One trend that is already gaining momentum is the shift towards remote work. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote work, and many companies now realize the benefits of having a distributed workforce. This trend is likely to continue in the coming years, with more companies offering flexible work arrangements and the ability to work from anywhere.
Remote work has also increased the use of collaboration tools, such as video conferencing and project management software, which are important for remote teams. The shift to remote work has also opened up opportunities for IT professionals in different parts of the world, as companies are no longer limited to hiring from a specific geographic location.
According to a survey conducted by FlexJobs, most employees are interested in continuing to work remotely or in a hybrid work environment. The Career Pulse Survey, conducted between July and August 2022, found that 65% of respondents desired to work remotely full-time, while 32% preferred a hybrid work environment. This indicates that a significant portion of the workforce, approximately 97%, is interested in some form of remote work. Furthermore, the survey found that a large number of respondents, 57%, would consider leaving their current job if remote work options are unavailable. This information was reported on Forbes. Due to that trend, with the wide variety of courses available at Beetroot Academy, you can learn a profession that allows you to work from anywhere in the world.
Another trend we can expect is the growing demand for specialists with specific skill sets. With the rise of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, data science, and the Internet of Things, there will be a greater need for proficient professionals in these areas. Companies are also looking for professionals with experience in emerging technologies as they look to stay ahead of the curve and stay competitive in an increasingly tech-driven world.
Also, there will be a continued need for professionals with more traditional skills, such as software development and cybersecurity. As the tech landscape continues to evolve, it will be important for professionals to stay up to date with the latest technologies and continuously learn new skills to stay competitive.
The Pew Research Center released a great article on trends in the convergence of technological, social and human skills by 2025. There you will find more information that will shed light on the global development of Information Technology in the future.
The rise of technology also means that there will be a greater need for professionals who can bridge the gap between IT and other industries. For example, there will be a growing demand for tech professionals with business, marketing, or design background.
These professionals could use their technical skills to help drive innovation and growth in non-tech industries. There will also be a need for specialists who have a deep understanding of specific industries, such as healthcare, finance, or retail, and can use their technical expertise to drive innovation and solve problems unique to those sectors. For people with extensive experience in different areas, there are courses at the Beetroot Academy that do not require any previous technical background.
Also, a very noticeable trend is the rising importance of soft skills in the tech industry. Engineers must communicate effectively and work well in teams as technology becomes more integrated into all aspects of our lives. Companies will look for candidates who can think critically, solve problems, and adapt to change.
According to Forbes, the need for “soft skills” that machines cannot replicate is growing as technology advances. A 2017 Deloitte report predicts that “soft skills occupations" will account for two-thirds of all jobs by 2030. In addition, the report emphasizes that hiring employees with a strong set of soft skills could lead to more than $90,000 in increased income.
With the increasing use of automation and artificial intelligence, it will be necessary for IT workers to have a range of skills that complement these technologies, such as creativity, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving. Strong communication and collaboration skills will be essential for programmers looking to succeed in a rapidly changing, interconnected world.
One final trend we can expect to see in the global IT talent market is the growing demand for professionals with diverse backgrounds. Companies are recognizing the benefits of having a diverse workforce and will be looking for tech professionals who bring various perspectives and experiences to the table. This is likely to be particularly important as companies look to serve a global market and meet the needs of diverse customer bases.
Diversity in the IT sphere also extends to skills and expertise, and companies will seek out tech professionals with a wide range of technical and non-technical skills. A diverse workforce can bring new ideas and problem-solving approaches and help companies better understand and serve their customers.
Overall, the global IT talent market is set to be more competitive than ever in 2023. Tech professionals who can stay up to date with the latest technologies and have a range of skills and experiences will be in high demand. People who can adapt to changing market needs and have strong soft skills may be more likely to be successful in this constantly changing industry.
In addition to the trends mentioned above, there are a few other tendencies we can expect to see in the tech talent market in 2023. One of these is the industry's increasing focus on sustainability and social responsibility. As concerns about the environmental impact of technology continue to grow, companies are likely to be looking for tech professionals who are passionate about sustainability and who can help drive eco-friendly initiatives. Besides, there will be a greater emphasis on the role that tech can play in addressing social and economic issues, such as poverty and inequality. Developers who can demonstrate their commitment to positively impacting the world will be in high demand.
Many people have also noticed the industry's increasing use of freelancers and contractors. As more companies adopt flexible work arrangements, there will be a greater need for tech professionals who can work on a project-by-project basis. Freelancers and contractors offer companies the ability to bring in specialized skills and expertise on an as-needed basis. They can be a cost-effective solution for companies looking to fill specific roles. Freelance or contract developers who can effectively showcase their skills and value will be in a good position.
Finally, we expect to see a continued emphasis on the importance of upskilling and lifelong learning in the tech industry. According to the University of Oxford, lifelong learning is a key aspect of successfully keeping up with the global trends in Technical and Social Development.
As the pace of technological change continues to accelerate, it could be important for developers to stay up to date with the latest technologies and best practices. This will involve a commitment to ongoing learning and development through traditional education or self-study. Applicants who can demonstrate their dedication to lifelong learning could succeed in 2023.
In conclusion, the global tech talent market is set to be more competitive than ever in 2023. Applicants who can stay up to date with the latest technologies and have a range of skills and experiences will be in high demand. Those who can adapt to the market's changing needs and demonstrate strong soft skills, tend to be more competitive in this dynamic industry. Those who can embrace diversity, inclusivity, sustainability, and lifelong learning will also be well-positioned to succeed in a rapidly changing and increasingly interconnected world. That's a lot of work to do, but if you decide to start a career in tech, you can learn all the skills you require from the real professionals who teach at Beetroot Academy.
Not quite unusual for computer fonts, Times New Roman has been around since before computers became a thing. The British newspaper The Times commissioned it in 1931 as a retro update from a regular 19th-century font to something more solid with a strong 18th-century vibe. Old broom sure knows the corners (or so the saying goes), but you can see how the font may feel outdated in the 2020s.
It would not be a stretch to say Times New Roman looks ancient, as we already know it was designed this way. Even Roman in the name is a nod to the Italian school of printing from (15th century!). Seeing old-fashioned characters on a groundbreaking visual device, CRT screen, was weird enough. Now that we have modern LCD screens with much higher resolution and fidelity, a font capturing aesthetics from 300 years ago feels crystal odd.
Fonts classification is usually much more objective than old-fashioned or modern. One reason why Times New Roman may give an archaic vibe is that it is a serif font. All letters (or other characters) come with decorative lines, which range from very subtle to indeed something you would see in an 18th-century newspaper. Note how you can’t see any tails on the letters in this article—or almost any website created in the last 10 years.
Serif and Sans serif versions of Inria font from Black[Foundry]
Times New Roman, much like a lot of newspaper fonts, is rather narrow. It is a mostly business decision: you gotta fit in as much text on a page as possible—even during the times (ha-ha!) when the ratio of ads to stories was much lower. At the end of the day, all publications did that and it’s not like many people would’ve changed morning newspapers just because one is a bit easier to read than the rest.
Computers, however, do not have the same limitation. You don’t pay more for publishing an article or sending a document with much more reasonable line spacing and kerning than the average Victorian newspaper. If it’s the intermediary audience (e.g. client that commissioned an article) that needs to save costs, they can always change character size or pick a narrow font themselves.
Furthermore, the mobile boom is not helping narrow fonts like Times New Roman. Most devices connected to the internet now have a vertical layout. Trying to squeeze in extra characters on screens with little horizontal space will bring nothing but frustration for the reader. Interestingly, The Times had to adapt similarly in print: they had to create yet another Times New Roman-inspired typeface after moving from broadsheet to tabloid in 2004. These days, a narrow font is a compromise on usability that you don’t actually have to make—and people would appreciate it if you didn’t.
One could argue that a document in Times New Roman screams laziness or indifference. If the sender didn’t change the default option to something more balanced, it communicates that they either did not want to make your experience better or did not bother to do that. That kind of attitude does not help to secure a job or scholarship.
On the other hand, certain institutions would have you use nothing but Times New Roman. Some universities strongly encourage if not outright mandate the use of Times new Roman for papers, and so do scientific journals. Older government forms coming as templates to be filled out in Word would not play nice if you try to change the font. That being said, such restrictions are getting scarcer, especially with the rise of Mac. The OS and default office-like apps there have a default font different from Times New Roman (and a new one every few years at that).
The current default font on MacOS
Summing up, the cardinal sin of Times New Roman is defaulting to it without consideration. The font is a must in very few scenarios, but you see it much more often than that. Even Microsoft agrees something has to change: the default font for Word has been Calibri since 2007.
The above-mentioned Calibri is a spiritual successor to Times New Roman. It is now the default font for Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. It is a sans serif font (no decorative lines) that looks perfectly fine on both screens and paper.
If you want to ditch the default and stay sleek, Georgia is a great option. It is a serif font but letter strokes are much more subtle than what you see with Times New Roman. Georgia does not look outdated and works better for vertical screens, as it is not too tight on the horizontal space.
Should you feel like going barebones, Helvetica is the right font. It is a sans serif font looking as bland as it gets—in a good way. Helvetica lacks elements that would make it look too modern, but it also has no archaic elements that would make the font too classic. I think we can trust Apple on that: they used a spin on Helvetica, Helvetica Neue, as the MacOS system font for two years.
Somehow, I felt a big future for tech when the Internet connection was provided in my dormitory
I'm from Kramatorsk, Donetsk region. I studied in Kharkiv and was supposed to become a radio-electronic engineer, but in 2001 I understood exactly what I wanted to do. It was the time when the Internet “appeared” in our dormitory. I liked what was happening there and felt a future was behind it. So I switched to web development. I bought some books, and for the next two years, I had the luxury of free time to study without having to work. 2003 I graduated from the university, and within one month, I found my first work as a PHP developer. I was the happiest junior developer who was paid for the work he liked. I remember my first salary — $250 transferred via Western Union from the USA — was like a fortune. Back then, there were no web developers among my friends. Compared to nowadays, it wasn't that hype. But for me, it was evident that this was a future. I told my friends that all the companies I knew would need a website or should be represented online somehow. And I wanted to be a part of this evolution.
Pink Floyd, my lifetime project, and three kids
I was always a fan of the music of the 70s, and Pink Floyd was my favorite band. But there was no website dedicated to Pink Floyd in Russian or Ukrainian. So I decided to do that on my own. I reached out to the person who did the official newsletters about Pink Floyd to help me with that, and long story short — I made a website, and it turned18 recently. This fan website is the most extended project in my life, but I switched it off because I didn’t want to contribute to the Russian-speaking community anymore. The most crucial thing is the following. Remember I mentioned that person who worked on the official newsletters about Pink Floyd? She is currently my wife, and we are bringing up two kids. We used to make jokes that we actually had three kids — our first one was the Pink Floyd website.
From a web developer to a start-up founder
After two years of work in Moscow, I was back in Kyiv. I didn't like living in Russia, so moving back to Ukraine was obvious. At this time, I stepped out of web development, and in 2007 I started my own business. All went well, but the political regime of Yanukovych reminded me of Russia, so we decided to move to Poland and work remotely. Since 2014, when the war started, it has been impossible to run my business in Ukraine.
And after a 7-year break in web development, a dozen hours of upskilling, and 60 interviews, I have found a new job in Berlin as a senior back-end developer. Now in 2022, I'm a co-founder of the tech startup countX, and all my engineering team is from Ukraine.
How I met Beetroot Academy
It was a coincidence and proof that networking rules. One of my colleagues, Alex, also works as a teacher at Beetroot Academy, so I've heard a lot about this online school. When Alex introduced me to Dmytro, CEO of Beetroot Academy, I was ready to start our partnership. He told me about the fundraising campaign on a mission to help Ukrainian people affected by the war start a new career in tech. So I couldn't stay away from it and donated for scholarships — the less I could do in these challenging times. Now seven women from Donetsk and Luhansk regions are studying at Beetroot Academy, and I’m happy to be their mentor.
Why I support tech education for Ukrainians
Ukrainians, especially men who are out of the country, live with the feeling of guilt. My life is safe, but my three classmates are now fighting against Russia, risking their lives. People try to find their own way to help Ukrainians win this war, overcome the consequences and rebuild the country. So do I.
I already had an idea of investing in tech education. That is where I can contribute as a professional and entrepreneur, so I chose to support the future of Ukraine this way. Many Ukrainians affected by war want to enter the tech industry and need an opportunity to do that. Tech education is one of the most impactful and cost-effective ways to help Ukrainians restore their lives and fight poverty after the war ends. I believe our country will be the next tech cluster after Silicon Valley in the USA and Bengaluru in India. Moreover, I want many Ukrainians to be a part of that success story. I contribute to it by donating for scholarships and would like to encourage others to support Beetroots Academy’s mission.
Imagine a house. To have it running steadily, there should be a good foundation, building blocks, proper infrastructure, good furniture, designs, and usability functions. In web development, the front-end developer is somewhere in between the processes as he takes the ideas from the UI\UX team to turn them into clickable websites that work. Back-end developers, PMs, and QAs take care of the other vital parts, such as proper foundation, team and project management, and testing.
So there's actually a front-end and back-end. We won't say which one is easier. Let's just leave one picture here for your understanding.
To light up a room, you have to click the button. Ensuring it is clickable is a job for a front-end developer; ensuring there is a light is a task for a back-end developer. Front-end web development is the art of using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and a set of other tools for a website/app for a user to see and interact with them.
Basic front-end development glossary
In front-end web development, there are vital terms you should know. We bet you've heard most of them, so let's just keep them handy in the list below.
Programming languages or codes
For example, HTML
In development, you need to speak a language everyone understands — your machine, your code compiler, your user, and your project manager. Below are just a couple of languages we use in the front-end. They look different to everyone, but mean the same and help achieve the result — have the webpage ready and running.
HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is the code developers use to structure a webpage. Remember seeing a webpage made up of blocks, paragraphs, or tables? HTML helps with that. It originates from a code developed by WHATWG some 30 years ago, in 1993.
JavaScript, conveniently referred to as JS, is a programming language considered one of the cores for front-end development. Designed over 26 years ago, it is now used in almost every webpage you see. Even on the Beetroot Academy website, too :) JS is used to create animation, control multimedia, and generally work with dynamically updating content, buttons, banners, etc.
Here, you can also look at some Javascript libraries — jQuery, React.js, and more here on Kinsta, for example.
Front-end development tools
Git, Google Fonts, W3C, and more
Compilers, linkers, code editors are essential for every front-end developer. These are basic tools that you will use in your daily routine — as home technicians use multitools for repairing the leakage, for example.
To name a few, there are Google Fonts to help you work with fonts, W3C Markup Validation Service to validate your code, and many more.
Version control tools are also part of the list here, used for monitoring changes to your code. We guess you strive to make your code better and better each time. Hence, version controls will help manage the evolution of your code as it becomes clearer and more effective. Git is the most popular, and it's open and free of charge.
Design principles in front-end
In front-end development, we use responsive design to ensure our content fits every (or almost every) gadget and looks good on it. Recall how you open a webpage on your iPhone, reopen it on your laptop, and send it to granny's email — and it still looks good on your grandparents' old-fashioned computer? That's responsive design in action.
Design automatically adapts to given dimensions, so all users feel comfortable interacting with the content. The feeling is the key here — because the front-end is mostly about what the user feels while using your web piece.
CSS, closely connected to HTML, is a code used actually to style an HTML doc. It has everything to do with the colors, styles, and other properties.
Looks quite interesting, huh? Now that you're familiar with the basic front-end development glossary, it's high time to learn the front-end. We hope you find this glossary helpful, no matter which tech direction you will choose. Keep it in your saved links to come back once in a while.
Join our next group in May and start learning with tech industry experts to gain knowledge you need to work as a junior front-end developer.
While such languages as Python and PHP have existed for quite a long time, C# is regarded as a young programming language. Danish software engineer Anders Hejlsberg developed it in the year 2000. Today, he still works for Microsoft as the lead architect of C#. Anders Hejlsberg is also known for being the chief architect of Delphi and the original author of Turbo Pascal.
C# was originally named COOL, whereby the acronym stood for “C-like object-oriented language”. Alas, Microsoft could not hang onto this “cool name” because of trademark law.
C# is pronounced, “see sharp”. The name was taken from the musical notation, whereby a sharp symbol points that the written note should be played a semitone higher. The “sharp” suffix has been used by several other .NET languages that are editions of present languages, including J#, A#, and the functional programming language F#.
The base syntax of the C# is similar to C-style languages such as C, C++, and Java. This programming language most directly represents the underlying Common Language Infrastructure (CLI).
If you plan to create apps for the Microsoft platform, you should definitely learn C#. The developers favor this language for being easy to use and well-designed. Also, it is often recommended programming language to use when creating games through the Unity Game engine.
C# used for:
A list of programs and applications written in C# includes Microsoft Visual Studio, Paint.NET, Windows Installer XML, Open Dental, FlashDevelop, KeePass, NMath, Pinta, Banshee, OpenRA.
Here are a few reasons to work with this particular programming language:
The future looks bright for C# because of its popularity, versatility, and existing creations. If you want to have a solid foundation to become a master developer, you should learn this “cool” programming language.
