Microsoft CDAs on the Importance of Soft Skills for Software Developers
Tags: beginners, career, softskills, tips
Published: 2018-02-28 11:23:40

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title: "Microsoft CDAs on the Importance of Soft Skills for Software Developers"
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tags: beginners, career, softskills, tips
canonical_url: http://programmergoals.com/microsoft-cdas-importance-soft-skills-software-developers/
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Most developers have certain goals for their career and also their life.

For me, for a very long time, it was to publish my own indie game. And I reached that goal.

But I figured, to achieve any goal, **it’s not only about the technical skills**. Communicating, personal growth, getting out of your comfort zone and building these soft skills are also immensely important.

At the Microsoft Tech Summit in Frankfurt, I met the following Microsoft CDAs (Cloud Developer Advocates) who certainly have a position many developers desire, and I asked (and recorded), what they think about the importance of soft skills for every developer.

The first person I asked was [Shayne Boyer](https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/advocates/shayne-boyer). He wrote his first text-based role-playing game at age 11 and is now CDA for .NET/.NET Core, Docker and Node.js. It’s all about communication, he says, and you should definitely **join local groups and approach new people to exchange your ideas** – also at work.

Here’s the (short) video:

{% youtube eSz_5wOGd8E %}

Next would be [Zachary Deptawa](https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/advocates/zachary-deptawa) and [Bernd Verst](https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/advocates/bernd-verst). Zach’s primary professional background is rooted in Linux, hence he’s also a CDA for Linux (Yes, a Microsoft CDA for Linux. Welcome to 2018!). He thinks you should tell your story, be relatable and conquer your fears. If you do that, **awesome stuff is happening**.

Bernd originally comes from Germany. He studied six years in San Francisco, then worked for Google, then Twitter, even the government and now is a Microsoft CDA for Linux, Containers (Kubernetes) and Python. In his opinion, **mentorship is very important**. Both, getting mentored and also be the mentor yourself.

But see for yourself. Here’s the video with Zach and Bernd:

{% youtube GdnKVbPW9VI %}

I hope these little clips helped in any way. If so, please let me know.

Write your comments below and **share your thoughts** on the importance of soft skills with the community. :)

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