The Best Software Engineering Skill You Didn’t Learn In School

As a software engineer, I frequently find myself mentoring other engineers. They usually start by asking which programming language to learn or how to improve their programming skills. The most intriguing question they asked was, “What are the best software engineer skills you did not learn in school?”

As a software engineer, I have had the peculiar opportunity to witness technology in all its glory. And, believe me, when I say, it’s not over.

Software engineering is a field that has been rapidly evolving. There are many different types of engineers, and everyone has the skills they need to learn.

In this article, I will discuss three skills you will not learn in school that will help you succeed as a software engineer.

The school doesn't teach you how to learn on your own.

Firstly, the software engineer skill you do not learn in school is the ability to learn on your own. Technology moves fast, and the programming frameworks of tomorrow are not necessarily going to exist today. You need to be able to adjust quickly, and it’s commendable if you can do that without help from others.

Schools teach us how to learn from a teacher. But the best software engineers in the world can…