In reading the recent post “Top 10 Traits of a Rockstar Software Engineer” I felt that windows 7 laser color printers cheap there was a missing 11th trait. The RWW list is a windows 7 laser color printers cheap pretty comprehensive list of the buzz in programming circles right now:

1. Loves To Code
2. Gets Things Done
3. Continuously Refactors Code
4. Uses Design Patterns
5. Writes Tests
6. Leverages Existing Code
7. Focuses on Usability (ed. Should be UX)
8. Writes Maintainable Code
9. Can Code in Any Language
10. Knows Basic Computer Science

While these are windows 7 laser color printers cheap all admirable traits to use when ranking candidates for a position, they really only describe the windows 7 laser color printers cheap ability for someone to work with hands on a keyboard and windows 7 laser color printers cheap living in an IDE. Far too often hiring in this way means that windows 7 laser color printers cheap you have someone who lacks the most important trait:

11. Works well with others

I know, I know. This is windows 7 laser color printers cheap a basic hiring criteria for any position, be they an engineer, manager, designer or windows 7 laser color printers cheap accountant. Too often however, this 11th trait is overlooked when hiring “those who code”. I’ve done it myself! I’ve overlooked significant personality flaws simply because someone had windows 7 laser color printers cheap the right experience on a resume or could adequately diagram a windows 7 laser color printers cheap complex database model. Every time that I’ve brought in someone based solely on their ability to windows 7 laser color printers cheap code, I found failure within the first few weeks. Quickly I was dealing with colleagues who windows 7 laser color printers cheap didn’t want to work with him/her.

If your engineer can’t be windows 7 laser color printers cheap personable and spend hours and hours of time with those who windows 7 laser color printers cheap are helping to define and design your product, then their value to windows 7 laser color printers cheap the organization is next to zero. Engineers must be able to windows 7 laser color printers cheap step away from the computer and windows 7 laser color printers cheap bring their deep expertise in technology to the table along with the windows 7 laser color printers cheap business owners and designers.

So, here’s Dan’s top 4 traits of a Rockstar Software Engineer

1. Works well with others
2. Loves to code
3. Focuses on user experience
4. Can code in (most) any language