I've been talking with a number of developers getting started in the industry. The common underlying concern I see is determining the path they want to take. I hear, "do I want to learn" ...

• DevOps
• Database
• Frontend
• Backend
• Quality Assurance

When starting out, these positions either all look interesting, or they are so new that they can't even be described.

Yes, there are other categories and options. This is the short list that I often discuss because I have explored them enough to discuss them with some level of experience and knowledge.

Guidance

The guidance I am providing in this article is not absolute. There is no right answer for everyone.

I am providing this information based on decades of experience, moving from job to job, ultimately looking for something and not even truly realizing what I was looking for until I got there.

My hope in writing this article is that I can ease some of the stress and pain for you.

Targeting Gold

The first thing I believe people should be doing is research. This is something I've mentioned in other articles and this belief holds true here.

Find the perfect job, that "golden opportunity." This is not the perfect starting position. This should be the job you want five to ten years from now. This should be the career you are most passionate about.

Some of the people I talk to are so new to the industry, they don't know which category to start with. I suggest not selecting one ... find the perfect job for each category at first. This will allow them to begin exploring what each of these jobs are about.

Example

For this example, I looked up a Database Administrator on Dice.

Under minimum requirements, I found ...

• 5 year’s proven work experience as Database Administrator.
• 3 year’s Data Warehousing / ERP experience.
• Hands-on experience with database standards and end-user applications.
• 3 year’s Production Support experience.
• Previous experience with DBA CASE tools (frontend/backend) and third-party tools.
• Proficient knowledge of data backup, recovery, security, integrity, and SQL.
• Superb interpersonal communication skills.
• Advanced understanding of database design, documentation, and coding.
• Intermediate/Advanced writing SQL/T-SQL (SQL Server, Azure SQL, and Teradata preferred).
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Intermediate skills in implementing software in a Windows 2008 to 2016 server environment.
• Ability to write clear and concise technical documentation.
• SQL Server or Azure SQL certification.

To me, this now looks like some great information to plan the next steps ...

• In training (see, Advanced understanding of database design, documentation, and coding)
• In job hunting (I would want to target any of the positions that say 3 to 5 years of experience in ...).

Researching the Companies

I also suggest research the company ...

• Culture: The motivation to do more than simply achieve financial success. This inspiration should be passed on to the employees.
• Benefits: Companies should value training. Also, with the volume of work-from-home opportunities, look at what perks are provided to make the employee more effective.
• Leadership: They know how to build strong relationships and provide open communication with their employees. They motivate their team and hold everyone to high standards of responsibility and accountability.
• Work-Life Balance: A company should value the employees life outside of work as much as the work they do.
• Room to Grow: There needs to be an ability to go beyond the perfect jobs selected. Is the company large enough or growing quick enough for the employee to grow professionally.

These are some of the key factors I found important. There may be other factors of more interest to you ... that's fine.

Requirements

When the job posting is selected, examine the job requirements. It is possible that more research is needed when they see technologies and terminologies that are unfamiliar.

When you examined the Database Administrator requirements, did the all make sense to you? I believe I would need to research a few of the requirements.

This research will allow targeting the skillsets they should be learning, or introductory jobs they should be looking for.

Given the Database Administrator position, why would I be applying for or accepting offers for Frontend Developer positions? No.

Moving Target

These target jobs can and probably will be a moving target, and that's OK.

At first, people do not know where their interests are other than writing code. As they grow and see what is exciting, what they are passionate about, the list of jobs will narrow or be replaced completely.

Is it possible that half way through a course on Database Development (that you took because of the Database Administrator requirements) you find that you are bored out of your mind (as I would be)? Maybe rethinking the direction you want to go would be appropriate.

That's fine, even expected.

Summary

This article shows a means of setting your short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals. It provides some things to consider when looking at potential jobs and the companies you could be working for.

There is no perfect answer; I just hope you can use some part of this on your journey.

I am providing this guidance, having made just about every wrong decision possible over my decades of work in the tech industry. As I said earlier, my hope is that this article helps to make your process less painful than what I went through.