I first talked about this way back in 2013.
In fact, this is exactly what I said:
“But, to be honest, I’ve never really talked much about what it REALLY takes to be successful as a developer. Because, while all that technical mumbo-jumbo is cool… none of it REALLY matters. Yes, you need to know how to do those things… but those things aren’t what MATTER most when it comes to determining the successful from the unsuccessful. Any monkey can learn to code.”
Which… okay.
Touch aggressive maybe.
But, the point stands.
I mentioned this is yesterday’s podcast (johnmorrisshow.com)… 51% of CIO list soft skills as the top skills they want from technology professionals.
In another study by CareerBuilder, 77% of tech companies said soft skills were just as important as hard, tech skills in the employees they’re after.
But, back in 2013…
Man, I took flak for saying that.
Everyone was so wrapped up in tech skills…
Being the end-all, be-all.
Now, five years later…
“Well, duh, that’s obvious”…
Is the common response I get.
So, what happened?
It goes back to what I’ve been telling you. The rapid evolution of our industry has all kinds of side effects. Competition, overwhelm…
And, a loosening focus on hard skills.
Why?
Because, as an industry grows in complexity and the rate of change increases, focusing on any one language, framework, tool or skill…
Becomes sillier and sillier.
Because, five minutes later, something new is out.
(Which, btw, is why the Medium-heads who love to call everyone noobs for not learning the latest “flavor of the week” are so moronic.)
Eventually, what matters is NOT what you know…
But, your ability to learn…
A soft skill.
Your ability to adapt, your work ethic, your dependability, your non-douchiness. What companies need is someone who can thrive in a rapidly-evolving environment.
Not someone who happens to know XYZ language.
Yes, they still ask.
Yes, it still matters.
But, when it comes to who they actually hire…
More and more it’s about those soft skills.
Point is…
As you’re putting all this time into learning HTML and PHP and Node or Go or whatever it is you’re doing… don’t forget to develop a work ethic.
To be honest.
To learn how to communicate effectively.
Those things may well be the thing that get you hired.
(Which, btw again, is why I strongly recommend any new developer freelance for at least a year. There’s maybe no better way to learn all these skills while getting paid.)
Anyhoo, whether it’s hard skills like HTML, CSS, PHP and MYSQL or the soft skills you learn as a freelancer, it’s all in my curriculum on SkillShare.
And, you can get started with it for nothing.
Go here to start the 2-month, no-cost trial.
Take all my courses.
Cancel anytime before the 2 months is up.
And, never pay a penny.
It’s a great way to get the skills you need to get paid to do this developer thing… without handing over your first born to do it.
Anyway, link is here: https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/johnmorris
Later,
John
