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14 MUST-HAVE Soft Skills for Software Developers (LEVEL UP!)

John Sonmez — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 15:03:58 +0000

Technical Skills only get you so far as a programmer.

Out of all the things and technologies I’ve learned in my software engineering career, the single thing that made me the most money, bar none, was soft skills.

They’re hard to measure – but you know ‘em when you see ‘em.

Being good with people.
Being a powerful public speaker.
Being able to hang in there when things get tough, physically and emotionally.

In short, all those things most people don’t focus on!

Great soft skills set you apart as a software developer. They open doors for you. And thus, they multiply your income potential.

They’re the most valuable thing in programming I could teach you.

Let’s dive in.

1. Goal Setting – Achieve Your Dreams As A Developer

Setting goals as a developer seems pretty obvious – right?

Yet so few programmers ever define goals for their career.

Why?

My guess is for one of two reasons:

Many software developers are afraid to commit to a long-term vision. They want to keep their options open. What if I commit to the wrong path? What if I don’t like where it takes me? Scary questions indeed.
They haven’t given it much thought at all – and just follow the path that’s laid out for them. It’s more difficult to create your own path. So we just don’t do it.

But every step you take without a clear direction is a wasted step. Don’t randomly walk through life without a purpose for your career!

Take these two main actions to improve the soft skill of goal setting:

First, set a big, exciting far-off goal for yourself. Where do you want your career to be in 5-10 years?
Secondly, make small goals that take you in the direction of that bigger goal, step by step.

2. Communication & Speaking Skills – Level Up Your Career

If you think your main job as a software developer is to write code?

You better think again.

Your job as a programmer – just as in about every industry – is to deal with people.

And how do you master your relationship with people? By mastering communication.

Start practicing your communication skills at work each day:

Connect with a coworker. Maybe someone you haven’t talked to much in the past.
Explain one concept or project to someone. Try to be engaging, educational and easy to understand in your explanation.
Pitch a new idea to your boss. Make it sound as enticing to him as possible.

Talk to more people (besides your computer)

I dislike the introvert vs extrovert label.

Don’t say ‘I’m shy, because I’m introverted’. The two are not connected. Stop that shit. It’s an excuse.

Just do it. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

If you get into the habit, you’re going to become a better communicator. You’ll make a ton of connections.. and you’re going to see the effects of that.

Become a Persuasive Public Speaker

Public speaking can give you authority, bring in support for your projects, and open all kinds of doors for you as a developer.

In most companies there’s chances for you as an employee to give talks or presentations to the team.

Take those opportunities! Also practice your public speaking outside of work: You can do this at code camps and local user groups. Get this soft skill dialed in and transform your programming career.

3. Attractiveness & Charisma – Switch Your Life to Easy Mode

Engage Others & Spread a Positive Attitude

If you’re:

able to put a smile on your coworker’s face
motivate them to keep going when it’s challenging
make them feel good about themselves

they’ll love you for it.

As a result, people will like being around you. They’ll speak highly of you to others. And whenever they hear of a new opportunity, they’ll think of you first.

Dress Well

It’s a simple fact of nature: Dress well and everyone will treat you better.

So take that chance and become the rare well-dressed software developer out there! A clean, cool, matching wardrobe can take you far.

Like it or not, people like to judge by appearances. Don’t be shy – use it to your advantage!

4. Social Dynamics Awareness & People Skills – Gain Support & Avoid Pitfalls

Even if writing code is the part of your job you enjoy the most:

If you want to be a good software developer, you have to learn to deal effectively with people’s psychology.

Here’s 3 secrets to become popular at work by mastering social dynamics:

1. Everyone wants to feel important

When dealing with another human being at work, start by putting yourself in their shoes. Be empathetic and try to see where they’re coming from.

People want to feel seen, heard, and appreciated.

But they rarely ever do.

If you’re the one taking the time to do that for your coworkers – guess who they’re going to like and trust more than everybody else?

Isn’t this being manipulative?

No, it’s called having empathy and actually seeing and appreciating the human you’re talking to.

2. Never criticize & avoid arguments

Let’s be real: As a software developer or engineer, you’re often the smartest person in the room.

This doesn’t mean you should tell everyone what they could do better. Even if it’s true.

At all costs, avoid being the know-all guy. Just get your validation from doing great work! It’s a law of human nature that most are not ready for honest feedback.

If you really need to offer constructive criticism, think about how you can do it so it doesn’t lead them to resent you for it. If you can, make it sound like their own idea.

Also: When dealing with people, praise works ten times better than criticism.

The same goes for getting into arguments of any kind. In 99% of cases it doesn’t help – only makes things worse. Take the high road by avoiding those pointless arguments.

Instead, spend the time creating something valuable.

3. Think about what the other person wants

What does your boss want?

What are your coworker’s goals?

In every interaction, relate what you’re saying to how it will benefit them.

If they see how you can improve their bottom line or status, they’ll like you more and actually listen to what you have to say.

5. Negotiation Skills of a Pro – Get What You Deserve

Master the developer’s soft skill of negotiation, and you’ll make a lot more hard cash in your lifetime.

Know your value

As software engineers and developers we create so much value for any company we’re working with.

If you know your work is quality: Don’t be shy to aim for top-notch pay. They’re making a large multiple of your salary with what you’re providing them.

Face the fear of rejection

If you ask for more, you have to be prepared to sometimes hear ‘no’. As humans, we feel the pain of rejection just like we do physical pain. So most people try to avoid it.

But if you stare fear in the face, and do it anyway – you get access to big potential benefits others miss out on.

Learn effective negotiation tactics

The person with the greatest need always has the disadvantage.

So if you have several options for getting a new job or client, you can negotiate from a stronger position than if you sent in your resume with everyone else and you’re now dependent on them saying yes.

Be smart

In price negotiations, the first to name a price loses.

If you’re negotiating your salary as a programmer, for example: Get them no name the range they have in mind for this position. Now you’re at an advantage – you can price yourself accordingly.

Reputation is powerful

Also consider this: The better job you do of marketing yourself and building a reputation, the easier it will be for you to negotiate.

I’ve worked with software developers who were able to double their salaries based on nothing but building up a bit of a personal brand and online reputation.

Finally, consider reading a book or two on how to negotiate better.

6. Emotional Mastery – Keep Yourself Calm & Controlled, Always

As a programmer you’re constantly battling against deadlines, confused coworkers and demanding bosses. You’re expected to do your best work while stressed to the max.

This is where emotional mastery for programmers comes in. This soft skill is a superpower.

If you can learn to stay calm in this storm of new tasks, revisions and presentations, you’ll become indispensable to those you’re working with. Which means you’ll be able to move up the career ladder more quickly.

But above all, you’ve learned to not let anything disturb your cool.

That’s priceless.

7. Responsibility – Propel Your Career

Always strive to take on higher responsibility in your work. With great responsibility comes great power. Don’t cower from responsibility. Instead seek out more of it.

Volunteer for that next project.
Lead that team.
Give that presentation.
Make that call.

You’ll grow as a developer, as a leader, and as a person. All while opening up ample career and money-making opportunities for yourself.

8. Creativity – Unleash It & Create Opportunities

Use your creativity to write better code and have a better career.

Programming is both an art and a science. Coming up with creative solutions means you’re better at your craft.

And when it comes to projects, strategies, and problems – if you’ve developed the soft skill of creativity, you’ll be able to find new, exciting and workable solutions for all of these.

Imagine how much more valuable this makes you in the eyes of your employer or client.

9. Productivity & Time Management – Become Stresslessly Successful

Coding is a fun, but hard job. Your colleagues need help, bosses or clients are in your ear, deadlines loom. Pushing a programming project to completion isn’t easy.

That’s where excellent programmer productivity soft skills will save your day.

Take smart notes

Whether it be notes on your next project, code snippets you’ll need later, meetings, or ideas. Be sure to write it all down in an organized way

Know your most productive hours

Structure your day so that you’ll work when you’re at your sharpest & most energetic. For some people this is in the morning, for others in the afternoon.

Caveat: This might only work for you if you’re a freelance developer or a remote worker who isn’t bound by a company schedule.

Schedule your week

Know exactly what you need to do at each moment. You’ll save so much brainpower because you don’t have to scramble for the next task all the time. Take some time before each new week to do all the thinking and strategizing. Then during the week you’ll only need to execute.

Live and die by the (Pomodoro) clock

Set yourself a (short) amount of time for your next task. Let yourself have a break right after. Repeat the sequence multiple times. The Pomodoro method lets you get a lot of coding done quickly without burning yourself out.

Dial in your fitness & nutrition

Getting more done as a programmer starts with improving your fitness and following a good diet.

You’ll think more clearly, you’ll be able to concentrate for longer, and you won’t be as tired at the end of it.

10. Humble Confidence – Couple Your Self-Belief with Openness to Learn

Sometimes it’s okay to be soft –

When allowing yourself to learn from feedback.

Are you convinced your way is working? Then it’s good to have faith and confidence in that.

But never let that confidence become delusional.

Even smart people can be wrong sometimes. Or they could at least do better.

Is a credible source (a coworker you respect, a boss who’s successfully been in the game for decades) giving you feedback? It’ll do you good to at least consider it.

If you’re able to learn from others without having it impact your self-esteem – that’s a great trait to have.

11. Teamwork – Win Together With Everyone Else

The soft skill of being not a ‘lone coder’, but a team player means that you actively contribute to completing tasks, managing projects, or meeting goals.

Teamwork lessens the time it takes to develop a project, and it also helps in generating more ideas, as more brains are immersed in the same work.

12. Writing – Become Clear in Word & Thought

Start writing (more than just code).

Start a programming blog.

It’s one of the best ways to improve your communication skills.

Writing forces you to organize your ideas.

You’ll become a better communicator in general.
You’ll be able to organize your thoughts better.
You’ll be able to talk to people more effectively.

13. Marketing Skills – Sell (Yourself) Without Shame

Marketing & Sales are not bad.

Learn how to sell, and how to market (yourself especially) as a developer.

You can’t look at this as a dirty thing. Don’t wait for people to find your value. It doesn’t work that way.

The person who is bold and takes action and is confident, wins. They win because they’re heard.

The world will give you what you want. But only if you ask for it – and you act accordingly. That means that if you want something, you’ve got to stand up.

It’s not about being arrogant, or being an asshole. It’s about recognizing your value. And be clear about your value!

When you’re in an interview, and they ask you: How are your C skills? If you’re confident, you don’t say, uhmm, I’m okay, pretty good I think, … you say, I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I’m pretty damn good!

14. Learning – Never Stop Leveling Up Your Life

And the last soft skill you need to succeed as a programmer (but far from the least important – in fact it’s a crucial one):

To be willing and able to Always Keep Learning.

There’s a bunch of mistakes you can make when you want to get better to improve your career. If you want to avoid those pitfalls – and learn about the superior tactics you can use to get good as fast as possible – I invite you to check out my free email course:

The post 14 MUST-HAVE Soft Skills for Software Developers (LEVEL UP!) appeared first on Simple Programmer.

What you need to know about IoB (Internet of Behavior)

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 14:00:44 +0000

Ranked among the Top 9 Strategic Technological Trends for 2021 by Gartner, the Internet of Behavior or IoB is a subject of rising interest. An area of research and development, IoB aims to delve deeper into understanding human behavior to improve human-technology interaction.

IoB is an extension of IoT, the Internet of Things, a technology that has become familiar to us in recent years. Basically, IoB revolves around analyzing the huge amount of data generated by IoT devices and using them to understand human behavior.

User data is fundamental and invaluable today, thus IoB has huge potential. This article will shed light on the importance of IoB, its usage in various fields, and the challenges and opportunities in the field.

What Is IoB

The term IoB was coined by Professor Göte Nyman, a psychology professor at the University of Helsinki in 2012. With an intention to bring more light to understanding human behavior, professor Nyman introduced the concept of IoB, a combination of three fields: technology, data analytics, and behavioral science.

IoB can be defined as the gathering, analyzing, and using of data to understand, predict and drive human behavior. Data is collected from IoT devices and other sources like the internet, household devices, and wearables. The data is then interpreted to understand individual behavior in the light of behavioral psychology and used to influence people’s decision-making.

According to Professor Nyman, for each behavior, an address can be assigned, similar to IoT devices. Once an address is assigned to a behavior, different types of data can be linked to it. The data could be IoT data, biometric data, social media interactions and purchasing data, to name a few. The IoB data analysis can also be integrated into a central database just like IoT devices.

Understanding the Importance of IoB

Data is invaluable, but rarely so in its raw format. When data is analyzed and transformed into knowledge, it becomes an asset. IoB has tremendous importance as it can influence the entire customer experience, from the initial stage to the final touchpoint. As IoB gives information about users from different points of contact, identifying users’ discovery points, it becomes easy to track users’ journey and analyze their actions.

What does this mean for businesses? Powerful insights to make the user touchpoints engaging and deliver personalized information! The result? More interactions and engagement. With the extensive behavior analysis and its contextual application, IoB provides excellent value to users and businesses alike. As such, companies are heavily investing in IoB to improve their fundamental relationship with users.

To sum up, IoB can benefit in several ways, such as:

Close sales quickly with personalized marketing
Quick resolution of user concerns owing to a better understanding of user behavior
Eliminate time-consuming user surveys
Get a comprehensive image of target users with data from multiple channels
Perform real-time targeting of users for improved sales

Role of IOB in Various Sectors

As human behavior is an elementary aspect in many sectors, IoB has an impactful role to play, no matter what a given company sells or how big it is. This section will discuss the role of IoB in certain sectors but it is in no way an extensive list. The bottom line is that wherever there is human involvement, IoB has an influence.

Insurance

Insurance companies can use IoB to prevent incidents of driving under influence, identify medical emergencies, and monitor driver activities. IoB can help analyze accident scenarios accurately and identify if it was due to driver error.

Many insurance companies already use driver tracking tools. IoB can take it to the next level with its behavioral evaluation, benefitting the insurance agencies.

Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is a field where close involvement with many types of people is a necessity. As a result, IoB provides effective tools for behavioral analysis and interpretation, enhancing the end-user influence and thus improving conversion rates.

For instance, IoB can be used to analyze and optimize marketing campaigns. With IoB data, it is possible to understand people’s behavior comprehensively. Hence, personalized marketing can be done so that each person is targeted with advertisements that catch their attention.

In fact, Google and YouTube are already using IoB to show targeted ads to people. Remember how ads related to products you searched for show up during browsing Google or YouTube? Yes, that’s IoB in action.

IoB can also be used to generate real-time marketing notifications which have proven to be a great sales generator. Understanding individual behavior and sending notifications at the right time highly increases the chances of conversion. To see a practical example, think of how many times you have ordered food from an app just because they sent a notification during your lunchtime!

Production

From analyzing customer behavior to employee behavior and demand for products, the role of IoB in production is multifaceted. IoB data can be used to analyze the behavior of production staff to discover new ways to improve the quality and efficiency of production.

Moreover, analyzing data about customer behavior and how they interact with products can provide useful insights to improve customer satisfaction and safety. IoB can also be used to analyze behavioral data and determine the demand for products, based on which production can be planned. This can eliminate the problems of excess or dearth of stock.

Healthcare

As technology is advancing in the healthcare industry, creating diagnoses with minimum error margin is a key focus area of healthcare platforms. IoB can impact this area significantly. UI UX design services can make use of IoB to perform cohesive user research and build digital applications addressing user challenges and concerns such as ease of consultation and finding the right doctors.

Tracking patient activities, gathering insights from them, and sharing them in a cohesive way with the doctors greatly aids the accuracy of diagnosis.

IoB also tremendously assists healthcare providers in continuously monitoring patient behavior and relaying real-time data. For patients with chronic illnesses or needing post-surgical care, IoB is a useful tool. Moreover, iOB can be used to track patients’ responses to treatments or the impact of medical drugs.

Government

Governments can use IoB technology to gather the collective interest of citizens and thus adjust policy making.

Moreover, IoB can be deployed to enforce law and order by tracking people or groups who threaten the secure functioning of societies, thus reducing crime rates. Though the political or judicial aspects are another matter, beyond the scope of this post, this application of IoB is certainly possible from a technological standpoint.

Challenges of IoB

Gartner predicts that by 2023, 40% of the worldwide population will be under digital tracking. IoB will be a real game-changer, and while it promises tremendous opportunities, there are some serious privacy and security concerns associated with it.

The extent to which IoT tracks sensitive personal information is unnerving to many. Most aren’t comfortable with that level of intrusion. Moreover, there are concerns regarding many companies’ practice of sharing data behind the scenes with their subsidiaries.

Three key challenges that IoB has to address are:

Regulations: Clear regulations have to be stipulated across jurisdictions to address data privacy concerns.
Value: If people are willing to surrender their sensitive, personal information for better experiences, the value that they receive must be well worth it.
Security: For attackers, IoB opens up yet another attack area. Measures must be taken to eliminate data breaches and attacks.

Opportunities in the Field and Skills Needed

As the popularity of IoB technology is increasing, career opportunities in the field are also on the rise. Some in-demand jobs in the IoB field are IoB architect, IoB developer, IoB solutions engineer, and sensor architect and designer. There is also a rising demand for technicians, as a huge number of devices have to be deployed and managed.

Skills needed to venture into the IoB field include analytical skills, behavioral science, data management, sensor development, and data acquisition and management. Programming knowledge in Python, JavaScript and embedded languages is also a great skill to get started in a career in the IoB domain. People with software development and testing skills can try their hand to grab opportunities in IoB.

The Future of IoB

According to Gartner, by 2025, more than half of the global population will be interacting with at least one IoB system. Personalizing information is the key to delivering distinguishable experiences to people in the future.

With more than three billion people expected to interact with IoB technology in the next two years, its impact on improving service efficiency looks promising. By addressing the challenges it poses in the best possible way, IoB will deliver as much value to people as it will to businesses.

As Peter Sondergaard, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Research at Gartner said, “Information is the oil of the 21st century, and analytics is the combustion engine.”

The post What you need to know about IoB (Internet of Behavior) appeared first on Simple Programmer.

Temporary Employee Rights & Benefits You Need to Know

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 14:00:38 +0000

It’s an exciting time to get involved with the computer programming and developer industry! There is a lot of possibility for growth in this sector, but also a lot of competition for the highest profile positions.

For your optimal success as a programmer and/or developer, you might have to try a couple different options before finding your perfect fit for a job. Let’s explore the options for temporary IT jobs and the associated rights and benefits of temporary employment.

Whether you’ve never worked in the industry or you’re currently working in it but want a job that fits you better, temp work can be a great solution or stepping stone when you know your rights and your options. As with any temporary position, workers should understand the range of benefits and rights associated. Knowing this, you can take advantage of what’s out there, exploring options for where you could work and what you could do.

There are so many possibilities for where you could fit as a computer programmer and developer. Temp work can open doors you wouldn’t have even considered going through if you had only looked into traditional positions. Before dipping your toes in this fast-moving water, here are the temporary employee rights and benefits that you need to know.

What is Temporary Employment?

Temporary employment, often called “temp work,” is just what it sounds like: a type of employment that has a fixed, limited term. Sometimes companies directly hire workers for short-term jobs. More often, temp workers are hired for a specific time period and contracted through a staffing agency. This way, the company gets the benefit of hiring vetted workers for a limited time, and the workers get the benefit of finding quality positions they can try out for a few months.

Staffing agencies act as go-betweens for companies and workers, matching people to positions at other companies. Most of the time, staffing agencies will work with candidates to find one position that is a good fit; though, sometimes, temp workers can have several concurrent part-time assignments. Working through a staffing agency typically involves going to the same job every day for the duration of that temp contract and then switching to a new opportunity.

Temp work is not the same as freelance, contract, or self-employed work; instead, it is essentially a short-term regular job, similar to a trial period. Often, temp work can transition into regular work. This is called temp-to-hire, and temp agencies typically spearhead that transition.

Enjoy Stable Flexibility

The primary benefit of temporary IT jobs is stable flexibility. In other words, programmers with temp work can continue earning an income, fleshing out their resume, and building their network all while still searching for the best fit for their skills and lifestyle.

It might seem like a temporary job is the opposite of stable, since this type of employment is usually only for a few months. However, during the term of your temp work, you get the stability of a steady paycheck while you gain experience and knowledge toward finding the long-term job that is your perfect fit. In this way, temporary employment is a stable way to explore different potential careers and experience different employers’ cultures without making an initial long-term commitment.

While looking for the best job, programmers and developers can work as temporary employees, getting income and experience plus more information about the ideal fit for their skills and interests. This then provides more flexibility to jump to better job positions as the opportunities arise.

That flexibility is especially important when programmers are aiming toward a career change to SEO or a similar aspect of their development expertise. With options to try out different possibilities without making long-term commitments, programmers can still stay online, keeping the pulse of what’s happening in programming, while enjoying the confidence of having stable employment during the job search.

This type of stable flexibility makes it possible to maintain an updated and robust developer LinkedIn profile to find their dream programming job while continuing to work the whole time. With this established understanding of the benefits of this type of balance, let’s look into the rights afforded to the programmers and developers who do this type of temporary work.

Possibility for Benefit Qualification

Not all temporary IT jobs give programmers and developers the same opportunities, so it’s important to recognize what the range of possibilities could be. In some cases, temporary workers are employees of the agency that places them in positions, making them eligible for benefits offered through the agency. Working full-time hours, even if spread across more than one part-time placement, brings eligibility for full-time benefits.

Temporary workers placed through a full-service agency can depend on their placement services to explain to them the benefits options for their matched opportunities.

In other cases, temporary workers are employees of the organization where they are working, and so they are entitled to all the same rights as any other employee at that organization. The company should provide the information as to what rights these employees have. Whether temp workers are considered full employees at their current company or not, federal and state employment laws apply. The laws for what benefits are required for temp workers vary from state to state.

One of the most notable rights of temp workers is the right to a clearly defined employment agreement including length of term and payment specifications. That explanation should include recognition of what benefits are covered. Working with a temp hiring agency allows temp workers to understand the scope of their employment agreement offer, with support on evaluating the agreement’s merit and potentially negotiating for different terms when applicable.

While paid time off, holidays, and healthcare benefits will not be a part of every temporary IT job, some programmers and developers will get access to those benefits, depending on how many hours they work and the terms of their contract. Staffing agencies can help programmers and developers navigate the uncertainty so temp workers know what benefits they qualify for and how that would look in their positions.

Understanding ERISA: Retirement Plan Considerations

In addition to the state requirements, federal guidelines do apply for temporary employee rights and benefits: most notably, ERISA. Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), temporary employees who work for at least 1,000 hours within a 12-month period will automatically qualify for that company’s retirement plans. Even if they do not meet the requirements of the 1,000-hour rule, temporary employees are still protected by labor laws which dictate various types of benefits.

Benefits vary from state to state, so it’s important to research the laws of your state. For example, some states might require all employers who employ temps at least half-time to provide them with health insurance while others may stipulate one week of vacation per year or sick leave.

Understanding the ACA: Health Insurance Coverage

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires employers to offer health insurance to any employee working at least 30 hours per week (or 130 hours per month). Temp employees working full-time or almost full-time will fall into this category. That means that even if you’re only working with a company for a few months, during that time, they need to give an option for health insurance coverage. That should be a clear section in the employment agreement.

Leave and Vacation Time

Depending on the agreement, temp workers can qualify for sick leave, holidays, and paid time off. Just like for regular workers, benefits vary significantly from company to company and position to position. It’s worth investing time up front to discover the details for your particular circumstances. Temp work agreements should make specifications here, but any ambiguities should be addressed up front with the employer.

Unsure of the Rights? Just Ask!

If you’re considering temporary employment as a programmer or developer, make sure to prioritize your knowledge of the associated rights and benefits. Any uncertainty on benefits offered or possible options—from health insurance coverage to sick leave—should be resolved before accepting your assignment. The staffing agency as well as the terms of the temporary work arrangement will clearly explain these rights and benefits. With that clearly understood, you can focus on what programmers and developers do best—computer work!

The post Temporary Employee Rights & Benefits You Need to Know appeared first on Simple Programmer.

There are many different ways to create a workflow, but the most important thing is to ensure the workflow is clear and concise. Each step in the workflow should be clearly defined, and the team should clearly understand what needs to be done at each stage.

Creating an effective workflow is essential to the success of any project. By creating a workflow that makes sense for the team and task at hand, project managers can ensure that the project is completed efficiently and effectively.

Differences Between Workflow and Project Management

More often than not, project managers confuse workflow with other things. To get things started in the right order, first you need to understand a few critical differences between workflow and project management:

Workflow is more concerned with the individual steps involved in completing a task or series of tasks, while project management is more concerned with the overall completion.
Workflow is typically more linear, while project management can involve multiple concurrent tasks.
Workflow is also usually less formal than project management and can be adapted more quickly to changing circumstances.

Similarities Between Workflow and Project Management

Similarities in workflow and project management help you find the points where you can synergize both entities for optimal results. Workflow and project management share many similarities that you can use to your benefit:

Both are concerned with the efficient execution of a series of tasks.
Both seek to optimize the use of resources and minimize waste.
And both seek to improve communication and collaboration among team members.

By understanding these similarities, organizations can more effectively utilize both to improve their operations.

Project Management Workflow

The project management workflow is the process by which a project manager oversees and coordinates the various tasks and activities involved in completing a project.

Project management workflow includes developing a project plan and schedule, assigning tasks and resources, monitoring progress, and ensuring that the project is completed on time and within budget. A well-managed project is typically characterized by clear goals and objectives, efficient communication and coordination among team members, and a high level of organization.

An effective project management workflow is essential for ensuring that a project runs smoothly and is completed successfully. By following a clear and concise workflow, a project manager can keep track of all the different elements of a project and ensure that everything is progressing as it should.

Importance of Project Management Workflow

There are many reasons why project management workflow is essential. Perhaps the most important reason is that it helps ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.

A well-managed workflow also helps to improve communication and coordination between team members, which can result in a more effective team. Additionally, project management workflow can help identify and track project risks, which can help avoid potential problems down the road.

Project management workflow helps you break down and visualize the various tasks involved in project completion. It helps you meet bigger goals little by little. You can not only track your employee performance, but also reward the employees who have shown exceptional output. Moreover, workflow helps you save time, money, and effort. You can reuse the workflow by adding little tweaks depending on the nature of other projects that you take on. Boost your project performance, enhance employee satisfaction, ensure everything is in order for your stakeholders, and beat the competition with an organized project management workflow.

Step-by-Step Guide: Create an Efficient Workflow for Project Management

There are a few key steps to creating an efficient workflow for project management:

First, you need to identify the tasks that need to be completed and break them down into smaller, more manageable steps.
Next, you need to assign these tasks to specific team members and set deadlines for completing them.
Finally, you need to track the project’s progress and ensure everyone is on track.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your project is completed efficiently and on time.

Methods to Create an Efficient Workflow for Project Management

There are a variety of methods that can be used to create an efficient workflow for project management:

One method is to use a project management software tool to help track and manage the project. This can be beneficial as it can help keep all project information in one place and make it easier to track progress and deadlines.
Another method is to create a project plan and schedule. This can help ensure that all tasks are completed on time and that the project stays on track.
Finally, it is important to communicate regularly with all project stakeholders to ensure everyone knows the project status and tasks.

Using these methods makes it possible to create an efficient workflow for project management.

Best Practices for Using Project Management Workflow Systems Effectively

Here are a few key things to remember when using project management workflow systems effectively:

First, it is important to have a clear and concise project plan. This will help ensure that everyone involved in the project understands the goals and objectives.
Second, it is important to use the strategy to its full potential. This means utilizing all of the features and functions that the system has to offer.
Last, it is important to be flexible and adaptable when using it. Things will inevitably change throughout the course of a project, so it is important to be able to adjust the system accordingly.

By following these best practices, you will be well on your way to using project management workflow systems effectively.

Signs of an Inefficient Project Management Workflow

Have you ever come across a poorly performing project manager? Poor project management is usually because of disorganized workflow. A few key signs can indicate an inefficient project management workflow:

One sign is if projects regularly go over the allotted budget or timeline. This can be a sign that the project manager is not accurately estimating the scope of work or that there is too much wasted effort during the execution of the project. Extended time means less time for new projects and potentially dissatisfied clients, which leads to the likelihood of less revenue.
Another sign is if there is a high turnover of project managers on a single project. This can indicate that the project is not well organized or that the project manager is not a good fit for the team.
Lastly, if a project is constantly being put on hold or delayed, this can be a sign that the project manager is not prioritizing the work properly or that there are too many competing demands for the team’s time and resources.

Advantages of Project Management Workflow in the IT Industry

There are many advantages to using a project management workflow in any IT industry:

Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that it can help increase efficiency and productivity by ensuring that all tasks are properly organized, and that team members know their roles and responsibilities. This is so important because project management is all about juggling limited resources in the most efficient manner to bring fruitful results on time.
In addition, a project management workflow can help improve correspondence and collaboration among team members. Misunderstandings and potential conflict between team members can be avoided by keeping everyone on the same page and ensuring that everyone is aware of the latest updates. This is important because a harmonious team is a productive team.
Another benefit of using a project management workflow is that it can help improve the final product’s quality. By ensuring that all tasks are correctly planned and executed, and that team members can give their input and feedback at each stage of the project, the chances of errors and problems can be significantly reduced. This is important because client satisfaction can bring you more business and help build authority among competition.

Overall, the advantages of using a project management workflow in the IT industry are numerous. Project management workflow can be valuable for any IT team.

Benefits of Using a Project Management Software for Project Management Workflow

Using project management software to manage your projects has many benefits:

It enables you to keep track of all the different aspects of your projects in one place. This can be a great help when it comes to ensuring that nothing is forgotten or overlooked.
The software can also help automate some of the tasks involved in project management. This can free up your time to focus on more critical tasks.
Additionally, it can help ensure that tasks are carried out more efficiently and accurately.
Finally, project management software can help improve your team’s correspondence and coordination. This is because all team members will have access to the same information and tools. This can make it easier to coordinate efforts and avoid misunderstandings.

Project Charter

A project charter template can be used to track progress and ensure that the project remains on schedule with a document that outlines the scope and objectives of a project. It is typically used to define the roles and responsibilities of project team members and to set expectations for what will be delivered. This can be particularly useful when you are about to sign the project with your client.

With a charter template, you can allocate responsibilities to team members and collaborate with them in real time. You can visualize the scope and other factors of the project with its useful tools—collaborate on an infinite canvas, import data from multiple sources, comment on specific aspects, and view the full version history.

Are You Ready to Set Up Your Project Management Workflow?

Project management workflow is essential for any project manager, by helping to plan, execute, and track the progress of their project. Using a project management workflow strategy, project managers can ensure that all stakeholders are kept informed of the project’s progress and that the project is completed on time and within budget. A project management workflow not only saves you time and resources but also helps you ensure internal and external stakeholder satisfaction. This helps you in attracting more business and managing everything effectively.

The post Your Complete Guide to Project Management Workflow appeared first on Simple Programmer.

Must-Have Skills for Every Chatbot Developer

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 14:00:43 +0000

A chatbot’s role has evolved from a simple tool that facilitates conversation between the customer and the business. Nowadays, they solve customer queries, identify their sentiments, and even offer valuable insights into their behavior and needs. In other words, chatbots are a company’s first line of customer service, which is a time consuming responsibility.

With the increasing demand for chatbots, the same goes for you if you are a chatbot developer. As a result, you have little to lose and a lot to gain by leveraging chatbots in your skill set.

For companies that lack the technical know-how, and have a tighter budget in terms of chatbot pricing, the no-code bot builders that are easily available are likely the best option. Others who want a more custom solution will tend to lean toward chatbot development from scratch.

Let’s look further into what is involved in the process of creating a chatbot.

What Goes Into Creating a Chatbot?

Creating a chatbot that delivers positive results for a business—any business—is no small feat.

The creation of even the most basic chatbot will require a deep understanding of how human conversations work (of course!) and some insane programming skills. We will delve deeper into the skills required to be a chatbot developer momentarily.

For now, understand that the process of developing a chatbot from scratch is not going to be an easy one. It takes weeks, if not more, to strategize, design, and create a chatbot that hits the mark. And to do so within a predefined budget and timeframe to boot!

But worry not, if you have the right skill set for the job, the entire process will not only be rewarding but maybe even fun. That said, let us understand the most essential skills that every chatbot developer should have.

Top Skills for a Chatbot Developer

Chatbots have evolved over the years and have innovated conversations between customers and companies significantly. The skills required by chatbot developers are not all that different from those required by programmers.

A study by AIMultiple suggests that 65% of chatbot companies and customers believe talent shortage to be the primary challenge in the chatbot industry. Meaning, there are a lot of untapped opportunities for chatbot developers currently.

Now, without further ado, let us dive deeper into the skills you need to possess.

Expertise in Chatbot Frameworks

The first and foremost quality that every chatbot developer should have is expertise in chatbot frameworks. When you are into chatbot development, you will inevitably build chatbots from scratch. To do so, you need to be proficient in frameworks such as IBM Watson, APi.ai, Microsoft Azure Bot Service, and more.

While many businesses today turn to chatbot platforms for creating chatbots, you are going to need a working knowledge of these frameworks when you are developing custom chatbots. You should also have the ability to compare and choose the right framework for a specific chatbot.

Additionally, it is highly recommended that you get enough practice on open-source chatbot frameworks such as Wit.ai and Rasa, since practice is the only way to improve your skills. Remember, if you are applying to small companies, you will need to choose a paid chatbot framework, as opposed to the open source ones. The latter requires you to have expertise in the Natural Language Processing (NLP) domain as well.

Proficiency in Programming Languages

This one is a no-brainer for experienced developers.

Along with the chatbot frameworks, developers should be proficient in working with several programming languages. If you have worked with chatbot frameworks to a large extent, chances are that you already have this part covered.

After all, these frameworks are based on specific programming languages. The common ones that you should add (or refresh) to your repertoire are Java, Python, PHP, and Ruby. Having these skills up your sleeve will help you customize your chatbot in ways that are best suited for your business.

So if you lack knowledge of these programming languages, or are out of practice, it’s time to start brushing up. Don’t hesitate to start learning some programming languages with the help of online courses and tutorials.

Knowledge of Emerging Technologies

Take a moment to remember what chatbots were like 10 years ago compared to now. The chatbots that you come across today definitely do not look like the basic chat boxes that we used to interact with just a few years ago, do they?

Chatbots today have evolved to incorporate some pretty awesome features.

Considering the transformative nature of chatbots, developers need to be up to date with the latest technologies and developments. To make an effective chatbot that can anticipate the possible conversational flow and seamlessly answer queries, you are going to need a deep knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and NLP.

Without the AI and NLP technologies, your chatbot won’t be able to tell the difference between a greeting and a customer query.

Apart from these technologies, Machine Learning also plays a pivotal role in defining the conversational flow and design of chatbots. If you do not have knowledge of these technologies and you are seeking out a chatbot development role, taking relevant courses (tagged above) might be a good idea before proceeding further.

Communication Skills

If you ask any major company about the skills they would like their chatbot developers to have, communication is probably going to be top of the list.

Why?

Well, what are chatbots if not another communication channel between companies and customers?

If the people developing the chatbots do not have the basic know-how of writing a human conversation, how will they design a chatbot that can replicate one?

Don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying you should delve deep into conversations like a conversation designer would, but you still need a basic understanding of how natural language should flow when you are working in chatbot development.

Experience Integrating Chatbots on Different Platforms

If you want to build chatbots for a living, you will inevitably need to have some experience in working with omnichannel chatbots. Simply knowing how to add a chatbot to a website just won’t cut it anymore.

In this day and age, businesses want to maintain consistent customer service quality across platforms. Be it WhatsApp, Facebook, or Skype, a chatbot developer should know how to integrate the chatbot.

After all, more than 55% of consumers prefer to get in touch with businesses through messaging apps.

Ability to Collaborate With Multiple Teams

Based on what you already know about chatbots, do you think all the elements are created simply by a chatbot developer?

The answer is a resounding no.

Many resources are utilized in the process of building a chatbot. The effectiveness of your chatbot, for instance, will heavily depend on its responses to customer queries, so you will need to develop good dialogues written by an adept conversation designer.

While as a chatbot builder, you will need to understand the basic conversational flow, conversation designers will help you create more complex and advanced flows.

What’s more, you will need additional resources that focus on the analytics and deployment of the chatbot.

With all these aspects in mind, it is obvious that chatbot developers need to have the ability to collaborate with multiple types of resources. All the teams involved must be on the same page and communicate effectively to develop exceptional chatbots.

Could You Become a Chatbot Developer?

Being an excellent chatbot developer requires you to level up your knowledge of frameworks, programming languages, and communication skills. Along with these skills, having experience in creating and implementing cross-platform chatbots will only strengthen your profile.

And that’s it! If you are confident that you possess these skills and qualities, then you are well on your way to becoming a stellar chatbot developer. Even if you feel that you lack some of the qualities that we have mentioned here, it is never too late to hone these skills and improve your chances. After all, the demand for chatbot developers is only going to grow in the foreseeable future.

The post Must-Have Skills for Every Chatbot Developer appeared first on Simple Programmer.

The Introverted Programmer’s Guide to Nailing Video Interviews & Landing Your Dream Remote Job

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 14:00:31 +0000

Job interviews (even remote ones) can be a struggle, especially for introverted programmers. It can seem impossible if you’re not used to putting yourself out there by networking or marketing your skillset.

How you’re physically perceived isn’t even important in your line of work. Your job is to write code, debug it, and make sure it’s functional. Why do you need to look presentable and please interviewers to get hired? Isn’t your extensive resume and portfolio enough to prove that you can do the job well?

I hear you; it’s stressful and it feels unfair.

The good news, however, is that you can nail any job interview with preparation and practice.

Even better, as more companies start to offer remote positions, entry barriers are lowering, giving you more opportunities than ever before. So if you have the right resources at your disposal, landing your dream programming job is just around the corner. In this post, I’ll share with you everything you need to know about nailing video interviews and landing your dream remote job.

Preparing For and Acing All Your Virtual Interviews

Even if you dread interviews, you can still set yourself up for success simply by doing your research.

Start with the basics: Besides the job descriptions for positions you’re interested in, you should also head to the company’s website and read about their mission and values. Get a sense of the work culture and whether it’d be a good fit for you.

Moreover, your research should go beyond the company website. Check out employee reviews on sites like Glassdoor to see what current and former employees have to say. You can also search for articles, blog posts, or YouTube videos that give you a behind-the-scenes look at the company. Finally, you can look for information on the interviewer, such as their LinkedIn profile.

It goes without saying that if you know someone who works at the company, reach out to them and see if they’re willing to connect you with the hiring manager. This will give you a chance to learn more about the company and potentially get your foot in the door.

Overall, preparation is crucial. Without it, you may feel overwhelmed and underqualified during job interviews—particularly if you’re introverted. Conversely, if you do your research well, you’ll feel confident, competent, and prepared.

Don’t forget to also prepare a few questions yourself. Asking questions will help you avoid nervousness and show that you’re genuinely interested in the opportunity.

Becoming Well-Versed in Answering Commonly Asked Questions

Knowing how you’ll respond to the questions is one of the most effective methods of preparing for an interview.

The best way to do this is to brainstorm a list of questions you think the interviewer might ask and then come up with answers for each. This will help you sound natural and avoid uncomfortable interview pauses.

Here are some examples of common questions and how you might answer them:

Tell me about yourself: This is your chance to give a brief overview of your professional background and highlight your most relevant skills and experience. Keep it short and sweet—around 2-3 minutes should do the trick.
What are your strengths?: When answering this question, focus on qualities that make you a good fit for the role. For example, if you’re applying for a programming job that requires frequent collaboration, you can say that your strength is working well in a team.
What are your weaknesses?: Be honest here, but avoid talking about qualities that’d make you a bad fit for the job. Instead, focus on areas that you’re actively trying to improve.
What are your salary expectations?: This is a tricky question, so you should have an answer prepared. First, study salaries for similar positions in the same location. Avoid giving a specific number, and set a reasonable salary range. I’ll offer you more tips about this later in the post.
Where do you see yourself in five years?: This question is designed to gauge your long-term motivation and career aspirations. When responding, focus on how the role you’re applying for fits into your larger career goals. For example, you can say that you hope to grow with the company and eventually take on more responsibilities.

For a more comprehensive list, check out this list of programming interview questions and how to answer them. And if you want to go deeper, here are more job interview questions you can study:

Once you have a good grasp of the questions they might ask you, it’s time to practice your answers. The best way to do this is to roleplay with a friend or family member who can act as your interviewer. This will help you get used to the format and flow of a virtual interview.

Mastering the Art of the Video Interview

With the proliferation of remote work, video interviews have become increasingly popular. They can be done in real-time or asynchronously, which means you have more flexibility in scheduling. But whether it’s a live or recorded video interview, there are a few things you should keep in mind to make sure you ace it.

Find a Quiet, Tidy, and Comfortable Space

For starters, choose a spot in your home with good lighting and minimal background noise. Then, you need to make sure your surroundings are tidy and presentable.

You should also test your internet connection and familiarize yourself with the video conferencing software being used—ahead of time.

If there are potential distractions that could happen during your interview, make sure to find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted. If you have kids or pets at home, make arrangements for someone to watch them during your interview.

Dress the Part

When it comes to what you wear, err on the side of caution and dress as you would for an in-person interview. So, wear professional attire that’s appropriate for the company culture.

Make Eye Contact and Smile

Although you’re not in the same room as your interviewers, eye contact is still essential. Even if it feels unnatural, look at the camera when talking to the interviewer. Otherwise, you may come across as disinterested or even rude. Remember to smile!

All of this can be difficult or uncomfortable if you’re not used to it, but it helps to project confidence and approachability. Of course, you should also avoid fidgeting or looking at nearby objects too much.

Be Aware of Your Body Language

Your body language is a big part of how the interviewers perceive you. Remember to sit straight, maintain friendly body language, and use hand gestures sparingly.

Don’t cross your arms because this can make you appear closed off. Also, nod occasionally to show that you’re engaged in the conversation.

Remember, an interview is a chance for you to sell yourself and your skills, so highlight your successes and how they make you the ideal candidate for the job. Be proud of your accomplishments and back them up with concrete examples.

Showcase Your Personality

Your interviewer wants to get to know you, so don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. This will help them see if you’re a good fit for the company culture and if you’d be able to work well with the team.

Make sure to highlight your skills and explain how they’d benefit the company. This will show that you’re not only qualified for the job but that you’re also passionate about it.

Many introverts worry about talking too much during an interview, but being too quiet can also be a mistake. If you don’t speak up, the interviewer may think you’re not interested in the role or that you don’t have anything to say. Make an effort to answer questions fully and ask a few of your own.

Overall, be confident! Confidence is vital in any interview, especially for introverts who may be more inclined to doubt themselves. Remember that you have just as much to offer as any other candidate, so believe in yourself.

Highlight Your Remote Experience

Let your interviewer know about your past remote work experience and how it makes you a great candidate for the job. This can include anything from freelancing to working from home. Explain how you stay motivated and productive when working remotely, as this is often one of the biggest concerns employers have.

Use Notes Sparingly

You can refer to your notes during the interview, but don’t rely on them too much. Otherwise, you’ll appear unprepared or disinterested. If you use them, make sure they’re concise and to the point.

Send a Follow-Up

Last but not least, remember to send a follow-up email or message after your video interview. Thank your interviewers for their time and reiterate your interest in the role. Following up shows that you’re interested in the role, and it helps keep you top of mind. You can also follow up with a phone call or email if you haven’t heard back after a week or two.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to nailing your next video interview. So, in the spirit of optimism, I’ll also share with you a few tips on how to negotiate your salary and benefits.

Negotiating Your Salary and Benefits Like a Pro

Negotiating your salary and benefits can be a daunting task, especially for introverts, but you can get everything you want with a bit of preparation. Here are a few tips.

Know Your Worth

Find out what the average salary is for your position and experience level. This will help you know how much to ask for and give you a negotiation starting point.

You can also look at salary ranges for similar positions at other companies to show your potential employer that you know the market value and help them understand your expectations.

Prepare a Counter Offer

If your potential employer comes back with an offer lower than you expected, don’t be afraid to counter.

Be sure to have a number in mind that you’re comfortable with, and be prepared to explain why you deserve it. Show that you’re confident in your skills and worth.

Consider All the Benefits

Salary is important, but it’s not the only thing to consider. Make sure you’re also taking into account things like vacation time, health insurance, and other benefits.

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. And it’s better to get everything in writing, so there’s no confusion later on.

Be Willing to Compromise

At the end of the day, you may need to compromise on some things to get what you want. Be prepared to give up some things to get others.

For example, you may be willing to take a lower salary if it means you get more vacation days.

Have a Backup Plan

Always have a backup plan in case negotiations fall through. This could be anything from asking for more time to look over the offer to having another job lined up.

If they don’t want to offer you the salary and benefits you deserve, don’t be afraid to walk away from the negotiation. It’s better to walk away than accept an offer that’s not in your best interest.

Remember, you have the power in this situation, and you shouldn’t settle for less than your worth. So, go in there with confidence and be prepared to fight for what you want.

By following these tips, you should be able to get the compensation and benefits you desire.

Preparation Will Get You There

Landing a remote job can be a challenge for introverted programmers, but you can ace your interviews and get the position of your dreams with proper preparation.

Remember to be well prepared, to dress the part, and to be confident. Believe in yourself, and be ready to negotiate skillfully to get the dream job you deserve.

The post The Introverted Programmer’s Guide to Nailing Video Interviews & Landing Your Dream Remote Job appeared first on Simple Programmer.

How to Pitch to a Venture Capitalist as a Developer

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 14:00:21 +0000

Having an awesome, mind-blowing, jaw-dropping mobile app idea is one thing. Getting that idea approved and funded by a venture capitalist (VC) is another.

As we speak, tens of thousands of companies are developing mobile apps, and even more startups and appreneurs are seeking funds to get their app projects off the ground. Yet only a few app ideas manage to win a VC’s attention.

“VCs invest in only one of the three hundred enterprises they are exposed to,” writes Jeffery Bussgang, author of Mastering the VC Game. They’re looking for deals that are as rare as a four-leaf clover.

As a result, VCs say “no” more than “yes” to pitches. According to the most recent Crunchbase data, global venture capital funding fell to $39 billion in May 2022, the lowest level in more than a year.

So, if you have a set business plan, you must rightly wonder how to structure a pitch that would attract the attention of a venture capitalist. Worry not! In this post I’ll show you how to support your idea and greatly increase your chances of getting noticed, by following the tactics below.

Fake It Until You Make It

An initial meeting with a VC may simply last 30 minutes—long enough for them to assess your passion, attitude, and personality. According to Bussgang, the first 15 minutes are critical, and the entrepreneur must be able to establish credibility and relevance within that time frame.

Moreover, as Venture Deal authors Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson mention, terms like “trying to raise money,” “testing the waters,” and “exploring other choices” should be avoided when pitching your idea. Feld and Mendelson comment that “Such phrases smell of uncertainty; thus, businesses should begin with an optimistic mindset that assumes success.”

Once the partners have given your pitch some thought, and if they find it fascinating, a second meeting is scheduled wherein the VCs will come prepared with some follow-up questions and concerns regarding your pitch.

Remember that entrepreneurship is associated with failures, and having the appropriate mindset can help you get through most of them. But, before you are ready to fake it, you need to get everything else within the creation of the app sorted so that you can fake it with some well-founded knowledge and skill. Timelines and financials, for example.

Chart out Timelines and Detailed Financials

VCs would want to know how long each stage of your app development would take to complete. They’ll want to know how long it’ll take you to deliver your MVP if you’re starting from the ground up. How many iterations are in the works? How much would the monthly expense be until you break even?

Most VCs are concerned with two things:

the revenue drivers that will help your app startup reach a break-even point;
monthly cash consumption.

Even if you know your business better than them, VCs will utilize their experience to determine how well you understand the financial aspects of your company.

The point is: Know every number and every detail of your app inside out before you enter a VC’s office.

Check out the financial features of a mobile app called Fit Strong for better understanding. Fit Strong creators intended to raise $345,000 in debt financing, with the majority of the funds going toward mobile app development, promotion, and photography. A portion of the money was also set aside for social media advertising and commercial airtime.

Likewise, it may be good to build multiple financial model scenarios (worst vs. base vs. best case) and check for common financial modeling problems for startups. Instead of presenting a VC with an overly optimistic or unattractive case, creating many scenarios and completing sanity checks will help you get closer to a realistic case since it is evident you are a reliable investment.

The Finances and VC Connection Matter

When obtaining funds for your app, one of the most common mistakes entrepreneurs can make is focusing on the wrong investors.

First and foremost, figure out how much money you want to raise before you begin, because if you don’t, you will end up barking at the wrong tree.

According to Feld and Mendelson, if you need $500,000 in seed financing, you should first contact angel investors, super angels, seed-stage VCs, micro VCs, and early-stage investors before addressing large VC firms.

Suppose you need to finance $10 million; in that case, you should start pursuing larger venture capital firms because you’ll need a lead investor willing to (and financially able to) sign a $5 million check.

Substance over Style

Don’t over-design your data. VCs are not really fond of highly stylized summaries; instead, they prefer clear, concise, exciting information that can be easily processed at home or in the office.

To prepare a perfect pitch, have a short description of your app startup ready, along with an executive summary and a presentation. Let’s break down what this means for what you need to do a little more.

The short description, also known as the elevator pitch, could be one to three paragraphs that directly describe the app, the team, and the business. The concluding paragraph could be the next step you plan to undertake.

Here’s an elevator pitch example of JustPark, a parking app, which caught the attention of Richard Branson.

“Let’s face it. Parking can be a real nightmare. It can be infuriating to find, extremely pricey and by the time you find that spot you would have lost time, petrol, and caused a lot of unnecessary traffic and pollution. Well, there’s an answer; parkatmyhouse.com. We are an awesome little company, backed by an awesome big company called BMW. Now, listen in: You can reserve parking in a private property and save up to 70%. Need to park at a sports match or local station? Sorted. … Just go to parkatmyhouse.com and simply type in where you want to park and what dates. It is that simple.”

An executive summary is critical, since it may be the most widely distributed document in a venture capital firm. It can be 1-3 pages long, and it should include a detailed description of the app, the problem you want to answer, and why it is vital to solving.

The big question to answer is: What makes your app stand out from the competitors’, and why is your team the best match to pursue it?

Be sure to add high-level financial data to show that you have lofty but realistic expectations for your company’s long-term success. Additionally, have it proofread by third parties to ensure that all-important aspects are addressed. Remember, presentations could make or mar a funding event… So make it count.

The presentation is a visual representation of your executive summary that would include more examples and a detailed explanation of your company. The length is typically 10-20 slides, depending on the audience. The scale of your presentation may need to adapt depending on whether you are pitching to a single investor, a partnership business, or an investment event.

Furthermore, some VCs would love to see a business plan, though these days most of them tend to ignore it. A business plan is an extension of your executive summary. It could be 30 pages long with complete details on the app, target market, customers, team, and even financials. Though considered an obsolete document because of its length, the idea of putting down your thoughts on paper will stand you in good stead in the future.

Due Diligence

Due Diligence is yet another essential criterion for seed funding. Meeting the due diligence objective as per potential investor requirements is one of the best ways to accelerate and complete the seed funding process.

As part of the due diligence process, the investors check your finances, legal documents, key personnel, employment contracts, vendors, clients, and more to determine their accuracy based on which funds would be released.

Besides looking to gain a complete financial analysis of your company, VCs will conduct a background check on all the founders, board members, and key company personnel.

You must deliver the due diligence documents before looking to raise funds, specifically if you are an app start-up. Otherwise, the investment process can be slowed.

Pro tip: Do not hide anything from the VCs because your relationship will suffer if they get a whiff of something you didn’t want them to smell in the first place.

Build a Prototype

Some venture capitalists prefer to see a demo of a prototype over a business plan or financial information, especially when the company is still in its early stages and they want to get a better picture of the concept you are creating. Not only do you get to inform the VCs about the challenges your app will solve, but you also get to tell them about your app’s benefits while they’re actively looking at your prototype.

Here’s what a prototyping process looks like for an app:

Identify the key functionalities
Make sketches of primary screen
Turn sketches into wireframes
Turn wireframes into prototype

And, yes, VCs won’t mind if the MVP is lacking in features or crashes during the presentation, because they understand that the app is still in development and will require multiple tweaks from the app developer before it meets market demand. In short, the most effective way to determine VCs’ interest is through a prototype of your app. For starters, use X-code for prototyping.The platform enables in building prototypes, akin to real apps, by making use of fake data and placeholder content.

Don’t Overpromise

Overpromise, overdeliver, says Grant Cordone—a real-estate mogul, motivational speaker, and best-selling author. Maybe that’s the success recipe for Cardone, but, generally speaking, it’s always better to underpromise and admit the risks involved.

Due to paranoia, Christoph Westphal of Sirtris always avoided overpromising his vision. “Odds are you’re going to lose this money,” Christoph allegedly warned one of his investors. But it was this openness that put him at ease with investors.

VCs are well aware of the dangers that come with starting a business; all they want to know is whether you are aware of them or not.

Reid Hoffman, founder, and chairman of LinkedIn, warns against overpromising during the pitching process. As he comments, “You may say to the venture capitalist, ‘I’m going to be able to do this, this, and this.’ But you’re gambling into the future, you don’t really know that you’ll get there.”

The Bottomline: Don’t oversell. Only 1-2 percent of the 5,000 business proposals Hoffman examined as a VC in the last few years performed better than their plans. Accept that it’s a gamble. It’s a risk.

Know Your VC Audience

VCs aren’t simply investors. They take on greater responsibilities, serving on the board of directors, and assisting the company with vision, direction, and other issues. In brief, venture capitalists love to have a “say” within companies rather than act as armchair critics. As Hoffman says, “In the end, I pick a VC that I most want to work with.”

Jack Dorsey of Twitter paired up with Fred Wilson of Union Square Venture not only because he was a daily user but also because he had a list of feature recommendations and many questions on his mind during the pitch presentation. Wilson, like Dorsey, was well-prepared and enthusiastic about the project, which led Dorsey to choose Union Square Venture as their investor.

Pitching to a VC Is not a Piece of Cake

Just because you have an out-of-this-world app idea up your sleeve—one that might address a smoldering problem head-on and usher in radical solutions—doesn’t mean the VCs will fall hook, line, and sinker for it and release funds without raising a finger.

VCs want a clear-cut view of all the financials, executive summaries, presentations, MVPs, and more.

They like to play with the MVP component in particular. Moreover, it would be best to admit the odds at stake, which might make or break up your startup experiment.

In short, be ready to be grilled and be honest. Most VCs are seasoned investors who know when the iron is hot.

The post How to Pitch to a Venture Capitalist as a Developer appeared first on Simple Programmer.

How Design Systems Can Benefit Developers

Mon, 30 May 2022 14:00:30 +0000

Development and design are two essential aspects of any digital platform creation. Although they are different elements performed by different teams, they work towards the same goal: to provide a satisfactory user experience. Therefore, concepts that improve the collaboration between designers and developers, enabling them to work together efficiently, offer several benefits. Design systems are one such concept that is trending nowadays.

Contrary to what the name suggests, design systems aren’t just for designers. They are for everyone working on a product—be it developers, project managers, or copywriters.

In this article, I will explore how working with design systems will speed up the development process and simplify the lives of developers. We will take a look at what a design system is, its purpose, and its benefits for developers.

What Is a Design System?

A design system is a collection of design elements organized on a single platform to facilitate a consistent and scalable design process. It can be thought of as a structured and documented library, specific for a product team, that contains all the resources they would need to build the product.

Developers can compare it to a component library, but design systems are more than that. A design system is a collection of both tangible and intangible elements like documentation, design principles, style guides, and patterns.

Similar to how a component library records all the building blocks of a UI, design systems record design elements like fonts, colors, images icons, and so on. But a design system goes one step further and documents their details, usage context, and other related information.

The Purpose of a Design System

In today’s digital world, users have multiple touch points for interacting with digital products. In this scenario, maintaining visual consistency across all channels is key to building user trust. Especially in domains like healthcare or banking, where users share sensitive information with digital platforms, an inconsistent user experience will create bad impressions.

Since multiple designers and developers would be involved in a product development team, inconsistency often creeps in due to personal choices and differing values. These inconsistencies can add up to adversely affect the user experience of a product.

The purpose of a design system is to solve this issue by acting as a single source of truth of the design resources. By providing a standard framework, it aims to make the design process fast, easy, and convenient.

Understanding design systems helps developers code better. Knowing their way around design systems will empower them to translate the design and prototypes into code accurately. Moreover, it is easy to access resources from a central location whenever required, which makes the development process faster.

Benefits of Design Systems

Design systems offer developers many benefits. Let’s take a look at the seven most important ones.

Single Source for Design Tokens

The smallest part of a design system is the design tokens—such as spacings, borders, shadows, and so on. Designers and developers use design tokens to create components.

Design systems provide a single source of truth for the tokens, enabling designers and developers to collaborate better. Moreover, when any changes are made to the tokens, it is easy to update and reflect the changes in design. Therefore, building consistent components and maintaining them are easy with design systems.

Central Component Library

In most companies, multiple development teams may work on the same application, building its different parts simultaneously. Although design is not the forte of developers, they often have to make on the fly design decisions.

Different development teams may make different design decisions, and since design is not their strength, these decisions may not always be the best ones. These seemingly small changes could make an application’s user experience inconsistent.

A central component library relieves developers of this burden, allowing all development teams to access components from the same source. A unified user experience can thus be created through a shared language. This helps to bring visual consistency, streamline the design and development process, and make development faster.

Reduced Code Maintenance

For even simple design changes, like a color change, upgrading the assets in production takes a lot of time. Much of the valuable time and effort of developers are lost here.

With a design system in place, product development and maintenance becomes easy. It offers a collaborative space where components can be developed, upgraded, and tested in isolation for various conditions. Code maintenance is thus time-efficient and simple with design systems.

Manage Designer Handoff

Design kits inside the design system provide assets such as brand guidelines and brand resources. Design systems on the developer side and designer side could be mapped through design kits. This facilitates the designer-developer handoff and helps to handle any handoff issues.

As a result, developers can always have the latest design versions via the design system, as it contains the updated record of all design components.

Helpful Documentation

What sets design systems apart from style guides or pattern libraries is that a design system provides comprehensive documentation. From design details to guidelines and how-to’s, documentation covers all aspects.

Such documentation is highly beneficial for developers, as it helps them understand how to use design tokens and component libraries. Furthermore, when onboarding new developers to a team, the design system provides a comprehensive introduction.

Better Design Consistency

When a design system is implemented, developers load and update components directly from this central repository. This ensures that the production components are consistent and there are no design mismatches. All design tokens, components, and patterns are recorded in the system, leading to better design consistency. Thus, overall design quality is enhanced.

Brand Language Guide

Design systems provide a brand language guide, that is, a guide on how the product communicates with the users. These can be really handy for developers, because they sometimes find themselves in a position where they have to write microcopy, such as the alt text or button labels.

Though these are small bits of copy, they have a huge impact. A brand language guide can help them choose the right words easily and convey the message in proper brand tone.

Equipping Developers to Work Better

Design systems equip developers to work better by reducing their direct dependency on designers and enhancing collaboration. Developers can refer and download whatever design elements they need straight from the central reference system. There is no need to ask designers or wait for their response. This enables them to build with speed.

The standard system transforms the way designs are created, managed and built. It empowers everyone in a team to build responsibly and efficiently while maintaining quality throughout.

The words of Alex Schleifer, VP of Design, Airbnb acutely sum up the essence of design systems: “Here’s the simple truth: you can’t innovate on products without first innovating the way you build them.”

The post How Design Systems Can Benefit Developers appeared first on Simple Programmer.

Parameters	Angular	AngularJS
Architecture	Angular uses directives and components.	AngularJS follows the MVC architecture.
Support	Active support and frequent updates are made.	No support and no new updates.
Speed	Faster because of the updated features.	Slower because of the lack of updates.
Mobile support	Mobile support is available.	No mobile support is provided.
Structure	A simplified structure that can be easily maintained.	Less manageable as it has a basic version that is easy to maintain.
Language	TypeScript	JavaScript

Communication Archives - Simple Programmer

14 MUST-HAVE Soft Skills for Software Developers (LEVEL UP!)

1. Goal Setting – Achieve Your Dreams As A Developer

2. Communication & Speaking Skills – Level Up Your Career

Talk to more people (besides your computer)

Become a Persuasive Public Speaker

3. Attractiveness & Charisma – Switch Your Life to Easy Mode

Engage Others & Spread a Positive Attitude

Dress Well

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2. Never criticize & avoid arguments

3. Think about what the other person wants

5. Negotiation Skills of a Pro – Get What You Deserve

Know your value

Face the fear of rejection

Learn effective negotiation tactics

Be smart

Reputation is powerful

6. Emotional Mastery – Keep Yourself Calm & Controlled, Always

7. Responsibility – Propel Your Career

8. Creativity – Unleash It & Create Opportunities

9. Productivity & Time Management – Become Stresslessly Successful

Take smart notes

Know your most productive hours

Schedule your week

Live and die by the (Pomodoro) clock

Dial in your fitness & nutrition

10. Humble Confidence – Couple Your Self-Belief with Openness to Learn

11. Teamwork – Win Together With Everyone Else

12. Writing – Become Clear in Word & Thought

13. Marketing Skills – Sell (Yourself) Without Shame

14. Learning – Never Stop Leveling Up Your Life

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Understanding the ACA: Health Insurance Coverage

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Q-2. What Are the Various Types of Technologies Used in Angular?

Q-3. What Are the Advantages of Angular?

Q-4. What Are the Main Features of Angular?

Q-5. What Are the Important Fundamentals of Angular?

Q-6. What Is Data Binding in Angular?

Q-7. What Is DOM?

Q-8. What Is the Difference Between Angular and AngularJS?

Q-9. Explain the MVVM Architecture

Q-10. What Are Directives in Angular?

Q-11. What Is Angular CLI?

Q-12. Explain Dependency Injection

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