The document provides tips on how to improve software development skills. It recommends practicing regularly, contributing to open source projects, attending meetups, reading blogs and books, and writing blog articles and books. It emphasizes focusing on principles and practices like testing, clean code, and programming paradigms rather than specific technologies. The document also provides advice on how to apply for jobs, including researching the company, following application instructions, writing a tailored cover letter and CV, and making sure materials are well-formatted and free of errors. It suggests recruiters want materials that are accessible, short, and demonstrate communication skills and interest in the company.
3. Nelkinda Software Craft
Practice
“An amateur practices until they get it right.
A professional practices until they can no longer get it wrong.”
― Unknown
4. Nelkinda Software Craft
How To Improve Your Skills
● Social Media (Twitter etc)
● Code Katas, Coderetreats, Hackathons
● Read Source Code (warning: ~95% of code is NOT good!)
● Contribute to Open Source (Pull Requests)
● Attend Meetups and Events
● Speak at Meetups, Run Events
● Read Blog Articles
● Read Books
● Write Blog Articles
● Start your own Open Source project
● Write Books
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What to Learn
“Principles and Practices stay. Technologies come and go.”
― Christian Hujer
Emphasize on principles and practices.
TDD, BDD, Clean Code, Programming Paradigms, Process…
Technologies are just a temporary vehicle.
Algol68, Ada, Cluster, Modula-2, Oberon, Objective C, Pascal, Perl
AWT, Swing, MFC, Athena, Gopher
9. Nelkinda Software Craft
There’s nothing personal.
Why should I hire you?
Or is this a bulk application?
Are you even interested in my company?
Do you even know my company?
Or are you going to run away with the next job offer from Infosys?
13. Nelkinda Software Craft
How to apply for a job
1. Research the company.
Read through their website and other available information.
2. Check for application instructions.
If there is a specific process, follow it.
3. Write an application letter.
Make sure that your letter shows specific interest in the company in
both ways:
a. Why are you interested in the company?
b. Why should the company be interested in you?
4. Tailor your CV.
Don’t send the same résumé to everyone. Be specific.
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Be Empathetic. Think like a Recruiter.
Your résumé should be
● Free of spelling mistakes
Can I trust you to write clean code if you can’t even write a clean CV?
● Well formatted (layout and indent with tables or tabs, not spaces)
● Designed to make information accessible
● Short
Do you really think a recruiter reads 6 page résumés of 100
candidates?
Think again!
15. Nelkinda Software Craft
Be Employable
● Communication
● Business
● Analysis (Requirements, Computational Thinking)
● Principles and Practices
● Technologies
● GitHub, Pull Requests, Sample Projects
● Blog
● Developer Website
● Social Media