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Building your career as a software programmer requires to have in-depth knowledge of computer science and programming languages. Depending upon the profile you choose, the set of programming skills that you need to build vary. Practising what you learn is the best way to gain expertise in any field. Adding project work experience to your resume improves the chances of getting the job. Here are some programming projects that you should consider working on to make you stand out among other applicants.

1. Fintech project
Finance-related software is the most simple but complex at the same time. You have to deal with confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. The software projects related to finance not only involve cash flow but also totality and processes such as inventory, acquisition, payroll, and others. You can refer to apps like PayPal, Stripe or simple accounting software and build similar to add value to your resume.

2. Instant messaging
Communication apps have the biggest demand in the mobile app development industry. You can find a number of ready to use libraries and APIs to build messaging apps. Also consider referring to apps like KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, WeChat, Slack and build similar projects.

3. E-commerce apps
Online shopping has become the new norm of purchases. Compared to retail outlets, online shopping gives convince and ease to consumers. Online and mobile shopping apps allow users to do a lot of things. You can build a web version of the e-commerce store and package the same as an app. Or you can build a mobile app with native components. There are multiple ways of how you can build e-commerce apps. Having e-commerce development experience to your resume adds a lot of value.

4. Commuting apps
In the fast-paced environment, commuting apps have become the go-to solution for users. Transport apps such as Uber, Ola, Grab include the integration of mapping solution and real-time GPS tracking of devices. You can build commuter apps for businesses such as logistics as well.

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Technical interviews can be a nerve-wracking experience for candidates. Often candidates get rejected for committing silly mistakes and they do not have an idea of why they were not selected. We know that the key to cracking a technical job interview lies in remaining relaxed and not worrying about making small mistakes. However, knowing these mistakes beforehand and avoiding them during your interview can help you get the job you willing to have. Enlisted below are 7 deadly mistakes that you must avoid during a technical interview:

1. Wrong attitude
When an interviewer asks you to write code or questions about the solution you wrote, you should explain that in a polite manner, without trying to act superior. Even if you think that they genuinely don’t understand your solution, be nice. No one would want to hire someone who is impolite or disrespectful of their superiors. So, be careful when you talk.

2. Pretending to be know-it-all
A company wouldn’t want to hire someone who used buzzwords but doesn’t really have the knowledge. It is ok to not knowing everything. Just don’t lie about it. It creates a bad image if you pretend to know something but get caught. Exaggerating your skills will only annoy the interviewer; they appreciate hiring only honest candidates.

3. Not asking questions
Sometimes, you might assume a question differently than what the interviewer meant. Clarify the question or the confusion you have because if you don’t, you might end up giving answers different from what the interviewer expected. Also, asking questions about the job will show how interested you are in the role and will impress the interviewers.

4. Forgetting the requirement
The candidates should always pay attention to the requirements listed. The interviewers never forget about the requirements and also wouldn’t like if you ignore them too.

5. Bad communication skills
Many candidates don’t focus on their communication skills. In reality, interviewer pays a lot of attention to how you communicate. It may seem like it is not much to worry about but a lot of candidates fail to articulate their answers because of poor communication skills. Moreover, some candidates even lack the basic etiquettes like eye contact or greeting the interviewers.

6. No enthusiasm
During the interview, you should sound like you really want this opportunity and are enthusiastic about it. The interviewers wouldn’t mind hiring a person who might not be very skilled but is passionate to work with their company, over someone who is more technical but isn’t putting efforts.

7. Not providing enough details on what is being asked
The interviewers want to fairly have a picture of your skills. Don’t avoid the questions asked. Try to answer the questions first and then talk about your ideas. They want to become more familiar with your thought process. You should always focus on the information that has been asked, it will be appreciated.

The idea of a hackathon, i.e., to create a software/project in the stipulated time is not new. In modern-age, hackathons are considered one of the best mediums for developers to sharpen their skills, showcase their talent, work on a project they are passionate about, and win the hearts of participating companies along with various prizes.

We can go on and on about the list of hackathon advantages, but the biggest benefit of all is that participation in hackathons makes you job-ready. Let us learn about the reasons that show why hackathons are critical in boosting your employability.

1. Low-risk learning
Hackathons bring us the opportunity to easily involve in riskier projects. Unlike in real-world, the developers have more freedom to apply different approaches and tools/techniques to a problem. You have nothing on a stake beside the prize money if things do not go well.

2. Develops new technical skills and enhances soft skills
At a hackathon, you are bound to brush-up your soft skills as you communicate with your team, mostly the like-minded people. The most impacted soft skills include - presentation, communication, team-player, and collaboration skills. On the other hand, you experiment with new tools and technologies, which eventually helps you grow new technical skills. Workshops, webinars, hands-on labs, and mentors are often arranged by organizers to help developers learn and build new skills.

3. Experience in turning concepts into actions
A hackathon is nothing but an event where teams of developers are judged on their ability to transform an idea into a working prototype. Hence hackathons give you the exposure to involve in the every stage of the software development life cycle. A clear understanding of the whole SDLC leads to better employability.

4. Exposure to various verticals and industries
If you want to get an exposure of how different industries tackle their real-world problems with the help of modern-age technology, hackathons are the best place for you. From the inception of an idea to the formation of a solution, you get exposure to various industry verticals, which is quite important in widening your outlook and making you job-ready.

5. Improved critical thinking and problem-solving skills
One of the biggest advantages of hackathons is that they help improve the probelm-solving skills of the participants. You start thinking smartly, you learn to work faster, and you start focusing on important elements of the project - the most-desired skills companies look for in their employees.

6. Recognition and recommendation
Hackathons are great places to meet, connect and collaborate with like-minded software professionals and key members of the participating companies. Networking with such people helps you get recognition among their peers and their company. There are good chances that you get recommended by these people for a critical job role that comes up in their organisation in future.

Experts say that there really is no way to learn faster than by attending a hackathon. The addition of your hackathon experience to your CV gives you an edge over other candidates and assures the potential employer that you are passionate about programming and have the expertise to build a successful career in technology.

If you are wondering about where to start participating in hackathons, the Code Gladiators 2020 competition could be your destination. The event is full of hackathons organised by top software companies like IBM, Microsoft, Times Internet and UiPath. Moreover, you get to win exciting prizes as well as the recognition you deserve for your programming skills.

There are a great number of online platforms that can help you get started with programming. YouTube is one of the independent and free sources of learning. There are a great of number creators on YouTube posting programming and technical tutorials. Here are the top-rated coding and programming channels on YouTube.

1. freeCodeCamp.org
The non-profit community on YoTube offers coding and tech learning. The channel provides free videos, articles, coding interview questions, and interacting learning lessons. You can get certification after completion of coding challenges. The Python course for beginners, SQL tutorial, and JavaScript full course are the most popular courses on this channel. freeCodeCamp.org has 1.92 million subscribers.

2. Edureka
The e-learning platform offers instructor-led courses, webinars, and lectures. It also has a Youtube Channel that hosts most of these courses. The most popular technologies covered by the channel include big data, DevOps, Data Science, Hadoop, Apache Spark, Python, Selenium, Blockchain, Tableau, Artificial Intelligence (AI), AWS, and digital marketing. The YouTube channel has 1.68 million subscribers.

3. ProgrammingKnowledge
This channel offers fundamental knowledge one arias programming topics. It talks about online programming tutorials, coding strategies, installation of open-source software etc. The topics covered in the vides include Elastic Stack, Python, Android, Flutter, Socket Programming, MongoDB etc.

4. Telusco
This channel offers free tutorials from beginner to advanced level. The technical topics covered in their videos include Python, Blockchain, Android, JavaScript, Rest API, Kotlin, Scala, Spring Framework, Networking etc. Telusco also offers motivation videos and online sessions with industry experts. The channel has 993,000 subscribers.

5. Intellipaat
This YouTube channel offers free courses in big data, data science, and artificial intelligence. The video content also helps professionals in making a career decision. Some videos talk about how to assist corporate clients in upskilling their workforce. The channel has 496,000 subscribers.

There is always a continuous demand for skilled tech professionals in the IT industry. The market for certified tech professionals is always higher in the industry. It is important for techies to opt for courses that can increase their market value. A recent report by the research firm Foote Partners has listed top certifications that can increase the market value of techies.

1. CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP)
This certification is ideal for tech professionals that wish to get into cybersecurity research. The CASP+ is the hands-on, performance-based certification for practitioners. It validates advanced-level competency in risk management, enterprise security operations, research, collaboration, and integration of enterprise security.

Average Pay Premium: 13 percent of base salary equivalent Market Value Increase: 30 percent (in the six months through April 1, 2020)

2. Six Sigma Green Belt
The project management certification by Six Sigma operates in support or under the supervision of Six Sigma Black Belt. It analyses the quality problem-solving skills and quality improvement in projects. The examination consists of multiple-choice questions. The 110-question exam needs to be completed in 4 hours and 18 minutes of time.

Average Pay Premium: 10 percent of base salary equivalent Market Value Increase: 25 percent (in the six months through April 1, 2020)

3. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional
The certification is intended for professionals who perform DevOps engineering role with two or more years of experience in provisioning, operating and managing AWS environment. The candidate applying for the exam needs experience in developing code in at least one high-level programming language. The hands-on preparation is a must for the exam. There are many AWS training courses that can assist you on acquiring the adequate skills required to prepare for the exam.

Average Pay Premium: 10 percent of base salary equivalent Market Value Increase: 11.1 percent (in the six months through April 1, 2020)

4. EC-Council's Certified Encryption Specialist
The program introduces professionals and students to the field of cryptography. The participants will learn the foundations of modern symmetric and key cryptography. The participants will learn how to set up a VPN, encrypt a drive, and get hands-on experience with steganography.

Average Pay Premium: 12 percent of base salary equivalent Market Value Increase: 9.1 percent (in the six months through April 1, 2020)

Career options for Computer Science graduates

Computer Science is one of the favourite streams of students during their Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) course. Most of India’s 4,500+ engineering colleges offer an engineering degree in Computer Science (CS). The biggest reason behind this huge popularity is the variety of exciting job opportunities students are offered after their graduation.

The demand for CS engineers has surged in the last decade as all the businesses around the globe started adopting cutting-edge computer solutions for rapid growth. Not only in India but abroad also, the demand for computer professionals has risen extensively in every walk of life. If you are wondering what career path you should go on after your engineering in Computer Science, here are some of the top career options for a fresh CS graduate.

1. Application Developer
The world has grown at a very fast pace. The information technology is not limited to just desktop computers but people are more inclined to use hand-held portable computers, like laptops, tablets, smartwatches, and smartphones to perform their day-to-day tasks. Therefore, the demand for computer professionals with skills in application development has increased. High salary packages, use of the latest technologies, joy at work, and reputed profile are a few of the perks of being an app developer.

2. Software Engineer
The second most popular career option for CS graduates is to become a software engineer. Software engineers are responsible for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining software products using various configuration management technologies. The most exciting part of a software engineer’s job is to build a solution that can perfectly address a real-life problem.

3. Software Quality Engineer
Developing a software application might seem easy but there are chances the software has errors and bugs that can affect its functioning in the due course. Hence, companies hire computer science graduates to test their software and assure the quality of the end product. Software testing engineers are offered a handsome salary along with other perks associated with the job role.

4. Ethical Hacker
This is one of the most exciting job profiles that every CS engineer dreams of building a career into. The major work of an ethical hacker is to find the loopholes in and protect the systems, network, and software applications from getting compromised. Everyday, thousands of software applications are developed and clubbed together with systems, networks, and computer programs to maximise the usage of information technology. Ethical hackers ensure the security of these systems by preventing the unauthorised access to sensitive and private information. The ethical hackers ensure that the system is firewalled, security protocols are in place and sensitive files are encrypted.

5. Graphic Designer
Another interesting career option for computer science engineers is graphic designing. A graphic designer is responsible for developing engaging and brand-oriented graphics for the business in the form of logo, illustration, mailers, flyers, and a variety of media, mostly using graphic design software tools. The job role needs a pinch of creativity and innovation to conceptualise and build outstanding visuals that can boost the user-engagement across various marketing platforms.

5 deadly career mistakes software developers must avoid
TECHNOLOGY

We all make mistakes in our careers, no matter what profile we are working on - a management professional, a talent acquisition specialist, or a software developer. For software developers, however, the idea of mistaking can be extremely scary as one silly career mistake can completely ruin their life.

One can easily avoid such mistakes with a little wisdom while navigating through this ever-evolving software Industry. Here are some of the most notable career traps for software engineers.

# Mistake 1 - Staying in a company too long

Having a decade-long career in a firm may sound an honourable thing for a professional but for a software engineer, this can be dealy as it will steal all the thrill and excitement from your life. After a few years, you will find your work monotonous and your skills and pay will stagnate.

As per Michael Henderson, CTO of Talent Inc., there are two major drawbacks of staying in a company for too long. “First, you run the risk of limiting your exposure to new approaches and techniques,” he says, “and secondly, your professional network won’t be as deep or as varied as someone who changes teams or companies.”

# Mistake 2: Switching jobs frequently

This may sound crazy but yes, switching jobs too early also makes you unfit for a healthy career in the software industry. If you are prone to switch companies very quickly, you are under the red flag. This takes a lot of time, efforts, and money in hunting and acquiring a talent that can add value to the company but if your resume shows you have switched jobs very quickly in recent years, the employers won’t trust your reliability.

Experts say that an ideal period for a software engineer to stay with a company is 4-5 years. This shows a sense of reliability and makes you a trustworthy asset for the company.

# Mistake 3 - Getting into management position

There comes a time in every developer’s life where he/she is offered a promotion that moves them into the management profile. There, a developer has to work more on presentations, paperwork, and meetings rather than coding. If you enjoy coding more than running the show, you might wonder if staying put could stall your career.

Well, look for your workplace environment and see how the management people operate. This will help you make a well-informed decision. If the new profile interests you, only then accept the promotion.

# Mistake 4 - Sticking to your stack

The software industry never stops evolving. Similarly, a software professional should also keep evolving with the industry and must match its pace with the industry to stay relevant and in-demand. Your expertise in one stack may make you invaluable to your current workplace, but is it helping your career. If you do not learn new technologies and stick with your stack, you will soon find yourself out-of-demand.

# Mistake 5 - Ignoring soft skills

As a programmer, you might think that you don’t need to have great soft skills. This is no hurdle in your path to becoming a successful developer. Well, you are wrong here. Being able to effectively communicate enables you to understand business objectives and ideas, talk to clients, and improve your technical skills through learning, group discussions, and e-courses.

5 unique books that developers should read this year
TECHNOLOGY

Books are always the best learning resource for any programming language. If you aspire to grow your technical skills and stay relevant for emerging jobs, you must add the following books to your bucket list.

1. Code Complete 2 by Steve McConnell

This book is designed to help developers achieve more with limited resources. The book helps developers write better code. The latest version includes cutting-edge development practices. The author has captured knowledge from research, academia, and everyday commercial practice. McConnell has included the most effective techniques and principles in the most clear and pragmatic manner.

2. Rapid Development by Steve McConnell

Large software development teams struggle through one important problem - how to deal with the high-pressure schedule. The author has addressed concerns with overall strategies, best practices and valuable tips that help in controlling development schedules and keeping projects moving.

3. About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design by Alan Cooper

The book talks about evolved landscape of interaction design. It is more of a comprehensive guide that focuses on the shift to smartphones and tablets. The new information includes discussions on mobile apps, touch interfaces, screen sizes and more. The book is blooming success among design-intensive companies.

4. Programming Perls by Jon Bentley

The 14-year old book's latest edition is the best book to learn about algorithms, sorting techniques and how to solve problems effectively. The author has chalked out exceptional tutorials and examples of C and C++. The book teaches you to think like an engineer. Each chapter of the book ends with discussions on a dozen problems to help you think creatively.

5. The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas

This book is less about coding and more about practical approaches that authors have found to work in the real-world scenario. It teaches about how to keep your daily routine to yourself and your coworkers. The Pragmatic Programmer is a great book to help small programming teams collaborate in a more effective manner.