Ask KWAN Anything

Thank you so much for your question!
Yes, I do think you'd make a strong candidate for programming jobs.
I think your hesitations about feeling silly come from your expectations, and will change based on the companies you apply for.
The key to a strong job search is understanding your skill set, where your knowledge lays, and what are your strengths before applying for a job. Try and reflect whether you truly have the skills for the role.
If you feel comfortable we can schedule a chat about the state of IT recruiting and what are the most requested technologies.
Good luck for your job search! :)

This is a great and tricky question! It is important that you speak with someone who can help you with it, this is most likely the person managing you.

Try to find out what is the future of that project, is it going through a bad phase and about to turn into something really exciting? Will it be worth the wait? If the answer is "no" and you really want to change, approach the person responsible for you and tell them. Don't bash on the actual project, focus on the positive things you are looking for in projects. That should be enough for your manager to understand that the current project isn't satisfying you.

If you aren't happy about your current situation, you should know which is the next step you want to take project wise. At KWAN we're happy to help you figure that out during our Career Coaching sessions. :)
Honesty and transparency are BIG values. It is 1000 times more worthy to have someone honest who wants to change project and straight up tells you so, than to have someone who pretends to be happy and then jumps out without any warning.

Remote is and isn’t a good option, it really depends on your goals.
If you are in the beginning of your career and want to learn and grow with your seniors, it’s always better to work with a team on-site.
However, if you have an established career it’s up to you. Do you want to travel the world while working or just be at your house with no distractions? Remote work is the best option! If you feel that working on-site with a team is what pushes you to move forward that’s awesome too! It can also be a “combo” :D Find out what fits you best and go with it!
If you want to read more about this, we'll soon have a blog post on it! What are your thoughts? I can help you find a project with the right kind of remote work for you. :)

“The world is your oyster.” Not wanting to be a cliché but *ahem*, this is true. Nowadays it just has a different meaning that it did a few years ago.
Like everyone knows, Portugal has been named the “Silicon Valley of Europe” and many international companies such as Zalando, Mercedes and Hostelworld have moved or created their development hubs in cities such as Lisbon and Porto. This means you can actually have an International experience, learn to work with different cultures and mindsets, modern tech stacks, perfect your English and, you guessed it, never leave the comfort of your own country.
Moving abroad is now more of a personal choice more than a professional need. The ones that choose to move abroad do it because, apart from a different professional experience, they want to grow as individuals, leave their comfort zone, experience a new culture in a new country and explore the unknown.
Moving abroad will help you grow and give you incredible life experiences - I can vouch for that - but this is not your only option anymore. In short, a great worldly tech career is just “around the corner”. :)
Have you ever tried working on an international project? Let's match your career goals and personal dreams!

Nowadays, more than demanding a technology expert, most companies are starting to look for someone who is aligned with them at the soft skills level. When you go for a technical interview, it's not only your technical skills that are assessed, but *you* as a whole.
The way you answer to a question that you don't know how to answer often distinguishes you more than you could imagine. Answers such as "I don't know but, since we're here, please tell me, because I'm interested in learning about it" really make a good impression. For some time now, your academics are no longer a mandatory requirement for most companies (not all of them, though!). What the candidates do to stay current and how they have gained their technical bases became much more important.

Not only at the time of the interview but also after hiring, your employer will be on the lookout for subjects such as: personal projects, online courses and keeping up with new trends. Proactivity, delivery, dynamism and a sense of commitment are some of the characteristics that are increasingly valued. In an age where there is an increasing need for tech talent (and not enough supply), companies are increasingly valuing the people who give them a sense of security and dedication, and who embrace their projects completely.

Can we help you shine through as a candidate? Get in touch and let's work on your career path together.