One of the best pieces of advice my father gave me was to set yourself up to love your job. Depending on what your passions are, this could require a college degree, an apprenticeship, or years of paying your dues in the minor leagues. As I’ve gotten to know some software developers over the years, one of the things that impresses me the most about them is their passion for what they do. These people love talking about software languages, frameworks, and the projects they’re currently working on. Some even do side projects as a hobby because they love to code.
As with any profession, there are always some who consider coding to be merely a job that pays the bills. Or as a way to climb the corporate ladder. And it goes without saying that the most valuable devs are going to be the ones for whom coding is a passion. Ideally, an employer will be able to determine which ones love to code and which ones do it out of a sense of duty. These interview questions can help recruiters discern between the two:
- Why did you choose to learn to code?
- What do you do in your free time?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
In case it’s not obvious why it’s better to hire a developer who is passionate about coding, consider the thought of Walt Disney being indifferent about the idea of entertaining families. He might have retired once his animated mouse became a cultural phenomenon. The world would have missed out on such a tremendous gift if Walt had not been passionate about his craft.
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