Using the information provided by Linkedin users, we have carried out an in-depth research for you, rounding up the most important skills for software engineers to master this year.
With the tech industry continuing to expand and develop in Portugal and across the world, more opportunities are presenting themselves for both foreigners and Portuguese nationals alike. Whether you are searching for a challenging role within a large, established company, or perhaps a new coding job at a small tech startup, this article serves as an informative guide for anyone looking to pursue a career in the industry.
Based on the precise analysis that represents the world seen through the lens of LinkedIn data, accumulated from the profile information of LinkedIn’s 800 million members worldwide, get to which skills are important for employers in 2022!
Not only does this data show us how jobs are changing, and what skills employees need to stay up to date in the new world of work, but it also grants an insight into the understanding behind how skills have changed. This is carried out by first identifying the top skills a worker had for a specific job in the past, and then comparing that with the skills a worker has for that same job today.
While some skills are just as important as they were before, and others have simply reshuffled, becoming slightly more or less important than in previous years, some skills have dropped off the list of top skills completely, with new skills rising to the top, specifically in rapidly growing industries such as tech. Influenced by how members choose to use the platform, which varies based on professional, social, and regional culture.
In this article, we focused our analysis on the most important skills for Software Engineers in Portugal.
As you can see in the visual above, between 2015 and 2022, skills have changed an average of 27.2% for Software Engineers in Portugal. The similarity score between two years reflects both the overlap of common skills between each year as well as the relative importance of those skills for each year, allowing us to see what skills are most valuable in 2022, both new and old. As the data has been collected over the last 6 years, it means we can look back and trace how the industry skills have changed and developed over time.
While Javascript, Software Development, SQL and C# continue to be classed among the top ten skills, the six new top skills are Git, TypeScript, Docker Products, .NET Framework, React.js and Node.js. Of course, while skills seem to have evolved rapidly in the industry, many of the top skills of today are quite similar to the top skills of the past, meaning that tech employees such as yourselves will be able to upgrade and refresh their skills quite easily. See below for a comprehensive insight into the top technical skills for software engineers in 2022.
Top Technical Skills for Software Engineers in 2022 According to LinkedIn
1. Git
Git, now the top skill on the list, is the popular open-source version control software that manages the source code for almost any project. By learning how to add, change, and delete files in the repository; viewing a log of previous commits; and comparing versions of a file, this valued knowledge will put you in good stead when applying to your next job in tech.
2. C#
Popular both now and back in 2015 is the programming language that inspired C++, Objective-C, and many others. C# involves basic concepts such as flow control and variables, but also more advanced concepts such as pointers and memory allocation.
3. JavaScript
JavaScript has become an integral part of the web, infusing every layer with its script, from core principles like variables, data types, conditionals, and functions through to advanced topics, including loops, and DOM scripting. As the web evolves from a static to a dynamic environment, technology focus is shifting from static markup and styling—frequently handled by content management systems or automated scripts—to dynamic interfaces and advanced interaction.
4. TypeScript
Not so differently, TypeScript lets you write JavaScript the same way you always do, as it compiles to plain JavaScript and works with any browser, any host, and any operating system. However, it does add a variety of helpful tools and syntax to an already mature language, bringing the power and productivity of open-source, object-oriented development to fully compatible, core JavaScript. Put some work into learning how to define complex types, extending and extracting metadata from existing types, and working with JavaScript modules, in order to really get your coding skills up to scratch.
5. Docker
Taking the next step beyond virtualisation, a Docker image contains everything it needs to run, independent of the Linux server on which it lives: a copy of the operating system, a database, code, configuration files, dependencies, and so on. Images can also be packaged and shared with other Docker admins. Docker runs complex systems with millions of users and hundreds of containers, with basics including its containers, Dockerfiles (base images), and capabilities for networking, data management, infrastructure optimization, and more. If you know how to build your own containers, as well as how to network and link containers, you are well on your way to receiving the job offer that had your name on it from the start!
6. .Net
A programming framework that defies expectations, .NET is both a platform and a runtime environment; supporting cross-platform development but running primarily on Windows. .NET is undoubtedly one of the staple tools for software developers. If you know your way around the Common Language Runtime (CLR), the Framework Class Library (FCL) and can tell the difference between .NET 4.6 and .NET Core, you’ll be one step ahead of the rest. If you really want to impress your potential new employer, why not take an online course beforehand in order to learn the different IDEs you can use to code in .NET, including Visual Studio, as well as figuring out to create basic apps for ASP.NET MVC, Windows Presentation Foundation, Console, and Web API.
7. React.js
React.js is designed to make the process of building modular, reusable user interface components simple and intuitive. The foundations of React development, including the use of React hooks—a new feature starting in React 16.8 that allows developers to add functionality to components without writing classes. If you want to improve this skill, then a good idea is to start with learning how to create components, how to display dynamic data with properties and how to render components using JSX syntax. Taking it a step further, you could take a look at how to manage the state of components with hook, and leveraging cloud deployment options for apps created with create-react-app.
8. Software Development
Software Development, while albeit generic in name, refers to those core programming languages such as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). Serving as the foundation of website and web application development, HTML allows one to ensure that their content is understood by both segments of their audience: the people who watch, read, or listen to the content, and the computers that display it. It is worth running over key elements such as semantic markup: tagging content as what it is, and not just for formatting or convenience.
9. Node.js
Node.js is a platform built on the Chrome JavaScript runtime that can help you build fast, scalable network applications. Node.js uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient—perfect for data-intensive real-time applications that run across distributed devices. By learning the basics of Node.js, you can discover how to build a simple application, with topics such as npm, reading and writing files, and Node.js frameworks. We suggest you dive into popular web development concepts, and get up to date on the core Node.js features, such as async/await, in order to give yourself the best chance of being hired for that next great opportunity coming your way.
10. SQL
Last but not least, as the most common language for database wrangling, it is no wonder why SQL has continuously been a top ten skill for software engineers over the last six years. Boasting major features such as creating tables; defining relationships; manipulating strings, numbers, and dates; using triggers to automate actions; and using subselects and views, SQL is an undisputed staple for anyone looking to work in tech.
Top IT Skills for Software Engineers in 2022 According to LinkedIn: Final Thoughts
Now that you know all about the most important hard skills to master as a software engineer, don’t forget that soft skills are just as valued. If you are keen to take your research further, then have a look at our top tech soft skills for developers and other IT professionals to further your knowledge of tech, maximising your opportunities and progression in the industry.
We really hope to have helped you with our guide to the top technical skills for programmers in 2022. Do feel free to make use of the LinkedIn Economic Graph yourself, adjusting the data analysis to fit your own path.
If you are a master of all the skills above (or you’re on your way to becoming one!), then you are definitely a great candidate for the most requested vacancies at KWAN! Fill in our contact form and talk to us so we can find you an exciting new project!
