Reflection piece: Skills of a Computer Science professional

The field of computer science requires the professionals to possess a wide range of skills. Of course, these vary on the specific branch, position, and career stage, so there’s hardly a universal set of competencies for a CS professional.

As an experienced CS professional, I’d like to reflect on my experiences and observations of how valuable different skill sets might be. Over the course of their career, a computer science professional gets to wear many hats.

At the entry level, the most important thing is a willingness to learn quickly and can follow the guidance of a mentor. Basic coding skills and technical knowledge, such as algorithms are a plus. However, more crucial than these “hard” skills is the mindset; specifically, the ability to assess tasks and break them down into manageable parts.

As the career of a CS professional progresses, it’s important not only to complete their, but also evaluate them critically and understand the impact of the proposed solutions on the business. It becomes essential to know good from the bad and to be able to find the most effective and optimal approach.

Ultimately, a seasoned professional is in constant contact with the stakeholders, identifying their needs, prioritizing tasks appropriately for achieving the best possible results, and managing the development process across the peers and subordinates.