How to be a successful remote software engineer

  • ali
  • March 23rd, 2022



Working from home is becoming more popular, and not only because technology has made even minor communications more instantaneous and intrusive. Remote working is also the Newest Big Thing in terms of culture, with both startups and large firms adopting it as official capital-P Policies. However, why is “working remotely” becoming so popular?

Today, real-time communication is simpler than it was even five years ago. Our phones are bloated and sluggish due to hundreds of redundant messaging applications, and we are continuously conversing in one window or another. Massive video/audio group calls have also gotten a lot easier to manage. As a consequence, businesses, particularly those that are newer, are more confident in their ability to manage their staff remotely and electronically rather than on-site and in person.

To progress as a developer, you must be a self-starter who makes it a point to be active and learn new things on a regular basis. Here are some ideas about how to go about it.

  • Take your responsibilities seriously.

Working from home does not imply that you have “arrived.” It also does not imply you are free to do anything you want because you do not have someone watching your every step. You should aim to be the greatest developer you can be, even if you work alone. Your remote employer will recognize that you have the abilities and mentality to complete the job if you have a hardworking attitude. As a result, they will be more willing to invest in you.

Even if no one is breathing right behind your neck, pay attention to the minutiae of your job. When fixing a defect, do not only repair the immediate problem. Rather, take a step back and investigate the bug’s origins: What went wrong? What is the duration of the bug’s presence? What impact does it have on the project? Even the most apparently harmless problems may provide important insights into a project’s fundamentals if you take an analytical approach.

  • Encourage a feedback-friendly atmosphere.

Receiving useful feedback on your performance is critical to your professional development. It will assist you in improving both your programming abilities and the way you interact with people. When you open yourself up to the team’s critique of your work, you will have a clear understanding of the aspects of your work that other developers could question.

Encourage a positive atmosphere where constructive criticism is accepted. Receiving and offering feedback should be a proactive process. When giving feedback, keep in mind that the purpose is to push your colleagues to be better at their professions, not to insult them intentionally.

  • Prepare for video conferencing.

Teams should meet on a regular basis to exchange their thoughts and lessons learned, difficulties, and key discoveries regarding the project. The goal is for everyone to be aware of all of the topics that will be covered at the feedback meetings a few days ahead of time so that their input is as genuine and useful as possible. Then, on the scheduled day, choose a location where you can be seen and heard well during the video conference (which means a stable internet connection, too). Communication is much more than just stating what you want to say; it is also about how you say it. Making sure the team can recognize each other’s tone and body language when hosting the feedback session can assist in developing greater understanding.

  • Inform the management about your passions.

Even if your personal objectives and hobbies in the sector are beyond the scope of your present work, be honest with your remote employer about them. If they require a JavaScript developer for a current website project, for example, you may also indicate that you are an Android developer and can assist them in developing an app. This will cause them to think about you anytime a chance comes. This will not only provide you with additional options in the future, but it will also build your relationship with your employer if you are upfront about your aims and hobbies. They may also be more willing to share certain learning opportunities with you, such as allowing you to speak with an in-house expert or sharing some of the company’s learning tools. When you evolve as a developer, you bring value to yourself, which makes you a more valuable member of the team.

  • Encourage the use of code reviews.

It is critical to set principles that determine the project’s structure while working on a code base with other developers. Furthermore, by instituting regular code reviews, the team guarantees that everyone follows the defined principles while maintaining high-quality code. Allowing oneself to be judged by your peers is an important aspect of understanding the subtleties of programming.

  • Enlist the help of a professional.

Many developers will tell you that pair programming and mentoring are the greatest ways to learn to program. This makes sense since having some kind of existing relationship to help you through the development process is preferable to having no one. Especially if you are being guided by an expert. We also know that many difficulties in programming have previously been addressed by more experienced programmers, who have the necessary knowledge to tackle these challenges. Find a mentor you can trust, whether via your personal network or services like Codementor, where you can have an expert check over your code or help you get unstuck if you are stuck. These professionals can help you get the most out of your knowledge by teaching you how to solve challenges they have faced in the past. Of course, doing your own research is always a smart idea, but after you have done your part, seek confirmation for your findings by enlisting the advice of an expert.

  • Learn from the best in the business.

When developing a software application, numerous considerations must be made, including which development stack is best for the task. New tools emerge throughout the time that may be superior to the ones now in use. Every business wants to be efficient, but most firms, particularly small enterprises, cannot afford to follow every new trend that emerges. Despite being bound to a particular technology, you may still learn new languages and tools on your own.

Following industry leaders and keeping track of the most relevant developments in your sector is easy with social media and online forums. These community-vetted leaders remove the guesswork from determining what you should focus on next in your field of expertise.

  • Make friends with other programmers in a community.

When you join a programming community, you are filling a hole left by the lack of close peers from whom you may learn new things on the spur of the moment. You could also learn about new things that you would not have discovered on your own. However, more crucially, you have the chance to establish a reputation for yourself by sharing what you are already excellent at and that others may find interesting.

If you are not sure where to look for local groups, Meetup.com is a wonderful resource for organizing “meetups.”

Final Words

Many of the communication channels that organizations deem important to employee performance have been replaced by advancements in annoying-messaging-app technology. Long email threads and meetings have been replaced by little messages and huge video conversations, which connect time zones and national jurisdictions. Companies have embraced technologies like Shortcut, Slack, Hangouts, and Agile development approaches to legibly coordinate huge numbers of workers with metrics that management can access and analyze since they cannot readily monitor distributed staff.

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