"Brush Up On JavaScript
These days, developers who have mastered JavaScript can’t go wrong. JavaScript proficiency is by far the most frequently sought skill named by executives and recruiters. JavaScript has proven to be a highly portable and valuable skill set in today’s market.
Go Big With Data
Big data projects continued to get bigger last year, and there’s no sign of that slowing down in the years to come. Developers must have in-depth knowledge of [business intelligence] and analytics products, machine learning tools, and other solutions that transfer, store, and aggregate large amounts of data. Only then can they help their organizations store, interact, and analyze big data to make better business decisions.
Master the Full Stack
Many top firms are now seeking full-stack developers who comfortably move between a variety of technologies and platforms.
Buy Into DevOps
Greater access to hot job prospects isn’t the only reason to look into adding devops to your resume; DevOps practices simply make you a better developer and a more invaluable collaborator. DevOps practices also improve team cohesion and operational agility. This is the kind of edge that allows a company to accelerate ahead of the pack.
Diversify
The skills companies are looking for today are considerably more varied compared to a few years ago. Java and C# remain a part of the market, but when you look at companies founded after the last recession, you’re seeing a variety: Ruby on Rails, Python/Django, Node.js, and the emergence of functional programming languages, with Scala the most prevalent.
Use the Source
In particular for freelancers, the ability to point to your code on GitHub shows that your work has been put to good use and reviewed by your peers.
If companies themselves are exploring GitHub for technologies to add to their stacks, shouldn’t you?
Be Agile
Agile development should be part of a coders’ quiver of skills in 2016. Be humble and be hungry. Be familiar with agile and lean methodologies — the ability to break down big projects into small stories, prioritizing, adapting to change, and delivering the most value.
Get Secure
According to Addison’s Murphy, companies that suffered security breaches last year already know what they want and what skills will be the most useful to them in 2016.
With the increase in adoption of the cloud, security and compliance are growing concerns for organizations, this has resulted in an upsurge of demand for experts in security, compliance, governance, and data administration.
Go Mobile
Mobile developers are highly sought after, especially those who can distribute their creations widely. Being a successful mobile developer is not achieved through a particular technology skill set, but rather through business savvy. Writing code is only the first phase of the project. Knowing how to promote your mobile app, and attract and retain customers, is what drives success.
To the Cloud
The cloud is not all about tools, when it comes to developing career opportunities in the cloud. In part of an ongoing trend, companies are looking for developers with business skills, including project management and the ability to negotiate with vendors, says TEKsystems.
Additionally, there’s a need for more "move the business forward"-type skills, but less of a need for tactical work, as cloud providers are now increasingly responsible for that.
IoT: Making Connections
The long-heralded concept of the Internet of things is now showing up both as a hiring demand and as a skill talented engineers want to explore themselves. And it’s not only for embedded systems engineers anymore, You can do it even as a JavaScript developer. The advent of protocols such as Wi-Fi Halo and wearable and IoT devices opening lightweight SDKs, will open many opportunities for developers to go beyond displays and build things for their surroundings and environments. We will also see many hardware/software co-designs due to the advent of these tools.
Be Persuasive
Client management skills are important, particularly the ability to push back tactfully but convincingly when there are alternatives that deliver more value. Also being able to educate clients about the nature of software, guiding them toward practices that will serve them best in the long run.
Be Flexible
If you’re the 10x, full-stack developer on your team, there’s more demand than supply for your services. But if you’re starting out or making a career change, the right attitude can make all the difference in getting — and staying — hired.
Being a good team member, having a willingness to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem, lending a helping hand to team members, volunteering ideas and efforts to improve the product or the culture are valuable to any team." - DZone Agile
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