5 Reasons Why Coding Challenges Are a Game Changer for Your Tech Career
Whether you're a fresh grad looking for your first job, or you're happily engaged in a company you love, competing in coding challenges is one of the highest leveraged actions you can take in your career. Coding challenges are tool that helps you reap multi-dimensional benefits.
1. Taking Initiative
Demonstrating your willingness to continually challenge yourself is priceless in today's era where the tech landscape rapidly shifts overnight. Coding challenges signal your proactive commitment to professional development and illuminate to the world that you create your own opportunities rather than waiting for them to handed to you. Being a self starter is highly valued by employers, and is a sign of drive and dedication to excellence.
2. Trail of Lifelong Learning
The number one thing the tech industry respects is skill. Coding challenges let you leave behind a digital trail of your commitment to life long learning. They let you view your own journey as you tackle one challenge after another. You can literally see yourself grow as time moves forward. In addition, you can showcase your evolution which can be observed, measured, and appreciated by others.
3. Collaboration and Community Engagement
Coding challenges often are within communities where you can collaborate and get feedback from peers. Participating allows you to engage with a global network of professionals and telegraphs to the world your ability to work with others, give and receive feedback, and make positive contributions in a collective learning environment.
4. Marketability and Job Security
Employers appreciate the skills, mindset, and network you build through coding challenges. Having a portfolio to showcase yourself successfully solving real-life business problems highlights your technical proficiency. It's a great way to secure yourself a seat in an industry that is problem solving oriented.
5. Fun
If you play your cards right, Software engineering is one of those titles that pays proportionally to how much fun you can make it. The more experience you get, the more valuable you become. The more you play, the more you get paid.
Challenge Yourself
The path to success in the tech industry is through getting hands-on experience and showing what you learn to the world. If you're ready to take your career to the next level, engage with a vibrant community, and have fun along the way, then feel free to check out the latest coding challenge I've set up for you here: Build Your Pokedex From Scratch.