Computer programming is a hot field to be in and there are a lot of programmers out there to choose from, so to stand out, you want to have a few qualities that people look for when deciding who to choose.
Listening Skills
The first quality a good programmer has to have are good listening skills. A lot of times, a client will try to explain to you what they want without a lot of technical savvy, so although the explanation of the task may be simple, the solution could be a little more complicated. You will want to have “the big picture” painted for you as well as the immediate need to try and foresee potential programming needs, and share these with your client. Once you have listened and asked the appropriate questions, it is best to summarize the conversation in a written draft so that both parties have a good understanding of the project goals.
Communication Skills
Communication skills are also necessary for a good programmer. You will be communicating goals with the client as well as with your team, so you need to be able to listen as well as delegate. Although programming can be a singular job, in most cases, you have to work well with others to get the project done effectively and in a time efficient manner. Working well with others is important even for programmers.
Management Skills
Be a good manager of your resources. Be conscientious of your tools and how best to use them to complete the job the most efficiently. System analysts within a corporation will delegate projects to individuals with time tables, but you need to be able to manage your own time and resources.
A Desire To Learn
Have a willingness to learn the most current language. Technology is an ever changing field, so it is important you enjoy learning. There are technical on-line training courses that will help you get the tools you need such as Python training courses, Java training courses and Oracle ADF training courses.
Problem Solver
Be a good problem solver. Programming is all about solving problems the best way possible in the most cost effective way, yet not so cost effective the solution does not allow for growth.
Along with being a good problem solver, you need to be able to understand other people’s code. Writing a program from scratch is one thing, but being able to build on an existing program is another. It is a good practice to work on open source projects and provide your own contributions to an already existing code base. This practice will help you continue to learn more code.
Know algebra and pre-calculus. Although math is not a requirement for programming, it helps when you advance into higher levels of programming.
Programming is a hot field to be in, but there is a lot of competition out there for work. To keep yourself in demand, make sure you possess all the skills necessary to be a programmer that stands out from the rest.
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