Software developer jobs: How to get hired now
For software developers, adaptability is key to a successful career. The IT job market is constantly changing, whether due to new technologies, economic and environmental factors, or a mix of all three. Software developers who adapt quickly to the changing demands of the IT job market—for example, by learning new skills, earning certifications, or adjusting their salary expectations—typically outperform those who don’t.
One thing that remains stable is that developers are in high demand across many different industries. Let’s take a look at what developers can expect in the job market right now.
Developers are still in high demand
“The software developer job market is really healthy in terms of talent demand,” said Christy Schumann, senior vice president of talent operations at Toptal, which has an exclusive network of freelance software developers, designers, product managers, and other professionals for hire.
“As businesses and consumers continue to use technology in almost everything we do, developers and aspiring developers now have a great opportunity to build successful careers,” says Schumann.
The hiring firm Robert Half characterizes developer hiring trends as still moderate to fairly strong. “The market remains quite competitive and finding top talent remains a challenge,” said Jason Deneu, a regional director for the firm.
Front-end and back-end web developers are in high demand, according to Deneu, as are developers with a background in cloud-related technologies. “Data engineers are also still in the ‘hot zone’ for setup needs,” he says. “These roles offer the best prospects for the coming months based on customer feedback.”
Another jobs site, ZipRecruiter, says developer job postings peaked in May 2022 and have since declined, but they’re still well above pre-Covid levels. “That’s likely because overall tech industry employment has risen since the pandemic, driven by the increasing digitization of work, leisure, education, entertainment and exercise,” says Julia Pollak, the company’s chief economist.
As of July 2022, the most in-demand developer skills were Java, web, and full-stack development. “The same was true before the pandemic in 2020 and continued into 2021,” says Pollak. “These skills are and will likely remain in high demand as they are most broadly applicable to businesses.”
Cutting-edge technologies and recruitment trends
While Toptal is seeing a hiring freeze at some of the big tech companies, the need for a variety of developer talent is still growing, says Schumann. “The increasing acceptance of remote work and the popularity of freelancers offer developers an opportunity for a diverse range of experiences and the opportunity to work on their own terms rather than being stuck with a more traditional full-time job,” she says.
Based on hiring trends, Toptal finds that developers proficient in programming in React, JavaScript, Python, Node.js, and WordPress are in high demand. There is also a growing need for people with experience in Vue and SQL, says Schumann.
“The most requested [professionals] routinely those who master multiple technical skills,” says Schumann. “Mobile programming like Android and iOS; cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure and Google Cloud Platform; and software like Salesforce, Shopify, and WordPress are in-demand and hirable skills.” But people skilled and experienced in more than one of those areas are in high demand, she says.
Don’t forget collaboration and communication
Toptal also notes that soft skills are a must for its clients hiring developers. “Having developers who are skilled in team collaboration, managing impediments, and the ability to understand the business case for the project at hand is invaluable to our customers,” says Schumann.
The top requirement in the technology industry, after software knowledge, is excellent communication skills, says Pollak. “Not only is this critical for highly technical tasks, but it applies to all business operations,” she says. “If this is an area for you to improve on, consider taking a business communications course at a local community college or exploring many of the continuing education programs available.”
A developer’s perspective on the IT job market
“The entire developer job market has been and still is hot,” says Jason Moore, a full-stack developer at software company Aras. Moore has been a developer for more than 20 years.
“I’m approached almost every day on websites like LinkedIn and by email about new potential job opportunities,” says Moore. “Having a range of technical and interpersonal skills that I have developed over the years, I can confidently say that my skills are still in demand as I continue to learn and improve my fundamental communication, analytical and technology skills improve.”
Among the job offers Moore receives are those for senior development positions in a variety of industries. The new skills and abilities required depend on the type of job, Moore says.
“Some, but not all, positions require you to be more code-savvy, architecture-savvy, or have a project management background to advance through these ranks,” says Moore. “Perhaps the biggest change I’ve seen compared to 20 years ago is that there is no such thing as a technical strategic HR manager. Teams are leaner and more agile. You need to be able to both get the job done and delegate technical work appropriately if management is your aspiration.”
Cybersecurity and devsecops in mind
Robert Half sees no “earth-shattering” changes in the developer market, says Deneu. “But over the past year there has been an increase in interest in security-based roles, and we see that continuing,” he says. This includes IT audits and cyber security for the web, internal systems and networks.
The continued focus on strong cybersecurity will no doubt lead to a greater need for people who can develop security tools and ensure other software is secure before it’s released. The rise of the devsecops model, which includes security at all stages of the entire development lifecycle, shows how important security has become to development processes.
Security software developers combine technical programming knowledge with product development and security skills and need to be up to date with the latest threats and vulnerabilities.
How to get hired as a software developer
While experienced developers shouldn’t have much trouble getting good jobs given the demand, there are steps software developers can take to become even more attractive in the market and adapt to ongoing changes.
A good practice is to consistently look for opportunities to update existing skills or learn entirely new skills. As Schumann notes, while demand for developers is generally high, those who can bring multiple skills are more likely to get the job.
With the ongoing shift to the cloud, it’s a good idea to sharpen your skills in cloud services and tools.
“The cloud is an important factor now and will continue to be an important factor in the future,” says Deneu. “Every developer must have a good understanding of cloud-based technologies in order to continue a seamless transition. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when learning about new and emerging technologies. Be proactive in self-learning.”
It’s also a good idea to update your resume as regularly as possible. “Research best practices for optimizing your resume and ways to best present your work samples,” says Schumann. “For example, can you show how your contributions to a recent project had a measurable impact on the bottom line?”
Most employers use applicant tracking systems to analyze resumes, Pollak says. “A straightforward template works best for getting noticed,” she says. “No need for headers, columns or text boxes.”
For complex developer roles in particular, “make sure to list any training or certifications you’ve received as specifically as possible on your resume,” says Pollak. “While some may have just taken a technical course to acquire a specific skill, you may have years of experience. Consider listing the years of experience associated with each skill to set yourself apart.”
It’s also important to keep your code samples and public works up-to-date via GitHub or another code-sharing platform, says Deneu. “Potential employers look at your portfolio.”
The industry moves so fast that potential employers want to see that candidates are up-to-date with the latest language developments and have relevant and up-to-date experience.
“Attend or attend conferences or events specific to your field to get a feel for how it’s changing,” says Schumann. “While not everything showcased at these events will come to fruition, it will provide direction as the industry is moving and help you determine how best to position yourself to take advantage of these opportunities successfully .”
According to Schumann, in order to stand out from potential jobs, developers must clearly articulate challenging problems they have personally solved and their implications. “But stick to the facts and avoid excessive embellishment,” she says. “Substantiate your achievements with concrete data.”
In addition, it’s good for professionals to have a variety of recommendations on their LinkedIn profiles, from peers and managers who can validate their skills.
“Think of your LinkedIn profile as your business card, listing your most recent contact information and interests,” says Schumann. “If you’re open to new opportunities, turn on this feature on LinkedIn and be specific about what types of opportunities you’re looking for,” including whether you’re open to remote roles or a relocation.
For developers like Moore, the key to success is the ability to keep learning and adapting. “My advice to individuals trying to navigate the rapidly changing developer field is to always stay curious, stay current, be on the cutting edge — don’t ‘marry’ to a technology — and the Receive certifications that make sense for the chosen career path.”
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