How Developers Can Stand Out from the Crowd in Africa

Entering a new field can be stressful for anybody and the process of learning a new skill can seem daunting in that process. However, there are practices that new developers can use to gain practical experience to apply the lessons they’ve learned in the classroom. Industry leaders started their careers with these practices and they can be critical for newbies in markets that have a large number of specialists within the industry.

The facilitator and participants during the “Develop Android Apps with Kotlin” class at iSpace Foundation.

While some practices are universal, others can make developers stand out within their local community of developers including:

• Complete projects during your learning journey that align with the sector that you are considering entering within the industry
• Consider training and certifications that could supplement your tech skills like project management or change management
• Find a mentor to give practical advice that could help you understand the industry and operating environment
• Get an internship or gig that allows you to work with a team to learn how to complete projects
• Read technology and programming journals to understand local and global trends and innovations.

Developers can also participate in training sessions to refresh their knowledge, learn new practices, and meet other developers to build their network.

How Do Developers Leverage Resources from Hubs to Advance Their Careers

Those who are interested in developing their skillset and building their careers do not have to work alone thanks to support from local innovation hubs and learning centers.

iSpace completed a 3-month training program to teach developers Kotlin. It included bootcamps, coaching sessions with senior developers and employers, and test preparation for the Google Associate Android Developer Certification. In this time, developers were able to join learning sessions to gain an understanding of concepts and principles then use that to create applications for themselves and entrepreneurs based in Ghana.

A participant presenting an application developed for an entrepreneur as a Bootcamp team project during the “Develop Android Apps with Kotlin” class.

At learning milestones within the program, developers joined sprints and bootcamps to create projects in teams and they spoke with senior developers to learn more about how they build their network and access to projects and with hiring and project managers to learn about skills that the industry requires for developers that are hired and promoted within companies. At the end of their work with iSpace Foundation, developers are being placed in internships and are receiving financial support to take the Google Associate Android Developer Certification.

Future developers can start their tech careers by joining the iSpace Foundation community to gain access to training, work sessions, and other resources. Developers also have the option to join international networks of developers to meet others and access resources.