Developers: How to Choose Your Company Properly

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Whether you are a recent graduate or an experienced developer, finding the right place to work can be challenging. In this article, we will provide an overview of the different workplaces and their advantages and disadvantages to help guide you in your choice.

Developers are in high demand, which can complicate the decision-making process. In general, the job allows you to work for different types of company. Careers and skills change and evolve depending on the company chosen, making this a very important decision indeed.

Let's look at some of the pros and cons of various types of workplaces that you can choose from. 

 

1. Start-ups and scale-ups

Start-ups are young, innovative companies whose challenge is the rapid evolution of their product or services. Scale-ups, then, are young companies that have progressed from the start-up stage but are not yet fully established companies because they are still growing. In both cases, the developer will have to offer their expertise, time and skills and show great technical flexibility.

 + Advantages  

Significant freedom and autonomy, dynamic atmosphere, responsibilities and innovation

 – Disadvantages  

The human investment can sometimes be too much, with considerable responsibilities but little mentoring

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2. Software houses

Software houses create, develop and maintain software, programs and applications. Here, developers have to focus on code quality, solution evolution and performance optimisation.

 + Advantages  

Working for a software house usually means earning a good salary and obtaining the privileged status of developer. You can create complete solutions, learn to create high-quality code, be aware of the latest trends in technology and upgrade your technical skills.

 – Disadvantages  

Result-focused culture, many deadlines to meet, pressure to provide support, sometimes deal with less exciting subjects like documentation or customer support

 

3. Web design and digital agencies

The main tasks for web design companies are designing, developing and launching new websites. A digital agency gets involved during the previous stage, developing the creative brief. What they both have in common is that the developer’s principal role is to build web solutions or applications for customers, with projects often lasting much less time than in a software house.

 + Advantages

The budget is generally considerable, which means working on large projects and having optimal stability and many extra-legal advantages.

 – Disadvantages  

Many tasks related to maintenance, multiplication of processes and interlocutors that make the prospect of evolution more difficult.

 

4. Consulting companies

These are the companies that offer their expertise to the agencies mentioned above. Here, developers will need qualities like interpersonal skills in order to be able to communicate effectively with different customers.

 + Advantages  

Little routine because of different assignments, opportunity to work for renowned customers, rapid technical progress

 – Disadvantages  

Possibility of tedious missions, short-term projects, generally performance-orientated and reporting.

 

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Nicolas Christidis

Written by Nicolas Christidis

Nico is a true people leader and a talent whisperer. Has been in recruitment since before you could say “1999." After work, you will see him cheering for AS Saint-Étienne or on a tatami mat practising martial arts.