Which Skills Do Hiring Managers Look For In A Developer?
A High Level Overview Of Key Skills To Grow As A Professional Developer
Hey 👋🏽 and welcome! This is Jonas with a weekly update for you as a free subscriber to the Nimblegeek newsletter. In every issue, I cover insights on learning, technology, and the art of programming through the lens of aspiring developers and experienced practitioners who want to grow in tech.
By the end of this issue, you will have a high-level overview of the following:
What are the different skill sets that are important to succeed in a professional developer role?
Which skills do hiring managers look for?
What is the difference between “technical skills” and “power skills”?
A Continuous Journey
On a personal note. This is not the first issue you have received from me, nor is it the first platform I use. In my latest update last week, I explained why I started to use a new outlet for my newsletters. This will suit us all perfectly as writers and readers.
Before we dive into today’s topic, thank you for staying with me in this elaborating phase. I am focused on growing my knowledge in software development and realize this is an endless learning journey.
I am curious to see how this group will grow in the future because there are many out there seeking clarity on what to learn and why, especially in the tech world. And most importantly, how we can continue to work with purpose and clarity in a future where AI is doing most of the traditional work for us while we can continue to grow as influential team players and creators.
This journey, which I see as continuous and endless, involves constant training and skill development. We are renewing our minds without losing our fundamental principles and values. And this is hard, I know from my own experience. To stay nimble yet firm without leading us astray in distractions.
With awareness and diligence, we can make it achievable and even more joyful to improve in a domain that requires a lot from us. Not only technically but also socially.
Most of us apply our skills in a job setting, and some might search for new challenging jobs.
I have researched and asked tech leaders and engineering managers which primary skills THEY are looking for in a developer. And these are the answers I got.
Let’s dive in!
Two Main Categories
As a job seeker, it's essential to know which skills hiring managers seek in candidates. While job requirements vary depending on the position, two main categories of skills are consistently sought: technical and power skills.
Technical skills refer to the specific abilities and knowledge needed to perform a particular job. These skills can be acquired through education, training, and on-the-job experience. Examples of technical skills include proficiency in programming languages, knowledge of financial analysis, or experience with specific software programs.
On the other hand, power skills (also known as soft skills) are non-technical abilities that enable an individual to interact effectively with others and perform well in a professional setting. Some examples of power skills are strong communication skills, leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability.
While technical skills are often the focus of job descriptions, power skills are just as essential. Many hiring managers prioritize power over technical skills because they are transferable across different roles and industries.
1. Technical Traits
1a. Technical foundation
A solid technical foundation is necessary for any candidate applying for a technical role. Hiring managers look for candidates who understand the basics of computer science, such as compiling, bytecode, and machine code. A strong understanding of these concepts shows that a candidate deeply understands how computers work at a fundamental level.
My observations and experience of working with software developers are that those who stand out and become influential in their teams and organizations are the ones who understand the fundamentals of computer science. You don’t necessarily have to build your computers; your knowledge base results from your curiosity.
1b. Programming skills
This one is pretty obvious, but it’s worth pointing it out explicitly and deeply.
Proficiency in one or more programming languages is also essential for technical roles. Hiring managers often look for candidates with experience in the company's languages, such as Java, Python, or C++. Demonstrating proficiency in these languages through previous projects or contributions to open-source projects can set a candidate apart.
Many programming languages have lots in common, and knowing one language well helps you learn another.
1c. Concepts, Patterns, and Frameworks
Software design principles, such as separation of concerns, the DRY principle, or any other pragmatic approach to designing and creating clean code, an excellent thing to be aware of.
Knowing one or more frameworks, like Angular, React, Spring, or Flask, will enhance your productivity and credibility as a developer.
A candidate's ability to adapt to new concepts, patterns, and frameworks is also essential.
Technology evolves rapidly, and hiring managers want candidates who can learn new technologies quickly and efficiently.
Candidates who can demonstrate experience with multiple frameworks and the ability to adapt engineering principles to new contexts will stand out.
1d. Test-driven approach
Writing unit tests is essential to software development, and hiring managers look for candidates who can write practical unit tests.
Having a test-driven approach proves that you think ahead and don’t just wing things. You can verify your work hypothesis-driven and seek ways to build robust and stable solutions. This is a golden skill to gain.
A test-driven approach involves writing tests before writing code to ensure that the code meets the required specifications.
This approach helps catch bugs early in the development cycle, leading to more stable and reliable software.
2. Power Skills
These are all meta-skills that are “tying it all together.” Mastering these traits sets you apart, and you create leverage through your technical skills consisting of programming languages, frameworks, and other tools.
2a. Problem-solving
To “Think Like A Programmer.” Resonating through a problem and finding the next best solution is a super skill. Problem-solving - skills are essential for any role but are the top meta-skill for influential developers. Hiring managers look for candidates who can approach problems logically and creatively and develop practical solutions to complex problems. Demonstrating problem-solving skills through previous work experience or case studies can set a candidate apart.
2b. Communication skills
Communication is critical in any team setting. Hiring managers seek candidates who communicate effectively with team members, stakeholders, and customers.
Also, being effective in your communication style is knowing when to double down on asynchronous and synchronous communication, like speaking or chatting live with your counterparts, and getting immediate feedback.
Effective communication involves being clear and concise, actively listening, and adapting communication style to the audience.
Most of it boils down to shortening feedback loops. We all want to shorten the loops for accelerated learning and quick adaptability.
2c. Ability to work collaboratively
Lastly, working well with others is critical for success in any role.
In technical projects, teams must work together to develop software or solve complex problems.
Hiring managers look for candidates who can collaborate effectively, share ideas, and provide constructive feedback to others.
Demonstrating teamwork skills through previous work experience or extracurricular activities can help set a candidate apart from others.
As an ending note, whenever you feel ready to hit that apply button, one thing is for sure: You will never feel ready.
But knowing which skills to practice continuously will enable you to collect input on what to double down on and learn more deeply.
Do let me know your thoughts on this topic. I am sure I should have included some other critical vital skills to be aware of. Write them down in the comment section below, or you can reply to my email. I am reading all of them!
Photo by Cookie the Pom on Unsplash