How can you demonstrate you're ready for more responsibility in Software Development?

My friend once suggested a valuable practice: regularly document your accomplishments, including even the minor ones, by noting, "I did A, which contributed to the improvement of B." This way, you'll always be able to articulate the significance of your work. If you won't do that, you'll simply forget most of the things. This advice was initially related to job hunting and making a CV, but it can also be useful if you want to grow within the company. For example, when demonstrating your readiness to take on new responsibilities, you can say, "Why do I believe I'm prepared for this role? Here are 40 good things I did over the last two years!"

"...For example, you might want to learn a new framework, refactor your code, or optimize your workflow" I don't think this has anything to do with you getting more responsibility Assessment needs to exist and ideally you have some goals with your Engineering manager from the very start, when you joined the company. If you want more responsibility, most likely what you want is a promotion, not just more responsibility. You should discuss with your EM, what you are currently lacking and plan a path that if you follow you end up in the desired role with the respective responsibilities

Don’t just look for new challenges - create them. I once automated a tedious deployment process that nobody wanted to touch. It saved hours weekly. This showed my knack for initiative and problem-solving. Don’t wait for opportunities; dissect your project, find a pain point, and build a solution. That's how you demonstrate readiness for more responsibility.

I often emphasize that people can and should lead from the chair they are in. You certainly don't need to be 'anointed' leader to be a leader. Whether it's little things or big things, take the initiative to help and serve those around you. Also, as the article states - volunteer to do things!

Mentoring others is a great way to grow others as well as yourself. It not only demonstrates your leadership but also validates your technical skills. In many of the organizations your impact is measured not only by your direct contributions but also, how much you have empowered others to become successful.

Leading by example isn't about being the loudest in the room. It's showing up with solutions. I streamline my code, keeping it clean and maintainable, and encourage others to do the same. Mentorship isn't just about teaching; it's also about inspiring others to exceed their own expectations. Lead a workshop, improve workflows, and watch the ripple effect of excellence you initiate.

After you have contributed to a new responsibility, always seek to get feedback on how you did. Focus on what you did better and things you could have done better and get pointers to achieve that as well.

I always believe in setting clear expectations, not only helping you to grow but also helping you to get trust and accountability and the best way to do that is to get feedback. - You can schedule Bi-Weekly/monthly set-on-ones with your manager/client/users/colleagues. - You can just ask them in text too. - Ask them what they feel is your strength, where you have improved, and where you are legging. This will give you clarity on what things you should improve and which things you should continue.

Now, we are in the era of Digital World. To display your expertise you should definitely have an online presence. - Whatever you have learned share it online. Write it in blogs, and share it on Linkedin. - Attend conferences, give talks, and share your knowledge. But don't fake it, share only what you know if you don't know it then ask if other people can share it, this will help you to learn a lot.

IMO this should be a constant discussion with your EM so no need to have a specific presentation, however it's also good to have a doc with all your high impact achievements and their results handy when you are talking about promo and such

Champion Continuous Learning and Growth Show that you're ready to step up by staying on the cutting edge of technology, exploring new tools, and adopting best practices. Share your experiences, insights, and newfound knowledge with your team. Highlight your dedication to the success of the entire project. This not only demonstrates your readiness for more responsibilities but also inspires those around you.

You should always ask and make sure you know what it's expected of you. We often set our own agenda and pursue our own goals when trying to accomplish things at work, but we forget to ask what our team, our bosses, or our clients really needed to happen.