Hello! Here we talk a lot about how to get your first job, what you need to study for this and how to behave correctly. This is all well and good, but what to do after you get your first job? Can you relax and go with the flow? No matter how it is. Being a programmer means that you will continue to study. A lot to learn. Study a lot. Therefore, today I would like to talk a little about further directions of development after the coveted first offer. Go.
1. Deepening knowledge in basic topics
To get your first job, you probably studied the basic topics for a Java developer. Do you think this will be enough? No no and one more time no. What separates experienced developers from newbies is their depth of knowledge. And it turns out that the areas of knowledge are still the same, but the senior developer will be able to tell you such nuances about them that you didn’t even know about. On the one hand, you can say that it all comes down to experience. Like, an experienced developer is therefore experienced, since he has already “touched” all this many times, and therefore knows everything in such detail. This is true. But only partly. In addition to gaining constant experience in development, developers additionally study theory: from articles, books, videos. For example, for the development of a Java developer who deals with Spring, various videos by Evgeniy Borisov are required viewing. Follow the link to a video in which he builds an analogue of a Spring container: after this I really began to understand what Spring is and how it works. I would like to note that you need to select a theory that, after studying it, really broadens your horizons on this topic. If you immediately start digging excessively deep into a topic that you know very, very superficially, then what will you end up with in your head? NOTHING. This will just be a waste of time, so choose your theory wisely.
2. Improving (or learning) English
English will be no less important for a developer’s development. On good projects, knowledge of English is not even discussed. It is implied by default. You may have found your first job with little or no English. This is cool and you are very lucky, but it does not change the fact that you urgently need to improve (or study) it. You can work as a developer with low levels of English, but this means that you will only get projects that are based in the CIS countries. The largest, most interesting and most profitable projects are in English. To move to the “major league”, you need to know the language from level B1 and above. Developers do not need to know the language at the level of specialists such as a project manager or business analyst, whose work is based on communication. But it is advisable to reach the language level B2. This level will be enough for you. And now for the guys who already know the language: don’t relax. Language tends to gradually become forgotten if it is not used. Don't let it rust and support it with English-language films, TV series, books, articles. Even when working for English-speaking clients, practice, as a rule, will not be enough, and the level of the language gradually drops. Keep him on his toes.
3. Obtaining certificates (Java, AWS)
Many courses now issue certificates of completion. But let's be honest. No one needs them, and no one looks at them. As, indeed, in diplomas. However, there are certifications that are important and can set you apart from the rest. I'm talking about Java certification from Oracle and AWS (cloud services). For example, Java certification is provided by companies that are authorized by Oracle and provide testing conditions that satisfy Oracle's requirements. Actually, that’s why these certificates are considered international. You can read more about the Java certificate from Oracle on JavaRush: about types of certifications , preparation for certification , the best books for preparing for certification . AWS certification has the same principle, but is aimed at learning AWS technologies. Of course, not only the crust itself is important here, but also the level of knowledge that you acquire while preparing for the test. If you have a certificate, they are unlikely to drive you into a corner with questions about this technology.
4. Study of in-demand technologies
Information technology is constantly moving forward, and nothing can be done about it. If you have already entered IT, you need to adapt. What you taught a year ago may become irrelevant tomorrow. It's quite normal. The main skill of a developer is the ability to quickly absorb and assimilate new material and forget what is unnecessary. Therefore, if you want to stay on topic, you need to constantly monitor the market situation. For example, technologies such as Kubernetes and Docker are now in demand . You can read more about the difference between them in this article . Also, AWS technologies are now very popular and the use of the Kotlin language is rapidly growing (it is gradually beginning to win its place in the market from Java). You can read more about the 2021 trends in this article .
5. In-depth study of a specific technology
Some experienced professionals become pros at one technology. Nowadays there is a lot of information, even in the direction of Java development, so it is impossible to be a guru in everything. Why don’t you choose one in-demand direction (technology, framework), in which you will become a master who knows all the dark corners? In this case, you can become a very valuable specialist for your company; people will be brought to you to check their level in this technology (interview). You will also be asked to review projects that use “your” technology and give advice (comments) on more efficient and correct use of the technology. As a rule, companies themselves are interested in having such “specialists.” If you tell management about your desire to dive into any technology, they will probably help you choose the right one (usually the one that is currently in demand in the company) and find a mentor in the company. For example, I was offered to undertake a deep study of Camel technology, since there were several customers, Java developers with this particular skill. Yes, the technology is not entirely new, but it is in great demand, and being a strong specialist in it you will not be lost in the market: they will tear you away with your hands and feet. Unfortunately, I was then busy improving my English and adapting to a new project, so I refused. The technology for “deep water” learning can be different: from Spring in general to its specific framework (Spring Security, Spring Cloud…..), or again, AWS technologies, etc.
6. Learn a new programming language
One of the options for further development is learning a second programming language. Here I see three options:
A utility language often found in Java projects. For example, Groovy, in which various auxiliary scripts are written, or Python, which is often combined with Java (at least I often encounter it).
Javascript and some of its frameworks, for example, Angular or React. Knowing this, you can become a full-fledged Fullstack developer. Such specialists are quite rare and in demand, and accordingly, they can expect considerable salaries (an order of magnitude higher than ordinary Java developers).
Learn a language that grew out of Java. For example, Skala, Kotlin. These languages are now gaining enormous popularity and are even beginning to slightly displace Java itself from the market. Maybe jump on their boat? Many principles come from our beloved Java, but there are many innovations and fixes to Java's shortcomings.
7. Upgrading soft skills
Soft skills usually mean communication skills. That is, how you know how to communicate with other people, convey and promote your ideas. If you want to grow in a managerial direction - for example, you want to become a team lead or an architect - you need to improve your interaction skills with other people. Literature will help with this. To begin with, I recommend the book “Deadline. A novel about project management” by Tom DeMarco. Videos on YouTube, reading articles, and various courses/trainings will also be useful. But as for me, the most important thing to do is to try to communicate more with different people, and the more, the better. This way you will stop being afraid of contacts with unfamiliar people, begin to find common topics yourself and avoid awkward pauses. Well, if you are by nature an introvert and communicating with people significantly stresses you out, then you should think about: do you need this? Perhaps this time would be better spent becoming a master of some technology? The fact that you got your first job is not the final achievement, but only the beginning of the journey. And now is exactly the moment when your pool of knowledge should grow like mushrooms after rain. Therefore, it is very important to determine priority areas and goals for yourself. After all, even the fastest ship, with the most experienced captain, will simply drift along the waves without a purpose for traveling. Accordingly, choose a direction, set a specific goal and deadline in it, and start moving. Perhaps in small but steady steps. I hope that today I gave someone something to think about) Well, that’s all for me, let’s like and learn Java ^^
For example, I was offered to undertake a deep study of Camel technology, since there were several customers, Java developers with this particular skill. Yes, the technology is not entirely new, but it is in great demand, and being a strong specialist in it you will not be lost in the market: they will tear you away with your hands and feet. Unfortunately, I was then busy improving my English and adapting to a new project, so I refused. The technology for “deep water” learning can be different: from Spring in general to its specific framework (Spring Security, Spring Cloud…..), or again, AWS technologies, etc.
The fact that you got your first job is not the final achievement, but only the beginning of the journey. And now is exactly the moment when your pool of knowledge should grow like mushrooms after rain. Therefore, it is very important to determine priority areas and goals for yourself. After all, even the fastest ship, with the most experienced captain, will simply drift along the waves without a purpose for traveling. Accordingly, choose a direction, set a specific goal and deadline in it, and start moving. Perhaps in small but steady steps. I hope that today I gave someone something to think about) Well, that’s all for me, let’s like and learn Java ^^
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