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3 reasons why you should learn multiple programming languages

Posted on September 28, 2022September 29, 2022 by seoteam

How often do you find yourself arguing which programming language is superior? In today’s world, when the software industry is experiencing an influx of so many technologies, it is a futile attempt to side with a particular programming language. Experts believe that an average developer must know at least three programming languages.

Therefore, if you wish to become a successful programmer, you must learn more than a single programming language. You can start with any language of your choice, and as you master its concepts, you can proceed to learn more programming languages that will further your career.

At Talent500, when vetting developers to join global companies, we evaluate their skills, not on single but multiple technologies. For instance, a front-end developer must know HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other JS frameworks. In contrast, a back-end developer should learn scripting languages like PHP, Python, Ruby, APIs, and JavaScript. It is essential as Fortune 500 companies and fast-growing startups want candidates with a broad skill set. To know more, join us.

In this article, we are sharing important reasons why a developer should learn multiple programming languages.

1. Learning multiple languages help you expand your horizon

A programmer working with multiple languages never suffers from tunnel vision. The more programming languages you know, the more benefits, drawbacks, similarities, and differences appear.

A common problem with programmers who only work with a single programming language is that they only find a particular way of doing things as the “right way” or the “best way,” when certainly, in software development, the same problem can be solved with several approaches.

For instance, in the example below, both JavaScript and Go take wildly different approaches toward error flow:

// JavaScript

try {

doSomethingDangerous()

} catch (err){

console.log(err)

}

// Go

err := doSomethingDangerous()

if err != nil {

fmt.Println(err)

}

It’s hard to argue which approach is better here as both have applications in different scenarios. While the JavaScript approach is better for browser rendering, Go offers a better approach to use in enterprise software.

When you learn multiple programming languages, you develop a deeper understanding of each technology and are better positioned to use the best technology for the job.

2. Your skills never get outdated

When you follow a trending tech to upskill, you are risking your progress. With programming skills, you never know when a change will render the skill redundant. For instance, Flash was once a major force in web development. Still, it is an outdated technology today as HTML5 and other web technologies have made it easier to use multimedia on web pages.

In the software development industry, it’s challenging for a programming technology to remain in power. If you are a developer with skills in only one language, you can find it hard to be adaptable to the changing needs of the industry. When you have multiple programming skills, you are a versatile candidate and will get far more opportunities than programmers who only know a single programming language.

Another reason to keep learning new programming languages is that it opens up more options for moving up in your career. Suppose your company decides to bring in new technology or change course. In that case, if you are already skilled in that particular opportunity, you will be in a position to negotiate better promotions and benefits.

Learning more programming languages makes you a versatile developer, and your skills never get outdated. You adapt to industry changes quickly and keep finding varied and fresh job opportunities.

3. Better salary increment potential

Monetary gain is one of the essential motivators for learning new skills. And it’s true that the more programming languages you know, the more money you will make. According to Pluralsight, most companies are looking for developers who can work with more than one technology and are willing to pay more than average developers.

Mary Branscombe, a technology journalist with Pluralsight, says, “…companies are prepared to pay more to get someone who can switch between projects and has three or four programming languages at their fingertips. They’re prepared to pay up to a year more for developers who can work in multiple languages.”

Taking an industry example, YouTube is a product company that uses a stack of different programming languages to offer its services. For the front-end, it uses JavaScript, its back-end is built using C, C++, Python, Go, and Java, and for the database, it uses Bigtable, Vites, and MariaDB.

The same is with every other big tech company – Google, Twitter, Netflix, Facebook, Dell, etc. – they all use multiple technologies in their products. Engineers working with these companies and drawing huge paychecks are expected to know various programming languages.

Conclusion

If you are not compelling yourself to learn new programming skills, you are limiting your growth and risking becoming obsolete. We hope this guide will help you understand why learning multiple programming languages is necessary to maximize your potential as a developer.

Talent500 offers career-redefining opportunities for developers. Join us to explore the best offers in the industry.

4 great tips to stand out in a coding interview

Posted on September 28, 2022 by seoteam

Software developers often have to feel the weight of the struggle of preparing for interviews more than several other professionals. This is because, as a developer, you will have to persist through verbal interviews and several coding exams, whiteboard tests, and behavioral interviews.

Unsurprisingly, developers work hard to prepare for technical interviews by solving challenges, reading tutorials, and exploring tricky interview questions.

A typical coding interview involves writing the code in real-time on a whiteboard or collaborative editor. You are given 30 to 45 minutes to solve the problem. The interviewer will look at your code to see if you meet the role’s requirements. It is your responsibility to show them that you have the skills. Your communication skills are important as you must explain your thought process while typing code.

To stand apart from the beginning, you can communicate your approach to the interviewer even before you start to code to validate your approach. Most candidates do not care about sharing their thought processes and end up coding an unacceptable approach.

This article shares some tips to stand out in a coding interview.

1. Ask for clarifications

A significant distinction between verbal and technical coding interviews is that you can explore the question on deeper technical grounds. You can ask for clarification if you are unclear about the exact expectation from the question.

It is not uncommon to see many candidates start solving problems without asking for clarification. Most of them realize half the way through solving the problem that they went in the wrong direction. For instance, if the question is about resetting an array by removing all the empty elements, you can ask the interviewer whether you are allowed to use an array.length function or not.

An ideal software development candidate is the one who asks for every detail and the requirement of the project to ensure that all business needs are met. To practice, you can have a brainstorming session with your colleagues or friends.

Remember, you must ask good questions that demonstrate your problem-solving strategy, not random queries.

2. Demonstrate analytical thinking

The primary goal of a technical coding interview is to challenge your analytical thinking. Learning a programming language is not difficult; nurturing problem-solving skills makes you unique as a candidate. The interviewer is trying to evaluate your ability to foresee potential issues when writing a program.

Be prepared to defend yourself against why you chose a particular technology for the problem. For example, if you opted for a relational database instead of a nonrelational one, you can be asked to clarify your approach. The trick here is not to be biased toward a particular technology. Instead, it would be best if you focused on the needs of the business rather than your personal favorite. Analytical thinking is a valuable skill that indicates that you will take a logical approach to complex problems to deploy optimized solutions rather than sticking with a programming language, framework, or platform you like.

3. Show willingness to learn

An example of a bad interview is when a candidate states they have fluency with a particular programming language and don’t want to explore new technologies. It portrays you as someone who is not willing to learn. Such an approach might be okay if you’re a freelance developer, but companies prefer software engineers who are self-driven learners.

Not just for technical interviews but as a habit, you must explore new domains that might interest you. For instance, you might find DevOps and AI interesting if you are a backend developer. Make it a point to mention during an interview what you are interested in and how you are educating yourself. When you show your willingness to learn, you become an attractive candidate. You don’t have to worry about mastering the new programming language or technology completely. The point of this approach is that you keep learning more about technologies to broaden your knowledge. It helps you find new strategies to solve a given problem.

4. Tell them about your hobby project

You need to start one if you already don’t have a hobby coding project. Companies find developers who are passionate about hobby projects attractive. It not only demonstrates your dedication to the profession but also speaks of the technology you are currently using or exploring.

While it might seem odd, only a fraction of software developers have hobby projects, so if you maintain projects outside the work, don’t be shy to show off your accomplishments at home.

Conclusion

Today, coding interviews evaluate more than just your technical skills. Companies strategize technical interview rounds in a manner to anticipate your structured analytical thinking, eagerness to learn, and ability to persevere under pressure. We hope these tips will help you prepare for your following technical interview.

Talent500 is one of the most popular global remote team-building platforms that Fortune 500 companies and fast-growing start-ups use. Join the elite talent pool to get discovered by the best companies. Sign up here.

4 simple tricks to beat procrastination as a developer

Posted on September 28, 2022 by seoteam

Procrastination is a habit that turns even the best developers into average employees. In simple terminology, procrastination is when you favor a pleasurable task over an unpleasant but necessary one. Studies have shown that over 80% of college students procrastinate, 50% of them do it frequently and consistently. This habit gets carried over into their professional life. Being a developer is tricky as you must keep learning new technologies and practicing coding continuously. If you find yourself procrastinating vocationally and struggling to complete the project tasks on time, this solution might be simpler than you think.

We have compiled a list of simple developer tricks to help you be most productive throughout the day and avoid procrastination easily.

1. Plan your tasks ahead

You start your day by planning what needs to be done. When you are mindful of what tasks could be accomplished within a given time, you are more likely to focus on things at priority. As a developer, you will have a backlog every morning from the previous day or the previous week. If you try to accomplish all the tasks within a single day, you will have wasted your day without accomplishing anything.

This is why you should plan daily what to do in an agile environment. Start with the tasks that can be completed quickly. It will build up your confidence and motivate you to accomplish other jobs on the list. Here is an example of a to-do list:

Complete the cart function code
Review the bug report
Follow up with team leader
Respond to code review

A list like this gives you a rough idea of your daily plan and helps to remove the cognitive load from your head.

2. Use the five-minute rule

Many people use the five-minute rule to deal with procrastination daily. It is a cognitive behavioral therapy technique that involves setting up a five minute time limit on a task you have to do. You work on it for the first five minutes, and if it gets unbearable, you quit or keep going. It might seem like a simple practice to avoid procrastination, but it is known to be effective. Hence, once a developer creates a project and plans through the day, completing tasks without procrastination becomes less overwhelming and more doable.

It is just one of the time management techniques, but there are many more. You can explore one of these time management courses to become more productive in your daily life. The goal is to start with the task at hand without being stressed or uneasy.

3. Change the environment

Different environments have different impacts on your productivity. If your desk is cluttered with items that distract you, then it’s high time you make a change. Developers should focus on the monitor, keyboard, and nothing else when writing code. Among the essential developer tips is optimizing your workplace for productivity.

Developers should create an environment that makes them feel inspired. It can be anything from using your favorite tools for writing code to using the best hardware for optimum performance. For example, some people have problems while working in public places because of constant movement and noise. If you face similar challenges, try to find a quiet spot to focus on your code.

You will likely procrastinate unless you can remove every possible distraction from your work environment, whether physical or digital. For instance, put your iPhone in do not disturb mode, and put it in the drawer. This will encourage you to crush the urge to keep checking your phone constantly.

4. Be kind to yourself

A common mistake most developers make is overcomplicating the to-do list with tasks they are most likely unable to complete. In doing so, they are setting themselves up for disappointment through a vicious cycle of self-doubt, guilt, and disappointment. You must learn to forgive yourself. If you often find that you label yourself as a procrastinator, drop the habit; it’s not going to help. Do not get stuck up on past experiences, and focus on doing 5% more towards achieving your goals every day. Cut yourself some slack and allow some flexibility to complete tasks without procrastinating.

Conclusion

Ultimately, every developer faces procrastination at some point in their career. The only way to avoid procrastination is to take proactive action. We hope the developer tricks shared here will help you strategize, plan and execute the game plan to avoid procrastination at work. Remember that it is hard to create something great while struggling with procrastination. This is why you must get a grip on time management skills.

Talent500 is a platform that helps Fortune500 companies build remote teams. Join our elite talent network to be found by global companies.

4 tips to level up your LinkedIn profile as a software developer

Posted on September 27, 2022September 27, 2022 by seoteam

Whether you are changing jobs or career transitioning, LinkedIn is the platform that can help make the move a lot easier. It is a great platform to connect with people with similar job profiles, interests or working in the same industry and thereby broaden your professional network.

The LinkedIn profile is essential for developers as the software development industry relies significantly on the platform to search for talent. While companies can leverage social media platforms to find talent, more than 94% of recruiters use only LinkedIn to find candidates to fill requirements much faster. Your presence on LinkedIn can help you quickly find opportunities that match your talent and skills, as only 36% of active job seekers are on LinkedIn. This disparity between the recruiters and job seekers on the platform offers a massive advantage to developers who maintain a professional LinkedIn profile.

Here we share some essential LinkedIn tips to facilitate your developer job search.

1. Get your LinkedIn profile score to 100%

You will notice that there is a profile completion score displayed on your profile dashboard on LinkedIn. You must attempt to complete your developer profile and achieve a score of 100%.

Why?

Because a complete LinkedIn profile is 40 times more likely to be discovered and contacted by recruiters through the platform. This multifold increase in discoverability is because a full LinkedIn profile is ranked higher by the internal algorithm. It boosts your presence in search results for the work profile matching your skills and experience.

To make your LinkedIn profile complete, you must have the following:

A professional profile picture
Completed location and industry fields
Experience-your current position with a brief description of the responsibilities in the role and two previous positions
Skills-while you can include as many skills as you have, ensure that you at least mention three skills
Education
At least 50 connections

It won’t be a lot of hard work to reach a 100% complete profile, as LinkedIn recommends ways to complete your profile along the way.

2. Optimize profile with keywords

Like ranking in search engines, keywords also matter much on LinkedIn. As we mentioned before, the professional social media platform uses an internal search algorithm to help recruiters and hiring managers find the talent easily; the algorithm uses keywords within the profile and description to rank profiles.

One of the most valuable LinkedIn tips we can share is to make sure you use the appropriate keywords that emphasize your specific skills and experience. For example, if you work with or want to work with a particular language or framework, mention it in your profile, such as Python, PHP, JavaScript, Angular, WordPress, etc.

Using the appropriate technical keywords will help the algorithm to send the right recruiters to your profile.

Along the same lines, remove any skills or technologies you are not interested in. Simply put, your profile should deemphasize keywords you are not interested in working with. For instance, if you are looking for a profile as a back-end developer, mentioning front-end technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, or frameworks like bootstrap, React, and Vue will confuse recruiters. It might result in you getting more front-end offers rather than back-end.

3. Include a call-to-action

You should always include a call-to-action (CTA) in your profile to prompt people to find out more about you than your LinkedIn profile. The best place to put a CTA is in the summary section. Here are some examples of CTA for more offers:

Feel free to know more about me through mail at name@example.com.

Learn more about my skills and work via my Github repositories at mygithubrep.com.

4. Mention relevant side projects

Arguably, no other industry expects professionals to be on a path of continuous learning and practicing like IT. As a developer, you must keep learning and upskilling to be employable. By taking a side project, you can practice your craft in technologies that you might not get to work on within the office. LinkedIn profiles with side projects, particularly in developer job search, allow recruiters and managers to see your leadership and engineering skills that might not be seen in your current job profile.

If you are hustling on the side, include relevant projects in your profile or through the link to your GitHub, Stack Overflow, or CodePen profile. This is important as it conveys to recruiters that you are a candidate who proactively invests in learning and upskilling.

Conclusion

The LinkedIn tips we have shared above can amplify the presence of your profile within a matter of minutes. While some optimizations, like creating keyword-centric descriptions and making connections, may take a while, you can level up your LinkedIn profile as a software developer with a few minor adjustments.

Talent500 is another platform for software developers to find career redefining opportunities with global companies and start-ups. We aim to connect elite talent with the best employers. Sign up here to join our talent pool.

Top iOS app development trends to watch out for in 2022

Posted on September 19, 2022 by seoteam

Apple devices constitute a significant share of all mobile devices in the world. According to market research, the percentage of Apple in the mobile market increased from 40% in 2020 to 47% in 2021-22.

Unsurprisingly, iOS app development is also propelled by the growth of Apple devices. People’s behavior is changing, and businesses are rapidly adopting digital transformation. The app development market is booming and is expected to reach $ 613 billion by 2025. As an app developer, you must know what’s changing in the industry to be ahead of the competition.

This article discusses the critical iOS app development trends you must keep a tab on in 2022.

1. Swift 6

While not a trend but an essential upgrade in the iOS app development sector is Swift 6. For iOS developers, Swift is one of the best programming languages as it is specially created for iOS platforms. Whether small or big-scale apps, Swift is used for iOS app development at all scales. Companies like LinkedIn, Apple, Slack, and Netflix use Swift for their iOS applications.

Swift 6 is the latest programming language version with essential upgrades such as powerful API and module stability, comprehensive compatibility, and added features to help iOS developers create apps for future Apple devices. We recommend you use Swift 6 for iOS applications as it has tools that allow you to focus on code quality and logic much more effectively.

2. Machine learning and artificial intelligence

Machine learning and artificial intelligence have been used in several segments of software development. While these disciplines are not new to 2022, their recent growth has brought many positive changes in app development. Undoubtedly, one of the year’s leading trends in iOS app development will be the inclusion of these technologies. For instance, Apple introduced the latest version of the machine learning framework – Core ML 3, to help developers create applications across a broad range of segments such as computer vision, speech recognition, IoT, and so on.

You must focus on machine learning and artificial intelligence because they can help keep your apps relevant by enabling them to learn and grow. As users will use your iOS application, machine learning will empower it to learn about the user’s preferences and behaviors and anticipate their requirements or wants to serve them better. Some apps are already doing it, such as Spotify’s search suggestions, the ELSA English learning iOS app, and Siri.

3. Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT is the technology that automates the most routine task in our lives by connecting various devices and enabling them to share information. The impact of IoT is expected to reach $1.6 trillion by 2025.

iOS development is embracing IoT to provide better apps for users. For example, iOS health applications use this technology to assist healthcare providers better. They can check a patient’s condition at home through several devices, such as heart rate monitors that share data with their iOS applications. Using several image processing algorithms, Triton Sponge is an excellent example of an iOS app using IoT to help determine how much blood a patient has lost.

Another trend that the Internet of Things is bringing to iOS app development is wearables.

4. Wearables

Wearables are already a common sight. Apple Watch, fitness bands, and Apple AirTag, are all examples of wearables. These devices are empowered by IoT technology and share data with their dedicated iOS apps. As we move towards a more connected world with technological advancements in the internet infrastructure, we can expect wearables to become increasingly popular. With the wearable software market poised to reach $ 118.16 billion by 2028, it is one of the critical iOS app development trends to keep a tab on.

Besides the health segment, wearable devices are also becoming popular as they allow you to access social media content without using your phone. Popular messengers like Telegram and Slack already have Apple Watch applications to receive and send messages. This is a trend that most other services are expected to follow in the coming years.

5. iBeacon

The iBeacon is the talk of the town due to its marketing capabilities. The powerful technology from Apple is grabbing the attention of marketing because it allows us to send push notifications to iPhone users using Bluetooth technology.

It’s easier to understand the application of iBeacon with an example. Suppose you want to notify potential customers about the sale in your clothing store if they pass by your store. While banner ads and billboards are an option, they are not as high converting as direct push notifications. Using iBeacon, you can create an application to send information to iPhone users as soon as they are within a set range of your store.

This iOS app development trend is finding high adoption in the retail industry to boost sales. If you develop diverse applications for the retail and e-commerce industry, this is the trend for you to follow in 2022.

Conclusion

Apple devices are here to stay, and iOS app development is poised to grow by leaps and bounds. We hope these trends will help you be in touch with the latest development in the industry.

Talent 500 is the platform for iOS app developers to find global opportunities with fast-growing start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. Sign up here to join the elite pool of iOS developers.

5 must-visit websites for developers

Posted on August 7, 2022August 8, 2022 by seoteam

Developer resources help programmers to keep up with technology changes, a requirement in the IT industry. But with so many online resources, how does a developer decide which one to follow?

The developer websites hosted by the experts are the best resources to follow as they provide information about new technologies, offer support, share valuable insights, and help improve your programming skills. These websites provide quality content that is relevant to developers. Our experts have put together this collection of the best developer websites.

1. StackExchange

With over 50 million developers visiting StackExchange websites every month, it is undoubtedly the most popular developer website network. Every developer knows Stack Overflow and Ask Ubuntu, the two most visited StackExchange network websites, but there are more websites to see here. Software Engineering and Database Administrators are some other development websites that you must visit.

There are several reasons to use StackExchange. First, much information is available to improve your software engineering skills. From algorithms to data structures and everything in between, you can learn a lot from StackExchange. Second, Stack Overflow is the best website to seek community help from other expert developers when you get stuck. Irrespective of the programming language or kind of project you are working with, there is help available.

2. DevDocs

The official documentation is one of the primary sources of assistance for any developer when they are learning a new programming language or using a framework. Suppose you are creating an eCommerce application. You might use PHP for the back-end, Vue.js for the front-end, HTML and CSS for the web interface, and APIs for extended functions. Working with so many technologies, it can be very time-consuming to search their documentation at their respective official websites.

What if you can access all official documentation on a single site?

That’s precisely what DevDocs does. It is a single-page app that allows you to search documentation for the most popular programming languages, libraries, and frameworks. The benefit of this website can’t be overstated. It makes documentation search super fast and even works in offline mode.

3. diff.blog

Just as official documentation allows you to use technology easily, blog posts from experts help you learn what’s new in the industry, explore case studies, and know what these developers are up to. Unfortunately, there is a limit to how many developer blogs you can bookmark or follow.

But with diff.blog, you don’t have to worry about aggregating engineering blogs again. It is one of the excellent developer resources that aggregates blog posts from over 1000 software engineering and developer blogs. You can search through the website with keywords to find relevant posts.

The website makes it easier to follow tech companies’ engineering blogs from all over the internet. Conversely, if you have a developer blog where you share your knowledge and experience with different technologies, you can include it in diff.blog to reach a much larger audience.

4. 30 Seconds of Code

Once in a while, every developer gets stuck with a functionality or task when working on a project. 30 Seconds of Code is a fantastic developer website that offers high-quality learning resources for web developers in code snippets. While detailed theoretical developer resources are suitable for beginners, mid-level and senior developers often look for code snippet examples to learn the usage and implementation of a function. For them, this is the website to find assistance.

30 Seconds of Code has a diverse community of developers sharing code snippets on various topics from dozens of programming languages. You don’t have to spend hours trying to find a code snippet anymore. However, this website is more relevant to web developers. One of the benefits of learning with this developer website is that all the code snippets shared are licensed under CC0-1.0, implying you can use the snippets in your code for free.

5. Web.Dev

The last inclusion in our list of must-visit developer websites is Web.dev. It is a Google Developers initiative to help developers learn modern-day web development. You know a developer resource is high-quality when a tech giant like Google maintains it.

Whether you are just starting with web development or planning to upskill new web technologies, Web.dev has enough resources to help you learn professional website-building skills. The website offers courses on responsive web design, web forms, CSS, and modern progressive web app development. There are additional resources on web frameworks, performance improvement, and building excellent websites.

One of the essential resources shared on Web.dev is the Lighthouse. It is a web page performance test metric developed by Google that developers must be aware of. It teaches the essentials of high-performance websites and how to utilize modern internet infrastructure to create fast websites.

Conclusion

A proficient programmer understands the importance of continuous learning. The developer websites we have listed here are excellent resources to keep learning new technologies, get answers, and stay in touch with the latest developments in the industry.

Talent500 is the platform for developers to discover global job opportunities. We help Indian talent find satisfying opportunities with startups and Fortune 500 companies. Join us today.

4 Great tools for asynchronous communication among developers

Posted on July 21, 2022July 21, 2022 by seoteam

The communication architecture of a team decides how productive and efficient it is. Excessive communication through video calls, instant messaging, and phone calls can create bottlenecks countering productivity. It is why companies are adopting asynchronous communication tools to maintain the overall efficiency of teams.

Asynchronous communication offers many benefits for teams-from greater flexibility to more thoughtful project collaboration-integrating asynchronous methods of communication will make team members happier and more productive. This is especially true if the teams are hybrid or remote.

This article will explore the asynchronous work environment and communication tools best suited.

What is asynchronous communication?

Before we understand asynchronous communication, let’s explore the communication challenges faced by remote and hybrid teams.

When employees are scattered over different time zones or working remotely, synchronous communication is difficult. If you require instant responses for employees to adhere to, there will be immense pressure on them. Also, too many workplace interruptions result in context switching as developers will be shifting between code editor, browser, and messengers. Asynchronous communication provides relief from all this communication overhead.

Asynchronous communication refers to the setup in which two or more are available simultaneously for a conversation to take place. The communication does not happen in real-time so that each team member can communicate in their own time.

Companies can adopt some of the best asynchronous communication tools to provide a better work-life balance.

Here are the four great tools for asynchronous communication that can help teams be more productive without wasting too much time on communication.

1. Twist

Constantly distracted employees experience poor productivity and have a higher risk of burnout. Twist is a unique messaging tool against the current status quo of real-time communication between teams and team members. It is an excellent asynchronous communication tool that allows users to focus on productivity rather than responsiveness.

Twist eliminates the need for a constant presence on communication apps. Workers can take complete control of notifications using Twist. Employees can create channels to organize chats by subjects, projects, or departments. They can further micromanage notifications to decide when, how, and messages they want.

Another highly usable feature of this tool is its advanced search. Twist organizes your inbox into a searchable threaded conversation. You can find the relevant information with a simple search without scrolling through random chatter.

2. Yac

Yac is an audio-first asynchronous communication tool giving workers freedom from the always-on trap. You do not have to be always present to collaborate more efficiently on projects or to have more productive discussions.

Rather than having endless scrum meetings on Zoom, managers can use Yac to record a quick voice message about the project to keep their teams in sync. The tool offers many options for the most efficient communication.

Suppose an idea or component is too complicated to be explained in the text; you can clarify the concept by recording your voice and screen. Then, you can send the message directly to your colleagues from Yac. You can even create a shareable link of voice notes that you can attach with emails or share on Slack.

3. Stepsize

An excellent asynchronous communication tool for issue tracking, Stepsize is designed for developers. It allows developers to share issues and collaborate on fixes by directly adding codebase issues from VSCode and JetBrains editors. Stepsize will enable developers to add code comments, bookmark, and send notifications to other Project Management tools.

For instance, if your team is working on a web project involving frontend and backend developers. Stepsize can streamline communication between them by allowing developers to comment or bookmark issues referred by other developers. Engineering teams can reduce technical debt and improve coding standards using this tool.

4. 360learning

Learning and knowledge sharing are essential for developing teams and a company’s growth. However, onboarding and training new employees can be challenging with remote teams. For this purpose, you can use 360learning. A collaborative learning management system allows teams to work asynchronously on the internal knowledge base and learning resources. People with different expertise can contribute to the same course individually in their own time.

Suppose you are working on a new learning course for a new tool your company has developed. Using 360learning, designers, developers, and managers can asynchronously share their insights in the course without working together synchronously.

Takeaway

Asynchronous communication offers many advantages, especially for remote teams. The goal of communication is to make teams more productive. Using asynchronous communication tools listed here makes sense to allow teams to work more and spend less time getting distracted by notifications, calls, and messages.

Fortune 500 companies and fast-growing startups trust Talent500 to hire, build, and manage their global remote workforce. Join our elite pool of talent today and discover career-redefining opportunities.

5 soft skills every backend developer needs in 2022

Posted on July 20, 2022 by seoteam

For software developers, soft skills are as necessary as technical skills. As communicating with the clients is not usually part of a backend developer’s routine, it is easier for them to not focus on their soft skills. But technical proficiency is not enough when you want to progress in your career. Whether asking for a raise or taking the next step, your soft skills will be valuable assets.

As a backend developer, you are important for the organization to keep things running smoothly and securely. However, such skills are also required to keep customers and other stakeholders happy. Soft skills for backend developers are essential, so you must focus on nurturing them as much as your technical skills.

Here are the five most critical soft skills for backend developers.

Team-oriented mindset

Most backend developers are accustomed to a heads-down delivery focusing only on technical aspects. But if you want to move up in your role and manage or lead a team, you will require soft skills to support the team holistically, not just with your technical know-how.

Backend development is where you must keep learning to have that technical edge and credibility. However, you must not harbor a feeling that you will lose your technological edge just because you are focusing on nurturing interpersonal skills. As a team leader, your success will depend on the team’s success rather than individual capabilities.

Therefore, you must have skills to help your teammates grow. As a team player, you must be available for them when required. Be approachable so that your team members and other managers could easily reach out to you. If you are leading a team of developers, create opportunities for the team to learn and grow in their position.

Embrace empathy

Social connections are important for everyone. It would help if you embraced empathy to channel each member’s strengths and help the team succeed collectively. When you are empathic towards your team members, it brings in more openness, and they can talk to you about their problems. It is critical to establish a continuous line of communication within your team. It would help if you considered the ideas and thoughts other developers have to contribute. Even when you have a strong point of view towards a decision, be an active listener who is willing to think from a different perspective too. Being flexible opens you to new ideas which are important in software development.

Clear communication

Backend developers work on keeping the applications safe and infrastructure empowering so that the web applications run smoothly. That’s a lot of complex technologies at work. You will often have to explain what you are doing or how the solution you deployed works.

Communication skills are necessary for every backend developer to be able to present or express their ideas to other stakeholders. You may have to speak with clients about their projects or help your colleagues understand ongoing projects’ progress. Excellent communication skills enable you to explain what you have built to other people without coming across as condescending. For instance, if you think a particular technology is more suited for a task, you must present your viewpoint to help other members understand better. Working on your communication skills will help you convey your message to other developers, management, and stakeholders effectively.

Flexibility

Things will go wrong, maybe more often than you anticipated, even when you have deployed the most well-engineered solutions. You must know how to adapt to new situations instead of losing your calm.

Adaptability is one of the most essential soft skills for a backend developer. As you are responsible for keeping things running smoothly, you must have the flexibility to solve the rising issues creatively while keeping calm under pressure. Mastering flexibility is vital to troubleshoot problems more efficiently without participating in the blame game.

Listening Skills

You must have impeccable listening skills as a backend developer to grasp a system’s requirements before starting its development. It is a skill that takes precedence over technical qualification. Active listening means attentively listening to the message, deriving the correct meaning from it, and then appropriately responding to it.

Listening well also helps you provide constructive feedback, convey information, and be a good communicator overall.

Conclusion

Backend developers often work in isolation, but there is more to their jobs than just writing code. In addition to technical proficiency, backend developers must have the soft skills necessary to work as a team and to lead other developers if required. The above-listed soft skills for backend developers are essential for their progress.

Talent500 can help backend developers hone their skills and become more valuable candidates. Join us today and be a part of one of the largest team-building platforms.

4 key characteristics of a great software development team

Posted on July 20, 2022 by seoteam

Software development is a team effort, but if the collaboration is not organic then it can feel incredibly tiresome. Several stakeholders working together – developers, project managers, DevOps managers, UI UX designers, and QA specialists – must have a sense of shared purpose to convert ideas into digital products. Great development teams have some explicitly identifiable characteristics that we are about to discuss.

At Talent500, we help businesses build-remote tech teams with the right people on board. Working with candidates, companies and technology, we have gained an innate understanding of the critical characteristics of great teams.

This article will share the essential traits that most successful teams feature. We suggest you keep these in mind when making your own team.

Effective Communication

Good communication is a characteristic that all great teams share. Such groups can keep all the team members informed with minimal effort. When developers in the team understand their role, their tasks and the reason behind them, they are more dedicated to the assignment. Effective communication is also essential to create a safe environment for people to share their ideas and concerns without hesitation. Unsurprisingly, 99.1% of employees prefer a workplace where team members identify and discuss issues and ideas truthfully and effectively.

So, how do you ensure effective communication within your team? The answer is simple. It is a combined product of process, communication tools, and good leadership.

Here are some critical questions to answer to understand what works and what doesn’t in your team:

Are the team leaders setting a good example by showing developers and other team members how to communicate well?
Are developers told what needs to be done and why?
Is the leadership taking necessary steps to develop effective communication channels?

Common Goals

Clear, achievable goals are critical for team success. Great tech teams focus on ensuring that everyone knows the plan of action and what they are working towards. Because when that happens, those involved are more likely to feel motivated and engaged.

The worst structure a team can have is a heavy top-down flow, i.e only the managers are aware of the goals while the rest of the team isn’t. It is a proven fact that great teams have a shared mission and each individual has a sense of responsibility. When everyone is invested in the team’s success, overcoming challenges becomes much more manageable.

One way to create a sense of shared responsibility is by allowing each team member to set their own plan of action towards the common goal. Do ensure everyone understands the accountability towards what they are trying to achieve.

Strong Culture

When there is mutual trust and understanding between team members, it brings a sense of community. By establishing a strong culture within your team, you can easily keep their morale high. One way to do that is to indulge in rapport-building activities like assigning nicknames, creating rituals, and sharing inside jokes and memes.

It should be noted that strong team culture builds over time and can’t be enforced. Putting people with compatible personalities together in a team will help encourage a progressive work culture. This is where the discretion of the team lead comes into play, as they are responsible for evaluating people’s personalities and mixing suitable profiles into the same team.

Independence

Independence allows teams to make decisions more quickly and remain focused without intervention. Every team lead or manager should take a hard look at their company culture to identify any factor that hinders the formation of self-contained teams.

Also, companies with a strict top-down control seldom have great teams, as they leave no scope for teams to experiment or develop an internal culture to work together and face challenges. Top-down control also creates internal obstacles that cause a struggle to achieve goals. One should always work towards creating a sense of independence where people might work as self-contained units, yet have a shared role structure where individuals possess the skills to build products without depending on external resources.

Conclusion

Great teams work when an organization has the right environment. A regular review of the company culture is necessary to understand whether the internal teams are happy or not. If your company struggles to build and maintain great teams, look for opportunities to influence the development of the above-listed traits in teams.

Talent500 is the platform for hiring, building, and managing high-impact remote engineering teams. Join our elite pool of talent today to work with the best companies.

5 tips to present new ideas as a software developer

Posted on July 18, 2022July 19, 2022 by seoteam

Software development is a field where your technical skills matter, but they are not the only skills you will require to progress in your career. Soft skills are critical to performing your job effectively for the following reasons:

You require communication skills to present your ideas to the client, teammates, and other stakeholders.
You must have the emotional intelligence to guide your teams throughout the project development.
Leadership qualities are essential to help other developers in your team learn and grow.

This article will talk about the tips software developers can use to present their new ideas.

Highlight the value of the idea

Anyone will show interest in your idea if they think it can add value in some way. When presenting your idea in a developer meeting, it is essential to align your presentation to your audience’s interests. Your idea might be great, but it will not impress the audience if it’s irrelevant to them. For instance, if your idea is about a chatbot solution, tailor your presentation to include tangible steps the audience can take to automate customer service with chatbots. In this manner, they will understand the value of deploying chatbot solutions rather than just understanding what chatbots are.

Idea presentation should be tailored for the audience

It is essential to customize your idea presentation according to the audience. It is why you should try to know about them as much as possible before the presentation. If you are presenting your idea to a group of android developers, your focus should be more on the technical aspects such as the tech stack, cloud platforms, and design patterns. However, if the same idea is to be presented to a room consisting of managers, you have to be more tenacious with your approach – rather than technicalities, focus on the business part of the idea. Since different audiences have different focuses, your idea presentation should be tailored to meet their interests.

Slides are a tool, not the messenger

Microsoft PowerPoint is the standard for presentations, but it is just a tool and nothing more. When you present your idea to people, the onus is really on you to deliver the message coherently. You can use the medium of a presentation to help communicate your message, but it cannot do the job for you.

When working on your presentation, you must include important information in the slides to engage the audience. Here are some pointers to keep in mind when you’re preparing a presentation for your idea.

Keep the words limited and avoid paragraphs or long blocks of text. It helps people focus on the main idea rather than having to spend time reading the text.
Be careful about the font you use. It must be consistent throughout your presentation and should be readable by everyone in the room.
Avoid complex designs in the slides. Use simple graphs and tables that are easy for the audience to read and understand.
Wherever possible, use pictures over text to better represent the idea you are trying to convey with words.

Convey idea as a story

Your idea presentation doesn’t have to be boring like a news report. While software developers are good with data representation, it is the engagement part where they lack the developer soft skills. Your idea presentation should be an amalgamation of data and a storyline to simultaneously inform and engage the audience.

Try to tell a story around the idea. For example, if you are selling an idea about an app for cryptocurrency, start with the storyline of how decentralized currency can help underdeveloped nations improve their financial infrastructure. Present data on how cryptocurrencies in recent years have skyrocketed and what sort of technology goes behind building an infrastructure to support crypto.

During your presentation, your body language should also convey a story. We suggest you watch TedTalks on various topics to see how business leaders present their ideas to learn from them.

Practice

It is essential to practice in front of a mock audience. As a software developer, you might know the information you are about to present inside out, but the presentation is also important to impress the audience. If you skip slides or force something into your talk, you will come across as disorganized and unprepared. You must practice your presentation until it has a natural flow.

Developer presentation practice will also allow you to evaluate the equipment and the presentation’s content for any issues or mistakes. And remember, if something goes wrong during the presentation, keep your composure and carry on.

Conclusion

Presenting your idea as a software developer will put you through some anxiety, but feeling overwhelmed is okay. Public speaking is a soft skill out of most software developers’ comfort zone. We hope the tips we have shared above will help you deliver a successful pitch for your next big idea.

Talent500 is the platform for top Indian software developers to find career redefining opportunities with fast-growing start-ups and Fortune500 companies. Sign up today to be discovered by the best companies globally.