5 Lessons For Every Programmer From Stéphane Sercu

Stéphane Sercu is a student programmer, very passionate about software development. That love has been going on since he was only 12, so he started to learn programming on his own. Stéphane is enrolled in a final year of his Master’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering. He specializes in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. 

Although his portfolio is at an enviable level, here we will focus on something else. Namely, our focus will be on how 22-year-old Stéphane Sercu used all the possibilities of having a personal website. How he used it, to present his skills and achievements in the best possible way and accelerate his career.

So let’s start!

Every Programmer Needs A Well-organized Website

You must have heard many times before that your website is your showcase and it functions like your online CV. And a well-organized website is what attaches both clients and employers!

Your site should offer a good user experience and fresh content. An additional plus would be if it is also well designed, optimized, functional, with logical navigation, and clear. That way, you will differentiate in today’s competitive digital world!

Show All The Projects You’ve Been Working On

None of your previous jobs and none of the projects you have participated in are to be underestimated. Mention all your working experience on the website. And I don’t mean just programmer-related ones. In case you are a software engineer just like Stéphane, list all the apps and iOS components. It doesn’t matter if it was just an assignment for the university.

You’re probably wondering, why is it a good idea to catalog all your internships and even student jobs in your portfolio? Because your potential employer or client can see how hard-working and versatile you are. If you put the fact that you have been working every holiday in a grocery store on your working experience list, the hiring managers will see that you are accustomed to working from a young age!

Additionally, if you include your extracurricular activities, it is a great sign for both employers and clients that you pursue your interests. 

Every Programmer Should Educate The Website’s Visitors

Don’t boast, but educate.

From the Human Pose Estimation, Js library for progressively loading all kinds of images to an easy and adjustable way to browse hacker news.With enhanced readability and control over the font size and the dark/light theme – Stéphane’s projects are quite impressive!

In this programmer’s posts on his personal website, you can find short presentations of his work. It is all about insightful content, not only about listing his achievements. Stéphane here explains the features of separate components of the applications he developed. In addition, he explains how he built them. He also adds photos, videos, scripts, and visuals to better illustrate the whole process and the final result.

Bonus tip: When it comes to a website’s content the formula that works is: less “I”, more “you”.

Do What Gives You Satisfaction And The Results Will Not Fail

When you think about your future programmer profession, remove the money from your decision. Think about how happy you will be doing your job in the future! Then, make every effort to be good at it. Challenge yourself, and compete with yourself in achieving your vision!

“I am addicted to the satisfaction resulting from code solving a specific problem in a clever, elegant, and efficient way.” 

This is how Stéphane introduced us to his skills and interests. The passion for permanent learning is to be thanked for Stéphane’s professional development.

Consider all the programmer-skills you already possess and map out the methods that could be incorporated into your passions. When you are entering the workforce from a beginner’s level, investing in additional training is necessary. However, if you already have a strong foundation, there will be no need for investing a lot of time and money in it.

Now Go Ahead Programmer, Show Some Initiative!

The very fact that you have created a website so neatly, detailed, and full of quality content says a lot about you. This way you will show employers and clients that you are the programmer ready to take that first step, and that you are familiar with taking an initiative.

In a world of constant disparities due to COVID-19 and climate change looms, a lot of young people say that the pandemics have bolstered their adaptability.ut However, today’s education system is not giving them all the skills they need. Their common ground is that the technical skills are not enough and it takes more than that in order to land a job. Being flexible, having soft skills, exploring your industry of interest along with all its innovations, and nurturing your entrepreneurial side is a key to success. The least you can do is create a highly professional personal website and open yourself up to new connections! If you don’t know how to manage uncertainty and pursue your career, Stéphane is a role model worth emulating.

Good job Stéphane, this is how building a personal brand as a student is done!

Like Stéphane, you can create your own personal professional programmer website. And if you do it in your college days, you will be accessible more easily to recruiters. Also, you will make all the important information about you available to prospective employers or potential clients. Appear on the top of search results and make a difference! Good luck!