Software developers should plan ahead

If you are new to the job market, don’t jump into the first job that comes your way. Lara Pienaar, senior IT recruitment consultant at Network IT Recruitment, says graduates should carefully consider their employment options. “After graduation, and with very limited practical experience, the working world can seem very daunting.

While it’s tempting to accept the first job opportunity presented to you, now is the time to make wise decisions that can help you achieve your long-term career goals. Sub-standard posts may help pay the bills, but could make climbing the ranks to that developer position you’ve worked so hard for, very difficult. So consider where you want to be in the future and accept a job that will put you on that path. Yes jobs are scarce, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept the first one that comes along,” Pienaar explains.

She advises graduates to aim to remain in the first positions they’re appointed to for at least two years, as early job hopping – a common occurrence in this sector – can render CVs unmarketable in the future.

“There’s a scarcity of software developers and these skills are constantly in demand. But this has created an unrealistic climate in the industry, where relatively inexperienced developers are continually headhunted, lured by the promise of bigger salaries. And so the job hopping starts until eventually these developers are earning salaries that far outweigh their experience. Not only does job hopping look bad on a CV, but it places a person at risk of not finding another position with a matching salary should they lose their current job. Building relationships and displaying loyalty are key factors for long-term success in an IT industry,” she says.

The IT sector is constantly evolving and, aside from careful career planning, software developers have to continually remain on top of the latest industry advancements.

“Developers must remain current and broad-focused,” Pienaar adds. “You must keep abreast of rapidly changing technology and be careful not to become too singularly capable. Aim to develop a career path with progressive companies all the while keeping an eye on the larger market trends as well as specific technologies.”

• Next >