Not long ago there were persistent prejudices about the private and professional life of programmers: long working days in gray, narrow offices, people continue programming in their free time, and come to the sun People in this profession don’t do that too often. There are also steep hierarchies and little decision-making power. In short: the commands come from above, the developers simply carry them out – and that in front of the screen in never-ending hours of day and night.

This post is part of a series of articles to which heise Developer has explicitly invited young developers – with the aim of informing their own kind, but of course also interested “older semesters”, about current trends, developments, phenomena and personal experiences to inform. The articles in this series of articles appear on a monthly basis. Are you a “Young Professional” yourself and want to be part of this series? Then apply with a suggestion to the editorial office. She is at your side with helpful tips throughout the writing, editing and approval process.

If these prejudices ever came close to reality, that has now changed drastically. Young people – Generation X, Y, Z and whatever they are called – value a workplace that feels like an extended arm for leisure activities. Lots of freedom, exciting tasks, variety and decision-making and development opportunities. This overall package is just as important for developers as the salary – which, according to a survey by WeAreDevelopers, is still the most decisive criterion for choosing a job (78% of respondents), but This is closely followed by flexibility (69%), decision-making and conflict resolution in the company (56 %) and interpersonal relationships (53%).

Willing to change In recent years, more and more young developers have changed their jobs after a short period of time because they quickly discover that they will not find their fulfillment in it. This is also the case with Michael, a young software developer who initially accepted a position in a wholesale company after completing his bachelor’s degree. The salary was good, as was the rest of the overall package – he was given the opportunity to continue studying while working. After all, his declared goal is to one day have his master’s degree in his pocket.

For the company that is again an opportunity to retain a talented programmer early on. A popular model that is not only used in the DACH region. In practical implementation, however, there is often a problem: The jobs offered are often so monotonous that after a short time they no longer offer any further development opportunities. This is also the case with Michael, who internally finished his job before completing his master’s degree. If it weren’t for a) the feeling of guilt towards the company that made the dual course of study possible for him, and b) the fear of being branded a job hopper outweighed, so that no new, similarly well paid job would be in sight. No further ‘development’ in sight? Set sail! Admittedly: Michael’s example is a fictional one. And yet it corresponds entirely or at least in part to the situation of numerous developers in Germany, Austria and all of Europe. According to surveys, two thirds of German developers are open to new challenges. The sad thing about it: Many ultimately stay in “their” company and build up a comfort zone there over the years. First of all, the reason for this is the false sense of honor or the fear of not finding anything better – at some point the only reason to stay is that you’ve been here for so long anyway.

So the careers of many programmers stagnate just because they don’t give themselves the chance to set sail and explore new shores. Because other companies also offer a great corporate culture with various benefits, nice colleagues and a good salary. Above all, they offer the opportunity to learn new things through new experiences.

Software development is one of the most exciting professional activities of our time, developers are in demand like never before. A little insider tip: The shortage of skilled workers is increasingly affecting employers who are primarily dependent on well-trained, technically experienced employees. Due to the advancing innovation, new areas of responsibility are emerging more and more quickly, for which qualified developers from every technical direction are sought.

The market is so understaffed that even small start-up companies are looking for developers to expand across Europe. With this oversupply of employers there is for every dev