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What is a software engineer’s social code and why is it important to follow it
Many people involved in the software development process may not be aware of the differences in how engineers communicate through social media. An engineer’s social code is a set of unwritten guidelines that engineers follow when on social media. This code generally governs what types of things are appropriate to post and share online and will vary from one company to another, but there are four main concepts that apply across the board: honesty, respect, humility, and loyalty.
1. Honesty is the best policy
Honesty can be one of the most difficult concepts to maintain, especially when communicating through social media. Engineers often end up posting things that are humorous and end up in memes or even viral sensations, but they forget that they are representing not only themselves as engineers, but their company as well. Being honest includes being timely and relevant with the information you choose to share online.
This ties into trust and respect from the followers of your social media accounts, because you are giving them insight into your life and work.
• Don’t share confidential company or project information online.
• If sharing something from a company or project you’re working on, make sure it’s relevant and useful to your audience.
How can you be a better software engineer by following the social code
Many companies take pride in their values and how they communicate their company culture. By following the company’s social code you are able to reinforce these values with every action you make online. This is just as important, if not more so, than following the code in person. For example, if a company’s highest value is “respect”, then it is critical for their engineers to demonstrate respect for one another both on and offline. Honesty and humility are also great attributes that an engineer should demonstrate to their colleagues and fellow software developers. The following social code can be a good starting point for any software engineer.
Be respectful of everyone, even if they aren’t in your company. Be honest and humble with your answers and comments on social media. Do not retweet or share content that is offensive, even if you wholeheartedly agree with it. Compliment others on their accomplishments and do not push your opinions too strongly on others. Be thoughtful when you write blog posts or create connections between your colleagues and the people who follow them online.
What are some of the benefits of being a good software engineer
There are many benefits that result from being a good software engineer. One of the most obvious ones would be an increase in prestige. Being written up or featured on a blog post is always going to generate some level of publicity for any company, even if it is only for a day or two. Any company that wants to be seen as forward-thinking and innovative will have their engineers promote these kinds of ideas on social media to get noticed. Being a good software engineer also increases your job security. This is because engineers have an impact on their companies’ revenue streams and, as a result, every time an engineer is working on a new project, they’re likely to be called upon by his/her boss to provide input and suggestions. Because of this, software engineers are given more responsibility than traditional employees. This brings with it the need for being able to always support the company in which they are employed. They are also expected to be a “go-to” person for their colleagues and superiors alike. This means that their opinion will be highly regarded, which can boost any engineers’ self-confidence significantly. There’s not a lot of downside in being a software engineer, even from the perspective of someone who’s hiring them. They tend to cost more than other employees, but they often end up making up that difference with both technical prowess and efficiency in getting work done. Since every engineer is integral to the success of a company, they’re likely to be well-compensated.
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How can you get started on following the social code today
These days it is easier than ever to interact with colleagues and other professionals in your field on social media. The first step in becoming a good software engineer is simply realizing that you should be trying, one way or another, to be involved in what you do. Ideally, you should be connecting with people through real-time chats and conversing about their experiences as a software engineer. This will help you get a feel for the kinds of questions and issues your peers are facing and instill more confidence along the way. If you’ve been unsure about whether or not you are a good software engineer, following the social code should help to make that determination.
You’ll want to make sure that you’re always trying to do your very best. One way you can do this is by making a habit of participating in constructive discussions with your fellow professionals. However, it’s important to note that the same rules of decency and respect that govern all interactions on the Internet must be applied in these settings as well. This means that you should never say anything online that you would not say directly to another individual face-to-face, even though no actual face-to-face interaction is involved.
For example, you shouldn’t refer to someone by a derogatory name that he or she would not like. This includes personal insults and things of this nature.
