Technology applications are now becoming increasingly complex and touching multiple points of the organization. These applications are now not only supporting businesses but in fact, running them. There is hardly any industry that remains unaffected by technology advancements and immune to the software impact.
Along with this, the pace of technology evolution has also increased exponentially further fueling the demand for good and knowledgeable developers.
While the demand for good software developers has been on the incline for some time now, it doubled in 2021.
Clearly, it is a great time to be a developer.
So, in a talent-crunched market, what should developers be looking for? What makes the ‘right’ job? Compensation matters in this regard and looking at a company that pays according to market standards is important. But assessing the other factors that contribute to career development also are crucial to making the right decision.
Company values and organizational culture
Evaluating the company values and organizational culture is crucial choose the right employers. Assessing what the organization values can help you in building an understanding of the work environment and the focus on enabling growth. It helps in identifying if it is an equitable and encouraging environment or a place that is riddled with unprofessional attitudes.
It is also essential to evaluate how the company values contribute to organizational culture. Organizations, where company values are completely aligned with the culture, see higher levels of engagement and better job fulfillment. Those organizations that can get this aspect right also usually have a better tech culture with more streamlined processes and clear career progression opportunities.
Technology focus area
As a developer what kind of technology do you want to work with? Evaluating the technologies that the organization operates with is a great point of consideration for developers.
The shelf life of technologies is reducing. New, cutting-edge technologies are fast on their path to becoming mainstream while some technologies are becoming redundant. Legacy technologies, for example, are still relevant. But with technologies such as the cloud, big data, AI, ML, deep learning, etc. bursting into the scene, legacy applications must now be modernized.
Assessing the tech stack, the tech culture, and the leaning towards working with exciting, new technologies become crucial when selecting the right job.
Client list
What is the client base like? Are they mostly SMEs or will you be working with Fortune 500 companies as clients?
Evaluating the client list gives an understanding of the problems that the organization is keen to solve. It gives insights into the breadth and length of technical capabilities and project execution.
Those organizations with Fortune 500 companies as clients almost invariably add greater value to an individual’s career. It is not only an opportunity to solve the complex problems of large organizations but also to build an impressive resume. Smaller companies usually have tighter budgets but need greater creativity and can be valuable contributors to knowledge and experience.
An interesting mix leaning more towards larger organizations is always a better choice. This is also because larger organizations usually mean more money and timely payments.
Client interaction opportunities
Developers also need to look at what kind and how much client interaction can they expect in their current roles. Client interaction is a tremendous opportunity to enhance the professional experience and enhance learning.
While many software development companies operate as staffing companies where their staff is hired by the client, there is a clear difference between a staffing company and a software development company. Looking for a company that is focused on developing solutions for the client means that the developer shall be working in an environment they have chosen. This might not be the case in the case of a staffing firm.
Identifying companies that develop software for big clients, attract ambitious, interesting projects, and challenge the boundaries of cutting-edge tech to contribute greatly towards career and professional development.
Career development focus
Finally, what is the organization’s stand on learning and development? Given the accelerated pace of change, choosing organizations that are laser-focused on continuous learning and have robust learning and development teams is crucial for career progression.
Along with technical reskilling and upskilling opportunities, developers also need to see what kind of critical skill development they are looking at. Since the world of work has changed indelibly, assessing whether the organization helps its employees manage the pace of change by developing the required skills is an important consideration point.
In the new hybrid workplace, for example, skills such as collaboration, empathy, and clear communication are essential. As such it becomes the organizational responsibility to help their workforce develop these skills and improve them to build a winning work culture.
Along with all this, developers must also evaluate if the organization’s leadership is agile and approachable and if they are willing to get their hands dirty and lead by example.
Choosing a company that offers all these things will help developers not only augment financial gains but will ensure that their career trajectory is always moving northwards.