Professional Development Articles

We’re curious people by nature. And we love to teach others what we’ve learned. So explore our blog to gain fresh insights from our expertise in areas ranging from culture to AI.

SEP Wins TechPoint’s 2024 Innovation Service Partner of the Year Mira Award

SEP Recognized as Indiana’s Top Innovation Service Partner, Winning TechPoint’s Prestigious Mira Award Westfield, Indiana - SEP has been named the Innovation Service Partner of the Year by TechPoint at the 25th annual Mira Awards. The Mira Awards, Indiana’s largest…
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programmer at computer with dual monitors working on coding project while wearing headphones

Your personal programming project misses you. How to make more time.

Personal programming projects are a great way to explore new topics. They can allow you a scaffold for exploring new technologies or techniques. They can use a personal interest as a motivator to overcome the trials of learning. But they compete for your limited time with your responsibilities, friends, and family. Sitting down for a […]
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Using Generative AI Every Day at Work? An AI Strategist’s Honest Take

I use Generative AI tools because, as a developer, I can’t ignore them. My clients and peers expect me to be at least conversant in AI technologies if not an expert. Maintaining that expertise means engaging with new tools as they come out. I’ve made a point to use them where I could for the […]
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SEPeers discussing a book at book club

Professional Development is a Social Activity

Professional Development is not a one-size-fits-all recipe for success.  In fact, it is as varied as individual careers.  But not every career path is forged anew, a unique gem wholly unlike anything that has come before.  Most of us have careers similar to our colleagues, with whom we’ve shared many experiences.  In fact, the entire […]
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Exploring Game Development with Pico-8

Today, I will walk you through a few steps to start learning game development with Pico-8. Video games are all around us. They connect to our TVs, occupy our computers, and ride along with us in our pockets. Our experiences with them ranging from a quick, fun diversions to immersive multi-hour sagas. Many of us […]
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Invest in Your Career Growth with Small Habits for Professional Development

Some Professional Development activities are time-consuming.   Gaining a certification for a cloud platform, for example, requires hours of learning and study before the hours of testing.  This may feel like an intimidating amount of work.  However, even a busy schedule can include a few small habits for professional development that, over time, will add […]
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Transferable & Soft Skills: The Unjustly Unsung Heroes of Software Development

“If you don’t figure out what you want to do for a career, you will fall behind in life.” I can remember hearing this loaded statement as early as 8th grade. Which, looking back on it, is about the equivalent of attempting to teach a dog new tricks as a squirrel scampers about in its […]
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Person looking at their reflection in a water-filled pothole. Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash

How I Used Indianapolis Pothole Data To Navigate My First SEP Hackathon

In March 2022, two senior SEP engineers and I built a Hackathon project together. In brief, the project aimed to give users a report ranking their routes to work based on the number of potholes they would encounter along the way. We had a great time, and were able to reach our goals. The project […]
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software developers smiling and working

How to Be Successful at SEP

The following document is based on advice shared with all new employees (SEPeers) on their first day at the company. Here at SEP, we all come from different backgrounds; some of us have years of experience at other companies, and others have come straight from school. We are not just engineers, but also testers, designers, […]
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Friday’s 13 Tips to Overcome Design Workshop Facilitation Nerves

Facilitating design workshops can oftentimes feel as scary as Friday the 13th. The nerves that build up moments before meeting with a client can feel the same as the nerves I would get as a kid while watching the classic 80’s slasher film as Jason skulked around Camp Crystal Lake. In both scenarios, I was/am […]
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