Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

Of course, all of these are very good qualities for a software developer to have, but here at Scio, we think that there’s something else involved, a “secret ingredient” of sorts that every developer can have if they put in the necessary effort and that we encourage as often as we can: a growth mindset.

What is a growth mindset? Simply put, it’s the belief that intelligence and ability can be developed through hard work and practice. It means having the ability to constantly learn new things, adapt to new situations and be open to feedback with a willingness to experiment. It’s never getting too comfortable with your skills because the industry is always changing. We believe that the best developers are always learning, always growing, and always looking for ways to improve.

The research of Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck has shown that people with a growth mindset are more likely to persevere in the face of setbacks, take on challenging tasks, and embrace failure as an opportunity to learn. With this, you can see why any great developer would know that having a growth mindset is critical for success. Your skills can be developed through hard work, determination, and persistence, and this mindset allows you to approach challenges with a positive attitude and the belief that you can overcome them. It also gives you the chance to learn from your mistakes and view “failure” as an opportunity to evolve. Without a growth mindset, it is easy to become discouraged when faced with difficult problems or to give up when encountering setbacks. Getting yourself into this headspace will leave you better equipped to continue growing as a developer.

Developing a growth mindset

As we said, a growth mindset believes that intelligence and talent are skills that can be developed, rather than static traits that you’re born with. The latter is known as a “fixed mindset”, which maintains that ability is static or predetermined, and there’s little you can do to change that. In other words, it’s thinking in terms of “natural talents” instead of “acquired skills” that can dissuade a lot of people from learning and improving an aspect of themselves, leaving them stuck in place. 

The idea of “natural talent” is very powerful. It’s often used to describe someone good at something seemingly without any effort, a sort of “Life’s Lottery Winner” that either you are, or you aren’t. However, this is far from the truth; what we call «talent» is simply the result of hard work, practice, and dedication, so anyone can become good at anything if they are willing to put in the time and effort. The belief that some people are born with inherent abilities, while others are not, is nothing more than a harmful myth, discouraging people from trying new things and pursuing their goals, because they believe that they will never be as good as those with «natural talent», no matter what. In reality, everyone has the same potential for greatness, but it’s up to each individual to get into this mindset.

But how to shed this worldview and embrace the idea that you can always learn and become better? How can you develop a growth mindset to become the developer you always wanted to be? Well, the most important thing you should know is that having a growth mindset is not always an innate attitude for most people, so it requires effort to get one. We all have a specific aspect of our personality somewhere that we believe impossible to change, that is just “part of who we are”, making us likely to give up in the face of adversity, stick to familiar tasks, and see failure as a reflection of our lack of ability, which is rarely the case. Recognizing the presence of this “fixed mindset” is the first step to start improving.

With that in mind, you should start by practicing self-advocacy. This is the ability to communicate your wants and needs to others, which requires an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. Doing so makes it easier to identify areas of opportunity where you can improve a skill or learn something new. In software development, for example, you need a lot more than just writing good code; you need to communicate with the client and your team effectively, understanding their needs and challenges, and in a Nearshore company like Scio, often in a different language than your native one. All of these skills require time and commitment to master, so to get started…

1. Make a list of all the skills you use daily, both hard and soft (tools, frameworks, platforms, and programming languages, for example, as well as stuff like planning, communicating with others, giving feedback, etc.)
2.  Make a note of which ones you feel completely confident about, and which ones require more effort on your part. 
3. Try to see what’s the difference between these skills: maybe it’s the amount of practice you put into it, or maybe you feel more interested in doing one rather than the other. Maybe you never had the chance to use that skill before.
4. Apply self-advocacy to find the help you need to bring these skills up. Sign up for a course, ask a more experienced friend, or make the time to improve.

“By understanding what you’re good at and what you need to work on, you can set yourself up for success”, says Luis Aburto, CEO and Co-Founder of Scio. “If you’re aware of your weaknesses, you can take steps to improve them. And if you know your strengths, you can use them to your advantage. Which is an essential quality if you want to grow and evolve as a developer. By taking the time to understand what makes you tick, you can set yourself up for success both now and in the future.”

However, even after doing all of this, we understand that this growth doesn’t happen instantaneously; it requires a continued effort and the support of everyone in your environment to reach your maximum potential as a developer. This is why choosing to collaborate with an organization that takes growth seriously is just as important as recognizing your need to improve your skill set. After all, what good comes out of knowing your areas of opportunity if you don’t have the chance to act on them?

Growing together

However, a true growth mindset goes beyond simply believing that you can get better by just expanding your knowledge or your technical toolset. It involves taking the initiative to explore new skills and going through learning experiences outside of your “comfort zone”. In a previous blog, we talked about how actual “comfort zones” are less about getting stuck on a single place, without feeling the need to go beyond it, and more about expanding your areas of expertise, getting comfortable in areas of software development that are just as important as technical knowledge, but demand a very different kind of effort. Soft skills like  communication, negotiation, problem solving, teamwork or strategic thinking that will help you become a well-rounded developer. Going into places you have never gone before is how a person truly grows.

That’s why it’s so important to work with people that help you improve all your skills, or with an organization that provides opportunities for skill development outside of what you thought possible before, commiting to create a strong team capable of taking on any challenge. Companies like Scio, for example, know the value not only in offering workshops, courses, and programs like Sensei-Creati, but also in letting developers “stretch their legs”, so to speak, with assignments and responsibilities that might help them develop a new skill, like letting a Senior take the Lead in a project, or allowing people that not normally interact with the client to have a more “first hand” experience” to practice communication and planning. Actions like these allow taking something you are not “skilled at” and practice it to perfection on a daily basis, even if it’s outside of your normal interests. That’s how we participate in the creation of well-rounded developers capable of joining any team and overcoming any challenge.

So, to get back to our point, a growth mindset is essential for any software developer that wants to be excellent at their craft. With this mindset, you will never stop learning and expanding your skillset, always looking for new challenges to conquer and ways to improve yourself. If you can adopt a growth mindset and let go of preconceived notions about what you are and aren’t good at, you will set yourself up for success as a great software developer. And We will always be in need of those.

The Key Takeaways

• A good software developer knows that the key to greatness is always improving your skills and learning new things.
• To achieve this, you need to get into a “growth mindset” where improving is a continuing process that never stops.
• To get this mindset, myths like “natural talent” or that there are things about yourself that cannot be changed need to be left behind.
• However, doing this by yourself can be difficult, which is why you, as a developer, should choose to collaborate with a company or organization that sees the value in growing and learning at every step.

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!

Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

Why choose a career portfolio?

And one of the most significant changes in recent years is how the idea of the “career ladder” has slowly started to disappear thanks to a completely different job landscape, where spreading out skills and options has begun to be seen as the best career move possible. A “career ladder” in software development is typically referred to as starting as an entry-level programmer, working on coding and bug fixes. As they gain experience, they may move up to more senior positions, such as a Lead Developer or Project Manager. However, more and more developers agree that taking on new challenges and continuously learning new technologies is essential for success in this ever-changing field, with no “right” path to take when climbing the career ladder in software development. Rather, it depends on each individual’s skills and preferences.

This has resulted in the idea of forgoing career ladders, and instead focusing on “career portfolios”, or the idea of acquiring a varied list of skills, interests, and experience, tailored to your affinities and what you want from a professional field. But what does a career portfolio look like in practice and how to choose a workplace where you have the flexibility to experiment and learn new things?

The squiggly line to your full potential

We have talked before about how software development is already a pretty open career path, where the central concept (solving complex logic puzzles) can be applied almost anywhere. And with new technologies and approaches emerging all the time, those who want to succeed in this field need to be able to quickly adapt and learn new skills, which is why more and more developers are warming up to the idea of flexible career paths.

“Having the opportunity to move between different roles and teams here at Scio is how to help ensure our people remain agile and responsive to change”, says Helena Matamoros, Human Capital Manager at Scio. “We know the importance of providing the opportunity to try new things and different approaches. In software development, it’s very important to encourage innovation and creativity, no matter where you are in your career.” 

Nevertheless, where to start with this flexibility and craft a portfolio that showcases your talent, skills, and interests? After all, as the world keeps changing at an ever-increasing pace, those who embrace change will be the ones who thrive. In the words of the Harvard Business Review: “A career portfolio approach solves these problems and takes career development to a new level. It’s not only a tool for individuals to rethink their professional identity and reach their full potential.” So, as a starting point, you can ask yourself the following questions to plan your portfolio.

A) How much free time will you need?

An excellent way to define your career progress is by deciding how much time you are willing to devote to learning a new skill. The best way to go about it is to develop a yearly plan divided into quarters, months, weeks, or even days, decide on specific goalposts and work towards them. Depending on your job, your time might be at a premium, so knowing what’s the best path depends on your skills, talent, and amount of time available, critical to growing and becoming good at something new.

B) What are your interests?

As we said, a good portfolio comprises stuff you are personally interested in, but also makes good synergy with the career path you are currently following; for example, if you like being with people and think you have leadership qualities, why not work on your soft skills to be a Team Lead? Or a project manager? After all, these roles are more about getting close to people, listening, and empathizing, but still, they need a solid understanding of tech to the scope and plan effectively. 

C) Does your workplace allow for flexibility?

However, this might not be a smooth experience if you aren’t part of an organization that values this kind of growth, the number of which is growing as more people see the value in following a squiggly line. Organizations like Scio, for example, not only allow developers to explore different areas of software but actively offers courses and workshops (under the Sensei-Creati Program) that actively want developers and everyone else to grow as they see fit. Hence, researching which kinds of opportunities a company offers before joining is always the best idea. 

Focusing your career on yourself

A lot of people think that the best way to further their career is to focus on external factors, like networking, making money, or climbing up the corporate ladder, but the truth is that focusing on yourself and building up a portfolio of diverse interests and skills has no comparison, especially in the software development field. When you invest in your own professional growth, you become more skilled and knowledgeable, which makes you feel more balanced and successful. 

After all, you are the only person who knows what you want out of life, and when you make career decisions based on what you think will make other people happy, you’re not likely to end up in a job that makes you truly satisfied. On the other hand, if you stay true to yourself and pursue opportunities that align with your goals and values, you’ll be much more likely to find a fulfilling career. 

“There’s plenty of reasons why a company should offer growth opportunities for their employees, and not only because it helps productivity or retain talent”, continues Helena about the philosophy of Scio. “It’s important to understand that many job seekers are looking for more than just a steady paycheck. They want to work for a company that will invest in their development and help them reach their full potential. It also boosts morale and motivation among everyone, When people see that their company is committed to helping them grow and develop, they feel appreciated and valued. Ultimately, growth opportunities are good for both employers and employees alike.”

In the end, focusing on yourself is the best way to set yourself up for a successful career, and it’s in your best interest to collaborate with an organization that sees the value in a wide range of skill sets and affinities in their employees. Software development today is more diverse than ever, and the “ladder” upwards is just one of many options available to take during a career. So, if you want to make a name for yourself in the software development world, focus on building a great portfolio. It’s sure to pay off in the long run.

The Key Takeaways

• The way careers work nowadays is pretty diverse, not just as a rigid path straight up, especially regarding software development.
• Building a portfolio of talents and skills is becoming more common and more desirable, and this flexibility is an important feature of any organization looking to grow.
• The skills you acquire should synergize with each other, but a company interested in the development of their employees already offers the workshops and options necessary to make it work.
• Developing a person’s full potential is one of the core tenets of Scio, because that’s how true innovation and advancement are achieved. 

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!

Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

So, by working on side projects, developers can not only gain valuable experience but also try out new techniques and learn new languages. In many cases, side-projects can also be a great way to develop new skills. For example, by working on a project in their spare time, developers can learn how to manage a team or how to bring an idea to fruition. Moreover, working on side projects can also help developers stay up to date with the latest industry trends. By keeping their skills sharp, developers can increase the scope of their talents and the chance of growing professionally in ways you might not even expect.

So, this time we want to dive into the kinds of side-projects that many Scioneers have dabbled into during the years, and this time we chat with Pedro Ramírez, a Chief Architect at Scio with many years of experience, about a project he is most proud of: a complete videogame.

And this is because, for any software developer, no matter how experienced, creating a videogame can be daunting. Numerous challenges need to be solved and overcome, from designing compelling gameplay, to ensuring that the game runs smoothly on a variety of devices and platforms, to getting it into digital stores. For Pedro, though, this was an opportunity to learn and have fun alongside his son, releasing the endless runner FlyFlyFly in 2016 for mobile devices. You can still find it on the Microsoft Store, and talking about its development, shed a lot of light on the process for a software developer trying to get a project done on the side.

“At first, I thought it was going to be simple, but there were a lot of challenges to solve along the road. You can use a lot of tools and libraries today to make game development easier, but still requires a lot of puzzle-solving and learning to manage your resources wisely. For example, I needed to save as much memory as possible at the start of development to make sure the game ran smoothly on every device possible, and the Microsoft tools don’t give you much. And even when I got it working, lots of things were still in the air.”

However, being a solo game developer is no easy feat. Not only do you need to be skilled in programming, but also be able to create engaging gameplay, design attractive visuals, and even engage in marketing for your game to build a community around it. Of course, you don’t need to be an expert in all of these areas — there are plenty of tools and resources available to help you get started, but it’s important to have a general understanding of all the different aspects of game development if you want to be successful, and most of the time that is a challenge by itself.  

“I had to develop stuff completely new to me, like the user interface, or draw the graphics and make them work as intended. Not everything is just writing code, you need a knack for art to make it look nice and appealing, which was one of my biggest learning experiences of the whole deal. When I started this project, I thought it would be easier than it was, so it was a big reality check when I realized how much I still needed to learn, especially when it comes to trying to get the word out and make it stand out in the stores.”

A passion project (in more than one sense)

Anyone who’s ever gone through software development knows how rewarding it can be to see your code doing something. It’s even more satisfying when it’s something you built yourself, just for fun. But what you might not know is that having a personal side-project in software development can be pretty advantageous, too. For one thing, it gives you a chance to explore new technologies and learn new skills without the pressure of having to produce perfect results. You can also use your side project as a portfolio piece to show future employers what you’re capable of. 

“Three or four years ago, we had a client in Scio that was looking to develop an RPG-type game, similar to Final Fantasy, and I was put in charge of it thanks to my experience with FlyFlyFly”, tells Pedro. “In the end, the client had to put the project on hold for budget reasons, but we still have the source code somewhere in the Scio servers, and I’m proud of the opportunity it offered me. That’s why I believe that doing things for passion and fun can be so important in software. You never know when those skills will come in handy.”

And beyond that, working on a project by yourself can be a great way to relieve stress and take a break from the day-to-day grind of work, and when done purely for your own enjoyment, you can learn new programming techniques, try out new tools and frameworks, and generally push yourself outside of your comfort zone. What’s more, side projects can be a great way to make connections with other developers and build up your professional network, and maybe even have unconventional learning experiences along the way.

“When I first started development on FlyFlyFly, I was working for Amazon, and that technically made it their property, thanks to the terms of my contract with them”, explained Pedro about one of the most unexpected issues of this project. “It was basically a conflict of interests with the IP or so, and that basically made it impossible for me to maintain the game after I left them to work elsewhere, which is one of the reasons I couldn’t keep updating it on Android and iOS. Still, the experience I had with my son figuring out the game and learning how these storefronts work is invaluable.”

However, a question you might be thinking is why put some much effort into a side project like FlyFlyFly? Well, if you ask any software developer what they love most about their career, they’ll likely tell you it’s the challenge. Building new software is like solving a puzzle — it’s endlessly fascinating, and there’s always something new to learn, but even the most dedicated developers can burn out if they’re not passionate about what they’re doing, which is why this is such an important element of software development; when you’re passionate about the work, all the difficult challenges are worth it, constantly driving you to push yourself to do better.

After all, it’s easy to think that working hard and being passionate means the same thing. After all, if you’re putting in the hours, it stands to reason that you must care deeply about the work, right? But in reality, these are two very different things that need to be balanced carefully: Working hard is a necessary part of achieving success in any field, but to be truly successful, you need to be passionate about what you’re doing. Passionate people are driven by a desire to excel, not just by a sense of duty or a fear of failure; they’re willing to put in the extra work because they love what they’re doing and believe in their abilities. Projects like the game created by Pedro are a great example of this: a fun bonding project that taught him so much pushed him to learn new things, and even was useful to get a project rolling at Scio.

So, if you want to achieve your goals, ask yourself: Are you working hard because you’re passionate about what you do, or just because you think you should be? The answer will make all the difference.

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!