Remote software developer enjoying remote work

Last updated on February 20th, 2024 at 04:09 pm

Skills, Interviews, and Jobs

Tips for Succeeding as a Remote Software Developer

By July 1, 2021 3 min read

Many people dream of working as a remote employee. Aside from working from wherever they want, remote workers can better establish their workload and terms. However, not everyone dares to leave their corporate, in-office jobs—because remote work doesn’t always offer job security.

One profession that is flourishing in the boundaryless world is software development. Even if you’re not from the US, working with US-based firms like Turing can help you take advantage of labor arbitrage and potentially earn more than local, full-time roles.

If you’re looking to say goodbye to your 9-to-5 and join the remote workforce, we’ve listed some of our top tips to help you succeed as a remote software developer.

Set Your Responsibilities Clearly 

To manage your workload better, you should first understand the scope of your skills and responsibilities. Doing this allows you to avoid any miscommunications with your client. Because you’ll have to manage your projects, this means you’re also responsible for organizing and directing your activities—as well as ensuring your work is on time, on budget, and within scope. The best way to set your tasks and manage the expectations of your clients is by formalizing your arrangement or partnering up with solutions like Turing. Turing offers developers and clients a contract that covers both their interests⁠—effectively eliminating any chances of miscommunication and allowing both parties to set the record straight. Thus, you can avoid doing tasks outside of your role and protect yourself if your client decides to challenge you legally.

Get Your Finances in Line

If you want to achieve your professional and personal goals as a remote developer, you should organize all aspects of your life, including your finances. It’ll do you well to ensure that you get paid on time as a remote employee. Thankfully, solutions like Turing have payment management facilities that guarantee on-time payments for developers.

One way to take hold of your finances is by creating a budget. Through this, you can track all of your expenses and see where you need to be careful with your spending—whether it means choosing the most budget-friendly equipment or even cutting back on your coffee expenses. In addition, having a budget allows you to fully utilize your available resources and be more disciplined when it comes to spending.

Another way to find financial success as a remote developer is by using tools that can maximize your money. One such tool is a high-yield savings calculator, which allows you to figure out which banks and savings accounts have high annual percentage yields (APY) that will allow your money to grow. Yes, you can indeed make a lot of money by being a remote software developer. But without getting your finances in order, you might not be able to maximize your profits and secure your financial success.

Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance

While freelancing allows software developers to control their schedules and lifestyles, many are still prone to overworking themselves and taking on nightmare coding projects that creep into their personal time. If you want to succeed as a freelance software developer, you should understand the importance of having a healthy work-life balance. For one, it allows you to take better care of your relationship and retain a healthy social life outside of work. In addition, achieving a healthy work-life balance can also prevent you from feeling burnt out.

To achieve a good work-life balance as a freelancer, you should set a daily schedule that allows you to put a clear boundary between your personal life and career. However, don’t be afraid to also be flexible with your schedule, since your work arrangement allows for it. Another way to create a solid work-life balance is by understanding your limitations and not putting too much pressure on yourself. While more clients mean more money and better professional stability, over-committing yourself can hamper your productivity and result in poor quality work.

If you want to say goodbye to your corporate lifestyle and thrive as a freelance software developer, be sure to heed the tips we’ve listed above. Or better yet, you can turn to solutions like Turing — which combines the flexibility and independence of freelancing with the stability and financial security of a full-time position. Turing pairs remote software developers with top US companies for long-term roles. Plus, they are continuously re-matched with clients once their engagement ends.

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Author

  • Romi Jules

    Romi Jules is a Boston-based freelance software engineer and tech writer. When she's not working, she likes to train for her next marathon and rock climbing.

Comments (2)

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  • Muhammad Saeed Talib
    Jul 30, 2021 at 8:50 pm

    Nice blog. looking forward to adopting these steps in my life.

    • Turing
      Nov 29, 2021 at 10:55 am

      Thank you, Muhammad! We’re glad you enjoyed our post. Feel free to visit our Jobs page to know more about the remote work opportunities at Turing: https://turing.com/jobs