5 ways to stand out as a software developer in 2022

Over the past year, the demand for Software Developers has increased by 54%. Companies are investing in highly skilled professionals to help with digital transformation, and therefore they will be looking for the most talented individuals they can find.

To make sure you stand out from the crowd, as well as making sure your technical skills are sharpened, you need to look at your soft skills. Soft skills are a combination of people skills, social skills and communication skills that relate to how you work.

Soft skills are important for software developers because it takes more than knowing code to do well in the industry. As a developer, you are expected to work well with others, lead projects, and be able to effectively communicate your ideas.

We have put together five things that will make you stand out as a software developer.

1.   Have effective communication skills

Be able to effectively communicate your ideas and have the ability to have tricky conversations with team members or stakeholders. As a Software Developer, you need to be able to communicate with people who might not understand the technicalities of your work, therefore you need to be able to translate your ideas in such a way that will make sense to them. This goes for both verbal and non-verbal communication such as emails.

2.   Work well in a team

Even though you may be the only Software Developer in a company, there will be times when you have to collaborate with a wider team. Whether that’s with engineers, designers, or analysts, you need to be able to work well with everyone in order to have successful projects. It will also create a positive and friendly work environment, so make sure you remain conscious of team goals and connect with colleagues regularly.

3.   Have an open mind

Within tech roles, open-mindedness is key. It shows you are able to adapt to different situations and think rationally about situations. It is important to show you are able to listen to the opinions and ideas of other colleagues, as it could lead to new initiatives. Just because you are not familiar with something does not mean it is a bad thing. This could relate to a new project management method, organisational change, or software tool.

4.   Critical thinking skills

Software Developers often are confronted with problems, and therefore critical thinking is something employers look for in the initial stages of an interview. A lot of the job involves debugging, which is detecting and correcting errors, therefore problem-solving is a key skill. The more examples you have from previous experiences, the better. Be sure to always appear objective when approaching problems, even if you made the mistake yourself. In this instance accountability is also an excellent quality to display, and it is more likely it will not happen again.

5.   Be aware of trends

Companies want to know that they are investing in someone who is enthusiastic about their job. Therefore, it is good to show you are dedicated to your personal development, whether that is learning a new programming language on your own or reading blogs and books to better understand modern technologies and frameworks within the industry.

These are just a few of the soft skills that can help you stand out from the crowd; there's a lot more you can do to advance your career as a Software Engineer. Software development is currently a very competitive field but with the correct discipline, you can succeed.