COURSE 10: SOFTWARE DEVELOPER CAREER GUIDE AND INTERVIEW PREPARATION

Module 1: Building a Foundation

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Last updated:

August 2, 2024

TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction
Practice Quiz
Graded Quiz
Conclusion

INTRODUCTION – Building a Foundation

Embarking on a job search can be significantly more fruitful if you lay a solid groundwork before diving in. In the Building a Foundation phase, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the types of jobs you want to pursue. This involves not only identifying the roles and industries that align with your skills and interests but also learning how to articulate these in a compelling manner. You will craft a basic resume that effectively showcases your qualifications and achievements, and compile a portfolio of your previous work to demonstrate your experience and capabilities.

Additionally, you will create other essential materials such as a well-written cover letter tailored to different job applications and a succinct yet impactful elevator pitch that you can use to introduce yourself in professional settings. These preparations will equip you with the tools needed to present yourself confidently and professionally, enhancing your chances of securing the desired job.

Learning Objectives

Create job-seeking materials including a cover letter and elevator pitch
Compose a resume
Develop a portfolio of work
Describe some career paths for software development and the job prospects for the field
Summarize the basic functions and tasks of the software developer role

PRACTICE QUIZ

1. What are some important tasks of a software engineer?

Analyzing users’ needs and then planning and creating software that will meet those needs. (CORRECT)
Coordinating the team, making sure the team is meeting goals and milestones
Trying out new software to make sure it works as expected.
Making software intuitive and easy to use, including addressing important accessibility concerns.

Correct: Correct. Software developers also plan software systems and how the pieces will fit together and suggest improvements, as well as other functions.

2. Which of the following features are generally part of working in large companies, as opposed to small companies?

Irregular working hours 
“Flatter” hierarchy
More predictable advancement track (CORRECT)
Wider variety of challenges for a single position

Correct: Correct. Smaller companies often have a more flexible hierarchy and business trajectory.

3. Where is the best place to host your portfolio?

Kaggle 
Indeed 
GitHub (CORRECT)
Reddit

Correct: Correct. GitHub is familiar and accessible to most tech professionals, and using it shows your familiarity with this common resource.

4. What is ATS software?

Software that tracks applicants and their resumes (CORRECT)
Software used as an example in a portfolio 
Software that automates the process of applying for a job 
Software that generates resumes using templates

Correct: Correct. Employers often use applicant tracking system (ATS) software to filter resumes, which simplifies finding the applicants they want to interview.

5. If you use a bulleted list, the bullets should be:

One paragraph each 
Informative but concise (CORRECT)
As long as they need to be to convey the information
Single words only

Correct: Correct. Bullet points should be brief, so edit carefully to make sure they include good information.

GRADED QUIZ

1. Which of the following is most necessary for a software engineer?

Domain-specific knowledge
Client service skills
An advanced degree
Communication and presentation skills (CORRECT)

Correct: Correct. Software engineers need to be able to communicate with teams and convey plans to stakeholders.

2. What is a characteristic function that software engineers do?

Extract and organize data from different sources, clean and prepare it, and then store and manage it in data repositories.
Design each piece of an application or system, and plan how the pieces will work together. (CORRECT)
Translate business needs into software requirements.
Write help files and software documentation.

Correct: Correct. Software engineers design and create systems and networks as well as individual applications.

3. What technological advancement has had a particular impact on demand for software engineers recently?

Cloud computing (CORRECT)
Online shopping
Smart-home devices
Automation of manufacturing

Correct: Correct. As more companies move to cloud services, the demand for new software that fits the new paradigm is also growing.

4. In what field(s) do software engineers commonly work?

Mathematics and statistics
Academia
Technology
Many different fields (CORRECT)

Correct: Correct. Software engineering is used in many industries for many purposes, so the opportunities are broad ranging.

5. What is a good source of portfolio content?

Work for previous employers covered by an NDA
Unfinished projects
Freelance work (CORRECT)
Examples found online

Correct: Correct. Many people work as freelancers to gain experience, and if you have permission, you can include freelance work as part of your portfolio.

6. What is a good way to decide which skills to highlight in your portfolio?

Reading job listings (CORRECT)
Including everything you’ve worked on
Using a template
Asking friends

Correct: Correct: To build a portfolio for the job you want, start by understanding which skills you will need to demonstrate by studying current job listings.

7. If you decide to build a new project to include in your portfolio, what is good advice?

Use GitHub to host your projects. (CORRECT)
Use whatever ideas come to mind since almost anything you work on will be interesting.
Don’t visit data science communities; you don’t want to accidentally plagiarize an idea.
Real-world data sets are messy – it’s best to avoid them for good results.

Correct: Correct. GitHub is accessible and familiar to most professionals in technical fields.

8. Should you include hobbies and interests on your resume?

No, never.
Some are okay – it helps potential employers know you better.
Only if you have limited experience or skills relevant to the job. (CORRECT)
Always, to provide a more well-rounded view of a potential candidate.

Correct: Correct. Hobbies can help flesh out your skills if they are not strong but can be distracting if they’re unrelated to the job.

9. What is usually the largest part of your resume?

Contact information
Work experience (CORRECT)
Education
Skill summary

Correct: Correct. The work experience section is usually the largest part of your resume.

10. What is a good way to make your resume work well with search engine optimization (SEO) and applicant tracking system (ATS) software?

Use very specialized vocabulary and jargon.
Add large image files.
Use and repeat as many keywords as possible.
Add alt-text to every image, photo, and graphic you use. (CORRECT)

Correct: Correct. Users and website visitors who are visually impaired rely on alt-text and screen readers to understand graphic content, and this also adds keywords.

CONCLUSION – Building a Foundation

In conclusion, taking the time to build a strong foundation before starting your job search can greatly enhance your effectiveness and confidence. By understanding the jobs you are targeting, creating a solid resume, compiling a portfolio of your work, and preparing additional materials like a cover letter and an elevator pitch, you will be well-equipped to present yourself as a strong candidate. This preparation not only helps you stand out to potential employers but also boosts your own readiness and assurance in navigating the job market, ultimately increasing your chances of securing a position that aligns with your career goals.

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