Socialize
- Not only individuals and interactions, but also a community of professionals.
The idea that software developers are introverted nerds is totally outdated. Finding other developers whom we can bounce ideas off of, pair-program, and network is almost essential for a successful career. A great and easy way to do that is to join your local user groups and technical communities and to participate in their events. They normally promote free talks, coding activities, and social events. Another great aspect of being part of a community is the feeling that we are not alone. User groups and technical communities tend to be extremely open and welcoming. We find developers from many different backgrounds, working for completely different industries, with different technologies, languages, and processes. Some developers are more experienced than others but there is one thing they all share: passion. The great thing about passionate developers is that they are constantly learning and are very happy to share what they know.
Being a member of a local user group or technical community is a fantastic way to learn and share ideas.