DEV Community: Abid Shabir

From a Software Engineering Graduate to an SEO Specialist, My Journey So Far

Abid Shabir — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:08:03 +0000

Sometimes, your career doesn’t start the way you planned.

You graduate with a degree, start applying for jobs, and expect things to move forward. But sometimes, despite your best efforts, nothing seems to work.

This is a story about how my career journey took an unexpected turn, from Software Engineering to Oracle, and eventually to SEO.

And honestly, I’m still learning.

🎓 Graduating in Software Engineering

In 2024, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering from COMSATS University.

Like many fresh graduates, I was excited to start my professional career.

I started applying to different companies and going through interviews, hoping to get my first opportunity.

But things didn’t go as I expected.

For almost a year, I kept trying.

Company after company.

Application after application.

But unfortunately, I couldn’t get selected.

At some point, I became really disappointed.

I had already spent years studying Software Engineering, and now almost another year was passing without a proper start to my career.

I started asking myself:

“What should I do now?”

💻 My First Professional Opportunity, Oracle Internship

Eventually, I got an opportunity to intern at a textile mill as an Oracle intern.

It was a four-month internship, and although it wasn’t exactly what I had originally planned for my career, I decided to take the opportunity seriously.

And I’m glad I did.

During those four months, I learned a lot about working in a real-world software environment.

Some of the things I worked with included:

Oracle Database fundamentals
SQL queries and retrieving data from databases
Practical exposure to PL/SQL
Oracle Forms Builder
Oracle Reports
HR & Payroll-related reports
Understanding and modifying existing forms and reports
Database-driven enterprise application workflows
Working with DBA and development teams
Debugging and problem-solving in a real-world environment

More importantly, I learned what it actually feels like to work inside a professional technical environment.

It was very different from university projects.

You have real users, real requirements, existing systems, deadlines, and problems that need to be solved.

That experience taught me a lot.

😔 When the Internship Ended

After completing my internship, I hoped there might be an opportunity to continue working there.

Unfortunately, there was no vacancy available.

So once again, I was back to searching for a job.

I started reaching out to HR departments and applying to different companies.

But the response rate was extremely low.

And honestly, it was frustrating.

I had already spent almost a year trying to start my career, and I didn’t want to lose more time waiting for the “perfect” opportunity.

I needed to do something.

🔍 Then SEO Changed My Direction

During my university years, I had also learned SEO online and developed an interest in the field.

So I decided:

Why not give SEO a chance?

I didn’t want to sit at home waiting for a Software Engineering job while more time passed.

I wanted to learn, work, gain experience, and keep moving forward.

Eventually, I got an opportunity to join a software house as an SEO professional.

And this became another important turning point in my journey.

🚀 From Opportunity to Permanent Position

I started working on the company's website and focused on improving its SEO.

At the beginning, I was still learning.

I made mistakes.

I tried different approaches.

Some things worked.

Some things didn’t.

But I kept learning.

The company appreciated my work, and eventually I was offered a permanent position.

Alhamdulillah, today I’m a permanent employee, and I’ve now been working here for around a year.

I’m grateful that I didn’t let that difficult period stop me.

📚 Still Learning Every Day

One of the things I appreciate most about my current workplace is the people around me.

I’ve had the opportunity to learn from experienced seniors who have helped me improve my skills and understand things from a practical perspective.

And, of course, I’ve learned a lot from my own mistakes too.

I believe mistakes are a big part of professional growth.

You make a mistake.

You understand why it happened.

You fix it.

And hopefully, you don’t repeat it.

That process has taught me more than I expected.

🌱 This Is Only the Beginning

I’m still working, still learning, and still figuring things out.

My journey hasn’t been perfect.

I didn’t get my first job immediately after graduation.

I spent almost a year searching.

I had an internship that ended without a permanent opportunity.

I had a very low response rate from job applications.

And eventually, I found my way into SEO.

Looking back, I think every part of that journey taught me something.

Maybe the path wasn’t what I originally planned, but it brought me to where I am today.

And I’m grateful for that.

👋 Why I’m Sharing This on DEV.to

I’m thankful to DEV Community for providing a platform where people can share their experiences, knowledge, failures, and lessons.

I want to gradually share my SEO journey here, not just the things I’ve learned, but also the challenges, mistakes, experiments, and lessons along the way.

There’s still a lot of my story left to tell.

I’ll talk about the projects I’ve worked on, the SEO challenges I’ve faced, things I learned from my seniors, mistakes I made, and the lessons I’m still learning.

One post at a time.

One lesson at a time.

And hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to learn from this community and also contribute something useful to others.

Thanks for reading my story. ❤️

This is just the beginning.

The Tech Nomad's Guide: Best US Cities for Remote Developers

Abid Shabir — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:07:00 +0000

As developers, we have the ultimate superpower: the ability to build the future from anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection. If you are tired of staring at the same home office walls and want to take your code on the road, the US offers some incredible cities that perfectly blend tech culture, fast internet, and amazing travel experiences.

Here is an informational guide to the best US cities for tech nomads and how to plan your remote work journey.

Austin, Texas 🎸 Austin isn't just the live music capital of the world; it’s a booming tech hub known as "Silicon Hills."

The Vibe: Energetic, creative, and extremely tech-friendly.

Why Developers Love It: There are countless co-working spaces, a massive community of startup founders, and endless tech meetups. After pushing your code to production, you can celebrate with some of the country’s best BBQ and live music.

Tech-Nomad Tip: Look for short-term rentals near South Congress (SoCo) or East Austin for the best mix of cafes and nightlife.

2. Denver, Colorado 🏔️

If you want to debug your code with a view of the Rocky Mountains, Denver is the place to be.

The Vibe: Outdoorsy, relaxed, and health-conscious.

Why Developers Love It: Denver has a rapidly growing tech scene with a strong focus on green tech and aerospace. It offers a perfect work-life balance. You can spend your morning fixing server issues and your afternoon hiking or skiing.

Tech-Nomad Tip: Union Station is a great hub with excellent coffee shops that are highly accommodating to remote workers with laptops.

3. Seattle, Washington ☕

For those who thrive in traditional tech environments but still want a change of scenery, the Pacific Northwest is unmatched.

The Vibe: Moody, caffeinated, and innovative.

Why Developers Love It: Home to giants like Microsoft and Amazon, the infrastructure here is built for tech professionals. The coffee culture is legendary, meaning you will never run out of high-quality caffeine or quiet cafes to focus on deep work.

Tech-Nomad Tip: Check out neighborhoods like Capitol Hill or Fremont. They are highly walkable and packed with indie coffee shops boasting gigabit internet speeds.

4. Smart Travel Planning for Nomads 🎒

Moving between cities while maintaining a 9-to-5 (or a freelance schedule) requires careful planning. You don't want to be stuck in transit while you have a critical deployment scheduled.

Taking a comfortable cross-country bus is a fantastic way to enjoy scenic routes while still getting work done on your laptop. Utilizing reliable bus ticketing platforms like BoletoXpress can help you lock in your travel arrangements smoothly, ensuring you spend less time stressing over logistics and more time writing clean code.

Final Thoughts

Taking your development career on the road is one of the best ways to prevent burnout and spark new creative ideas for your projects. Just remember to pack a reliable power bank, invest in a good VPN, and always test the Airbnb Wi-Fi speed before booking!

Hello DEV Community! My Journey in WordPress & SEO

Abid Shabir — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 05:39:32 +0000

Hi everyone! 👋

I’m excited to finally be part of the DEV Community.

I’m a Software Engineer, WordPress Developer, and SEO Specialist with a passion for building websites that are not only functional and visually appealing, but also fast, accessible, and easy to find in search engines.

Why I joined DEV.to

I joined DEV.to because I want to connect with other people in the tech community, learn from their experiences, and share some of the things I’ve learned throughout my journey.

Technology is constantly changing, and I believe one of the best ways to grow is by building, experimenting, learning, and sharing.

What I work with

My main areas of interest include:

🧩 WordPress development
💻 Web development
🔍 Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
⚡ Website performance optimization
📱 Responsive and user-friendly websites
🛠️ Troubleshooting and improving existing websites

I especially enjoy working at the intersection of development and SEO—because creating a website is only part of the job. Making sure people can actually find it, use it, and have a good experience is just as important.

What I’ll be sharing

On DEV.to, I plan to write about things I encounter in my work and the lessons I learn along the way.

You can expect posts about WordPress, SEO, website performance, development tips, useful tools, troubleshooting, and practical experiences.

I’m also looking forward to learning from everyone here. If you have experience in WordPress, SEO, software engineering, or web development, I’d love to hear from you.