How to Get Back on Track as a Software Developer After a Few Years in a Non-Dev Role?

I get where you’re coming from! Focus on building coding projects that showcase your skills. Work on key programming languages and algorithms. Make sure you have a GitHub to display your work or try doing some freelance gigs. Remember, practical skills often count more than your job title.

What specific area of software development are you interested in? Knowing whether you want to focus on frontend, web development, mobile apps, or something else will help you pinpoint what skills to develop.

Remember, you already have 3 years of experience officially as a software engineer. Don’t underestimate that! Start looking for mid-level positions if you’re confident in your ability to learn new skills. Hands-on experience, even if it’s freelance or projects on platforms like Upwork, can significantly boost your resume.

Congrats on your graduation! Good luck with your job search. Keep your skills sharp, and don’t be afraid to interview elsewhere. I felt the same way in my first job, mostly doing tech support with very little dev work, but I found a much better position after!

You’ve still got time! You're just a couple of years out of school. Make sure to list all your development work, however small, on your resume. Start creating 2-3 real projects using a tech stack you’re interested in. Get those projects on GitHub with clear documentation, and practice coding on platforms like LeetCode. When you apply for jobs, tailor your resume to each job description and be ready to explain your situation like this: "My last role wasn’t dev-heavy, so I took the initiative to build my own projects." The job market is challenging right now, but it’s definitely possible!