This is the second blog in a series of blogs that we started to help candidates with skills in high demand. The idea is to let candidates know about the mandatory skills needed to increase their employability in the technologies we are hiring in. With our experience in IT recruiting, we are sharing insights over various technologies that are in high demand. This blog explains the mandatory skills required to kick-start a career in Sitecore development.
Sitecore is in high demand as the enterprise CMS due to its futuristic features and high-end e-commerce, social media and AI integration.
Sitecore Experience Platform is expensive, with annual licensing cost almost equal to the annual salary of entry-level developers in the United States. Still, the demand for Sitecore professionals is increasing. The average salary of a Sitecore developer in the United States is more than USD 100,000. Therefore, it’s no surprise that developers who are working on Microsoft technologies are aiming to switch towards Sitecore development.
So what kind of technical expertise is needed if you want to make your way in the fascinating world of Sitecore development?
Strong Programming Skills
Sitecore is .Net based web CMS. Therefore it is imperative that you have strong programming skills in ASP.net using C# (or VB.net). Though C# is more widely accepted. Proficiency with Microsoft Visual Studio development environment and MVC architecture is mandatory. Along with programming you also need to have in-depth knowledge of software deployment applications like Team Foundation Server. A few years of experience in working in a strong Microsoft development environment can provide mandatory skills needed for the job.
Database Expertise
The backend is a core part of any CMS. To work as a Sitecore developer, you need to have strong database management and administrative knowledge (preferably with Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle database). Working with triggers, stored procedures and high-end relational databases is a must if you are aiming to work on Sitecore development.
Scripting Languages
Since Sitecore is a web CMS used to create high-end websites and web applications. Knowledge of scripting languages like JavaScript, CSS, XML, XSLT, and XSL is required. And this is a common understanding that you’ll have knowledge of HTML and DHTML.
Understanding of Web Principles
System programming and web programming both are different. So when we are talking about skills required for Sitecore development, an ideal candidate should have an understanding of information architecture, the functioning of CMS, and the basics of content publishing and management.
Tie-breaker Skills
Aforementioned skills are mandatory skills that are required for a Sitecore developer. However, there are few skills which can act as tie-breaker and put you ahead of other candidates. Sitecore is not like other CMSs, it has integrated AI, marketing automation, personalization, and social media integration facilities. So if you have previous experience or understanding of these aspects of a CMS, you’ll have the upper edge in an interview.
If you are a Sitecore developer, looking for a change or to switch to a better opportunity send your resume to resumes@optizmglobal.com. We’d also love to have your inputs over the skills required for a Sitecore developer. If you think we missed including something, please drop your inputs in comments.
