Because of the rapid changes and constant refinement in today’s industry, it is crucial to learn as many skills as possible in order to maintain a competitive edge.
The same holds true for developers, arguably the most in-demand occupation in a labor market where it’s crucial to differentiate oneself.
Businesses today have a plethora of options when it comes to content management systems (CMSs) to support the complete functionality of their websites and associated software solutions.
You can see that many commercial businesses use platforms such as Shopify, Drupal, and WordPress, but one, in particular, took over the web by storm: Sitecore.
Offering amazing deployment, marketing, integration, and even artificial intelligence tools, Sitecore has become one of the most wanted platforms for big companies. But, with so many of its possibilities, it gets tough working with it without previous knowledge.
Given the popularity of this platform and the small number of developers who are proficient with it (only about 20,000 people worldwide), it’s not a bad idea to consider honing your skills and becoming a Sitecore expert.
But what skills exactly should you master in order to become a Sitecore developer? What kind of tasks will you be handling? Is it even worth it? Let’s find out!
Sitecore Developer Roles and Responsibilities
Sitecore developers are in charge of designing, building, and tweaking the experience platform to make it work better, figure out what users want and need, and put in place the right software solutions.
By adhering to established standards, developers can create code that is both sophisticated and safe. They focus on giving great service to customers and making useful tools for themselves.
With the help of enterprise-level CMS, marketers and content managers take care of different parts of website management, such as advanced solutions for personalization, eCommerce, social integrations, etc.
Sitecore developers build on top of existing solutions to carry out tasks like module development, API design, template implementation, search engine optimization, and the incorporation of machine learning. That’s why it’s possible for businesses of all sizes to find the answers they’re looking for by combining ready-made products with specialized services.
Because of this, a Sitecore CMS developer is in charge of making websites, web apps, and mobile apps. They are involved in everything, from the first step of figuring out what needs to be done to the last step of maintaining the finished product.
Also, if you want to move up in your career and provide enterprise-level functionality, you must have advanced knowledge of a wide range of technologies and tools.
These are the most common responsibilities of the best Sitecore developers:
- Demands Analysis: It’s very important for senior developers and business analysts to be fully involved. Evaluating non-technical story points by a professional makes it possible for the company to consider appropriate tech solutions for its future needs.
- Authentication: Complete documentation is essential for the long-term viability of any software. It should be finished before the implementation of the product.
- Structural Planning: Considering the complexity of projects, it is required to properly visualize the container-based architecture and technical possibilities.
- Database Application: Making sure things like safety, adaptability, usability, and integrity are maintained. SQL databases, which are structured, are frequently used.
- Continuous Testing: Each developer must have solid testing skills and be willing to work closely with quality assurance specialists to maintain a high standard of service delivery.
- Preservation: The Sitecore developer is required to investigate, troubleshoot, and debug any issues that arise.
- Future Expansions: Constant updates and the addition of new features have established this CMS as the go-to option for forward-thinking businesses. Sitecore developers are important to have around after the main website app has been released so that new features can be added.
All of this work may seem daunting at first glance. But if you have the right skills, you can handle even the most difficult tasks with confidence and ease. If you want to work in this field, you’ll need to develop the following skills, both soft and technical.
Problem Solving
Sitecore developers need to be able to solve problems creatively in order to fix any technical issues that crop up during the development process.
They need to be able to spot issues, evaluate their severity, and craft workable solutions. If a website isn’t working correctly, for instance, they may have to investigate the cause of the problem and figure out how to fix it.
.NET and #C
The .NET framework is a programming language used to build and deploy software. Being able to lay the groundwork for web pages is the primary product of a Sitecore developer, so this skill is crucial. .NET can also be used to write automation scripts, which streamline and speed up mundane but necessary steps in the software development lifecycle.
In addition, being able to write code in C# is crucial so that you can fuel your projects with custom logic. Building an app requires many steps, such as designing its user interface, coding its backend, and so on.
Great Time Management
The ability to plan and carry out tasks in such a way as to consistently meet obligations is known as “time management.”
If you want to be successful in this industry and finish projects on time while keeping clients happy, you need to learn how to manage your time well. It’s crucial for the success of the project and the development of the business as a whole.
Artistry
Many people would argue that developing doesn’t involve creativity or artistry in some way, but that’s totally wrong. The ability to think of innovative approaches to old problems or methods of doing things is what we mean when we talk about creativity.
If a company needs to update its website but doesn’t know enough about its audience, you could use some imagination to design surveys to fill that information gap. It can be used to make better content for your target demographic.
HTML, CSS and SQL
The framework of almost every website is written in HTML and CSS.
Developers with expertise in Sitecore and HTML/CSS can make websites that are simple, creative, yet intuitive to use. Also, with these abilities, web designers can alter the look of their sites by altering the styles of various page elements.
Structured Query Language (SQL), on the other hand, is a programming language used to build and manage database systems.
The entire website, including all of its content, user data, and other details, is stored in a database built with SQL. As a Sitecore developer, you can save time and effort with solid SQL knowledge and abilities.
Meticulousness
Developers must be able to pay close attention to detail in order to produce workable solutions.
In order to accomplish this, they must pay meticulous attention to every aspect of their projects and make sure that everything is covered. It also requires that they give their full attention to their work to guarantee the product’s success in its intended use.
Communication
Working with different groups and sectors means you have to understand different points of view and respond to them in the right way. In some web development projects, you may need to talk to clients and coworkers about the nitty-gritty of the code.
Possessing excellent verbal and written communication skills can aid in making even the most complicated of topics easily understood by all parties. It helps you work better with others by letting you hear them out and articulate your thoughts clearly.
Agile Approach
Agile methodologies are a set of practices for making software that helps projects make progress in small steps that add up over time.
As a result, developers can run tests on their code more frequently and make adjustments more rapidly when problems are discovered. Teams can better determine which tasks are most important to the project’s success when using the agile methodology and approaches.
Self-Organization
Being organized means having a system in place to store and retrieve information quickly and easily.
Managing multiple projects at once is a common part of a Sitecore developer’s job, so staying on top of things is essential. You can avoid losing data or forgetting about a part of one project while working on another if you keep track of all the information related to each one.
jQuery
JavaScript is a scripting language used to build dynamic content for websites. Sitecore developers should learn JavaScript so that they can create dynamic web pages and work with the website’s code.
With this knowledge, you will also be able to use jQuery, which is a free and open-source library that makes JavaScript coding much easier.
What Should You Expect If You Want to Apply For a Job?
Do you think you have what it takes? Awesome! But is the reality meeting your standards?
It is a well-established fact that Sitecore-certified developers earn more money than other types of specialists.
Prices have been affected by things like the amount of demand in the market, the lack of qualified professionals, and the qualifications that are needed.
Sitecore developers in the United States can expect a median annual salary of $150,000, which is nearly 30% more than the average salary for software developers.
Most companies looking for a professional Sitecore developer have a specific profile in mind:
- Certification or Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field;
- Sitecore certification v9.0 or greater;
- 5+ years of experience in .NET framework and other technologies such as ASP.NET, C# and others
- At least 3+ of Sitecore practical development experience;
- Proficiency in Sitecore Experience Platforms;
- HTML/CSS and web-based user interface frameworks like JavaScript (Angular, React, and Vue.js);
- Capable of working in a service-oriented architecture and continuous integration;
- SQL and MongoDB databases;
- Working knowledge of Git and Jira;
- Superb abilities in problem-solving, teamwork, and communication;
- Curiosity and openness to trying new things, especially in the realm of development.
Companies are geared toward experts who aren’t afraid of change and can bring innovative ideas to the table for product development. In fact, developers must first finish a long, in-depth training program before they can pass a required test of their knowledge.
The Sitecore Experience Solution 9 Developer Certification test has 50 scenario-based questions to make sure that developers know how to use platform tools and items, indexing and search, Sitecore MVC, unit testing, and debugging, among other things.
You need to get at least 80% on the exam to fulfill the prerequisites. Turning the tables, businesses are compelled to work with a Sitecore-certified developer due to Sitecore’s stringent regulations in the field.
Effective teamwork requires that everyone be committed to doing their best. This can be shown by having a high level of technical knowledge, professional competence, and other skills that can be used in different situations.
