I recently graduated from college and am now working at a fortune 500 company. Today I was given a very nice compliment that I was the strongest programmer in my department. All of this went straight to my head, of course, and so I've put together some tips for the young (.net?) developers of the world.
Read, read, read
Get a news reader and subscribe to as much stuff as you can handle. The more the better. Check it all the time, because some sites flip through news very quick. Most of the time the news is trash but you'll always find a few good articles a day. This will help keep you on top of your game.
Attend conferences, workshops, and other events
This is the best way to share ideas, meet new people, and start personal relationships that can help you during the length of your career. Not only that but you will learn more at these events than you can by reading online because the exchange of information is so much faster and richer because you can interact one-on-one with people who have experience. Go to hacker events, developer events, and related technology events. They all will bring their own level of value and will help you grow.
Become good at something
Have something that is your niche. This should be the CORE of your knowledge aka what you are known for! Perhaps it is .NET? Whatever it is make sure you know it inside-and-out. It would be best if you could belt out a few technologies (like .NET + SQL Server for example) but just start out with one.
Jack of all trades
Compliment your core knowledge with an abundance of knownledge in other areas. If you know C# for instance you can pick up PHP very quick. You don't have to know the ins-and-outs of all these other technologies but know enough to be proficient and get the job done when needed. Don't just focus on programming either. Become good with using Photoshop, Excel, Word, and other software. Being a well rounded person is very valuable.
Push the envelope
As soon as you hear of a new technology you should at least give it a go (or two). It may seem hazy to get into things that aren't totally defined yet or are out of your comfort zone but it will keep your mind active and creative. Doing something the first time is always the hardest. It usually takes me many tries to get something down to an art - and even then, you are always refining your ways. Don't be afraid to try new things! Test your newfound technologies in things you do on the side. Once you've got them down-pat is when you can bring them to the table at your job.
Work Hard
I've had jobs where I've been lazy and also jobs where I've worked hard. It makes a big difference and people will notice. If you work you ass off it will pay off. It won't happen right away so you need to be persistant. No one likes the lazy guy anyways! Don't be afraid to show-off your skills. If no one sees your work then everything you've done is for nothing. You could even end up getting fired after all your hard work (I speak from experience). Be involved in the core of what your business is doing. Do something that is meaningful and do not take the easy assignments. Communicate and share with your group.
There is my list. It's simple and plain common sense. Just so you know I am not a total n00b in the work force. I have over 6 years of development under my belt. I've seen what works and what doesn't work. I got lucky early in life and scored an awesome development job. Thanks Andrew.
