Most Important Skills For A Freelance Software Engineer
Ryan, a software engineer, emphasizes the critical importance of AI proficiency in today's job market, stating that "working with AI...is crazy important right now". Beyond technical skills, effective communication and collaboration are key, while overcoming perfectionism and cultivating patience and a "detective mindset" are crucial for navigating complex problem-solving and delivering value to clients.
AI Proficiency, Collaboration and Communication, Perfectionism vs. Practicality, Problem-Solving and Debugging Skills, Patience and Perseverance
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ryan Yost
Software Engineer
Freelance/Contractor
University of Michigan
None
Spanish & Other Languages, Economics
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Honors Student, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. AI proficiency is crucial for modern software engineers, impacting both individual productivity and the development of AI-integrated applications.
2. Effective collaboration and communication are essential for successful teamwork, preventing last-minute issues and ensuring smooth project completion.
3. Balancing perfectionism with the need to deliver functional solutions is vital. Prioritizing value delivery over perfect code structure is key in a business context.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
Working with AI is incredibly important right now. If you're a software engineer and not using AI to augment your workflow, you'll be significantly slower and less productive than others.
Every application and business is now trying to leverage AI. Understanding how to work with this technology is valuable, both for improving your own efficiency and for implementing AI features in new products. This is a significant part of what I've been doing.
Coding often involves focused, heads-down work. However, collaboration and communication are essential because people are working on related and potentially overlapping projects. Without effective communication, issues can arise late in the process, leading to extensive time spent fixing them.
It's important to be aware of your surroundings and to constantly ask clarifying questions. Don't just proceed without seeking understanding. Maintaining diligence and knowing what everyone else is working on is crucial.
One personal challenge is overcoming perfectionism. I prefer to ship code that feels phenomenal, but most businesses and managers prioritize solutions that are "good enough" to start. Their primary concern is meeting business needs and delivering value to clients, not the intricacies of your code structure.
It's vital to remember this and become comfortable shipping work that may not be its ultimate best. A detective-like mindset is also helpful. You'll often sift through existing code, potentially not your own, to fix bugs or scour the internet for inspiration when troubleshooting an issue that's impacting production.
Related to this is patience. Tasks that seem like they should take an hour can sometimes extend to three days, which can be frustrating. You need to persevere without becoming overwhelmed or distracted, trusting that you'll eventually find a solution.
This also ties back to communication. If I spent three days on what seemed like a simple fix, my boss would be upset. However, reaching out to explain that I'm struggling is a much better approach.