Kristine Kolodziejski

There are so many ChatGPT generated responses in here, so I am going to contribute with a non-AI response that adds more value. This is my response. Thank you.

Generally speaking, low and mid fidelity wireframes are dated and can add unnecessary amounts of time and frustration to your projects, making them more expensive. Customers tend to struggle to visualise low/mid fidelity wireframes and thus it makes it more prone to miscommunication. Skipping the low and mid fidelity wireframing process, and jumping straight into high fidelity will not only save you more time, but will also lead to better iterations of the design. High fidelity designs create an emotional attachment between your customer and the design by making them feel like ‘the real’ thing - and so your customers are more likely to voice their feedback, share their opinions and iterate in a much simplified way.

Having fun is the best and quick way to learn a new language (or generally learn how to code). Pick a fun project - ideally something centered around your hobby, something you are passionate about - and build it. You’ll encounter problems along the way, you’ll debug them with the help of Google/GitHub Copilot/ChatGPT/StackOverflow/YouTube (or whatever else you use), and keep going until you finish. Make sure you tell a couple of friends or colleagues that you’re building something, as that way you’ll be more motivated to finish it (aka build in public). And before you know, you’ll be ready to get your hands on a real life project. Sounds more fun than tech books and never ending courses, doesn’t it?😎

As an independent consultant/freelancer, having a strong portfolio and network is always going to put you ahead of other developers with your skills. Unlike working for a big org, when you’re independent, you have to earn your reputation yourself. Build your own platform on social media, have a portfolio website, create content and you will very quickly build customer trust - first impressions matter, and your customers are more likely to want to use your services if you have a proven record of work you have done. Get that portfolio website up and running, start sharing some content (or just generally be more active), build your network and you’ll never find yourself having to chase freelance opportunities 🎯

As a software developer, having a strong social media presence and reaching a wider audience is key in gaining new customers and standing out amongst others. To quickly build your social media profile, start by finding a community where you feel you belong - you can network with like minded people, present and get the word out there. Contributing to the community is going to be vital in building a strong social media presence - without the community, your blog or YouTube channel is going to be lost amongst hundreds of thousands of other channels. Start contributing to open source projects, get those pretty green squares on GitHub, create a portfolio that you can demonstrate, and go with it. And whatever you do, always be *authentic*.

Your personal brand is *KEY*. Whether it’s a blog, a YouTube channel, open source contributions or speaking at events - grow your network and build your personal brand. Not only will it help you network with likeminded individuals, it will also instantly increase your chances of getting headhunted and noticed by recruiters. A strong personal brand is associated with a strong reputation. Work on your personal brand and watch your career take off rapidly 🚀