were a couple of years back and probably the path travelled has opened doors to places which were never dreamt off, just by constantly learning new things.

Tip # 7: Keep your brain trained

Never settle with everyday tasks, always stretch your boundaries and do some extra work. This definitely will take time, but keep training in various fields, and always look for alternative solutions. Being a software engineer, does not stop when you leave your desk in the noon – it’s a lifestyle. And well, good ideas strike usually when you are at working.

Tip # 8: Embrace failure and keep moving forward

Let us bare the fact in mind that you will fail at times. However, the trick is not to crawl up in a hole and feel sorry for yourself. Try to figure out what went wrong and also learn from that experience. Don’t keep flashing your failure in front of your eyes all the time. Keep strong and determined and look ahead to the future. Good engineers are hallmarked by their ability to bounce back up after facing failures. Never be scared to try out new things, but when things go wrong, be ready for a paradigm shift.

Tip # 9: Write down ideas

Always keep papers and pen in hand, for the trick is to pen down your ideas whenever strike your mind. Noting down your ideas enables you to defer thinking about them, but with the assurance that you will not lose them. Remember to write down, as every now and then you will probably have a great idea, and ideas are bread and butter in the software world.