There are multiple rounds of massive layoffs in tech. Software engineers were once considered one of the most secure positions, but not anymore. So, what are you supposed to prepare for the uncertain future? The answer is obvious. Make you irreplaceable.
Here are a few you can do to make yourself more valuable.
Participate in open-source projects
Involving in open-source projects can seem daunting. Yet, it’s fun and beneficial once you start it. The biggest benefit is you can learn about your topic in depth. I was able to learn more about the CI/CD process and logs by contributing to a few backend projects. Plus, you can learn from more experienced engineers via peer review. This expands my understanding of development in general. Last but not least, open-source contributions are proof of your work. This can be your new resume.
Build your own projects
Working on side projects sounds boring. Yet, we can’t ignore the benefits. I don’t recommend building an Instagram clone. What I recommend is to build what you wish you had. As a software engineer, you may have ideas, but you may have never implemented them. “This sucks”, “How this poor service makes money?”. Fix them, publish them. Your side projects can be your full-time in the future. At least, you will learn way more about engineering than watching Udemy courses. Your project will make you stand out among the crowd.
Study data structures and algorithms
I observed a ton of engineers don’t like to work at their current places, yet they stick to it as they are more afraid of technical interviews. Whether you like it or not, tech companies still do a technical round to find the best candidate. I don’t say it’s the best approach to finding great candidates. Yet, it's the price you have to pay for opportunities. For those who want to learn data structures and algorithms, I'm writing everything about tech interviews here → Ace Interview. Star it and use it for your own sake.
Conclusion
If you are preparing for yourself, you should never worry about your job. Life can be uncertain, yet we can still remain calm if we are willing to.
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