As a software engineer, how quickly do you get left behind if you don’t constantly update your skills?
Jared Niervas
Posted on • Updated on
As a software engineer, how quickly do you get left behind if you don’t constantly update your skills?
For further actions, you may consider blocking this person and/or reporting abuse
Top comments (14)
You're asking the wrong question.
The implication in your question is that there are two options - constantly update your skills, or never update your skills.
The better question is "how often should I spend time learning new techniques and technologies?"
The answer to that question depends a bit on the person, but a good baseline is a few hours each month. Less than that, and you might not be making the best choices and creating more work for yourself later. More than that is fine, up to a point. You don't want to be spending more time learning new technology than you are solving problems for your employer. The caveat to that is if you're a new hire in your first 90 or so days; then, learning is all you should be expected to be doing.
Thanks, so spot on!
On a similar note, I find it easier connecting with key engineering events happening across the world. I'm always on the lookout from: community.lohika.com/home/events
It feels like about six hours! In reality i would say about 18 months for Wèb front end frameworks and toolchains. For infrastructute and database, more like 3-5 years.
Ironically for Microsoft PowerBI, Flow and Power Apps, 6 months is probably about the limit as these products are on a 4 week sprint release cycle.
You're assuming that technology is the only thing changing. There might be new approaches using existing technology. You need to keep on top of that, too.
I agree, What a better way than to connect with peers — seniors in the industry they kinda challenge you get out of your comfort zone. Do you have any recommended communities? I'm currently on community.lohika.com/home/events
Communities? Not really. I just pay attention to Hacker News and various subreddits.
Thanks, really helpful.
I feel you Aaron Reese - totally relatable.
The time it took me to read this question, I'm already old news. I should have spent that time learning the latest JS framework.
No, but seriously, I feel like people have a lot of pressure to stay up to date. As long as you don't live in a bubble, you'll be fine.
Thanks.
As quickly as you want a salary bump by taking a new job. The best way to find out which skills is to interview once a year.
This is definitely me.
Sometimes it feels overwhelming, but I figured everything is made up of foundations. So if you get your foundations right, everything else becomes easier.
Sounds you have it figured out.
Some comments have been hidden by the post's author - find out more