Software development is a great industry to work in... developers work on interesting topics, with smart people all over the world and get paid generously. But what can you do when things don’t turn out that way?

You've already applied to a few jobs. You re-wrote your CV and told all your friends you are looking for a developer job. You even got far with a few companies and passed the technical challenge. But, you did not get the job.

I’ve made tons of mistakes in my early years as a software developer. It is part of the game. But, if you are an ambitious developer looking to accelerate your growth, the best you can do is to learn from other’s mistakes. Mainly because you don't have enough time to make them yourself. So I compiled a list for you of the main "mistakes" I have made during my first years as a developer. Read carefully below.

Staring at an empty inbox? You are not alone. These days, many developers struggle to get interviews. They optimize their CV meticulously and write lengthy cover letters. They apply to everything coming their way. And yet after hundreds of applications, they still get nothing. No call, no invitations, ... nada. The lucky ones get back a lovely machine-generated answer.

Have you already heard it? It is the hottest thing today...Knowing a gazillion of JavaScript libraries is not enough. A well-done CV and a nice GitHub is not enough. As a software developer, to get noticed by employers or potential clients what you need now is a personal brand.

Have you heard it before? To get a great job as a developer, you should contribute to open-source projects. I say it is a bunch of nonsense. Think about it...

In the last nine months, I mentored 20+ software developers on their journey. During this time, I experienced massive changes in software demographics.