How To Become A Successful Stack Developer

Becoming a stack developer means understanding the basic and advanced principles of this programming architecture. You’ll work on both the client and the server-side of software development. Hence, it would be best if you work with various functions of database, server, API, and front- and back-end technologies. If these pieces of information sound interesting to you, then, continue reading to know how you can become a successful stack developer.

How To Become A Successful Stack Developer

1 Gain The Necessary Skills

In a perfect world, you can become a full-stack developer overnight. But, that event is highly unlikely as you need to gain different skills and understand various programming tools first.

Some of the areas you need to be knowledgeable about if you want to become a successful stack developer are:

• Front-End Technology

Become a master of essential front-end technologies, such as CSS3, HTML5, and JavaScript. Companies will be looking to hire you if you also have extra knowledge in Full Stack development with React and NodeJS, along with other third-party libraries.

• Development Languages

As a full-stack software engineer, you should also know at least one server-side development language. Some examples include Java, Python, and Ruby.

• Web Design

Understand the knowledge and principles of web designing to help organizations and their clients in the development and repair of prototype and UI/UX designs.

• Server

Note that many companies are looking to hire a stack developer with exposure to servers like Apache or Nginx. Moreover, consider learning the ins and outs of the Linux operating system as knowledge in this aspect can help to administer servers significantly.

Other skills to add to your technical resume as a stack developer may include the understanding of automated processes of testing, documenting, and deploying code. You should also be aware of different security concerns and protocols to combat and solve different software vulnerabilities.

2 Master One Technology

The path to becoming a successful stack developer means expanding your scope of knowledge to new horizons. Your life in the software department will be an endless pursuit of learning. But, it doesn’t mean you should try to master all stack development procedures coming your way.

Instead, master one technology, but maintain familiarity with the rest. Therefore, you can focus on a particular programming language or tool. But, you may also help with other programming tasks, thanks to the additional software knowledge you have accumulated over time.

At this point, you might wonder what would be the best technology to learn. Well, the “best” technology to learn is relative as the answer depends on several factors. Nonetheless, choose a particular technology that’s quite popular among different clients.

Selecting a famous technology may help you maintain a competitive edge among other professionals in the field.

3 Build Your Portfolio To Become A Stack Developer

You don’t need to become a full-time stack developer under a company from the start. Instead, you may want to start your full-stack development journey as a freelancer.

As a freelancer, you can take on different stack development jobs with varying difficulty levels. Moreover, you have the freedom to choose which jobs to take and refuse. Conversely, if you work under an organization immediately, you might not have enough exposure to handling different programming concerns.

Remember that all good coding jobs are worthwhile, regardless of the difficulty level. Even if the programming job only requires five minutes of your time, you’ll still learn something from the task. The extra knowledge gained will always count, and you can even add the experience to your portfolio and resume.

Also, note that every stack developer has to start at the beginning. Hence, don’t feel discouraged if you don’t land a particular role in a specific company. Nonetheless, you can begin with other job descriptions before becoming a full stack developer. Some examples of these other job titles are:

• Junior Full Stack Developer
• Software Development Engineer
• API Engineer

Another way to build your portfolio if you want to become a successful stack developer is to make something of your own. Create a high-quality product. Let other users utilize your personally-developed code or software to help build trust within the IT community.

Use this opportunity to see, feel, and experience the developed end product. Build the application from scratch, and secure its parameters to reduce the risks of invading malware. Aim to develop a level of dedication that translates to well-built code or software.

4 Update And Upgrade Your Resume

If you want to be a successful stack developer, you have to update and upgrade your software engineer resume. What does this mean? It means that you have to ensure that all the details in your resume contain your most recent job experience, educational attainment, training, or certification. With an updated skill set, your prospective employers can easily determine if you’re fit for the job. Check the following tips when updating and upgrading your software engineer resume:

• Clearly list all the relevant technical skills you have and be specific, such as Laravel for PHP. In this way, the hiring manager won’t be guessing what PHP framework you’re familiar with if you list it as PHP skills alone.
• Show the hiring manager that you have a deep and high-level skill by not listing too many skills. If you tend to write too many skills, it indicates you have broad knowledge but are not specialized enough for the job. Just list the major ones in your resume relevant to your future job as a stack developer.
• Show your expertise in language and skill. For instance, mention the specifics of being a C++ prodigy, employing it in your resume summary and work experience sections. Position the use of C++ based on your accomplishments and not just job duties.
• Target your resume or CV for one job at a time to increase the likelihood of success. Research about the company by familiarizing yourself with their products and the technologies behind them, and then customize your resume. Optimize the introduction and work experience sections of your resume by addressing the job’s needs with your related software engineering background.

Final Words To Become A Stack Developer

The path to becoming a successful stack developer might be long and arduous, but it’s not impossible. Acquire the right skills, master one technology, and build your portfolio. Follow these guidelines, and you can be bumping fists with other successful full-stack developers in the industry over time.