Hello! Sloan, DEV Moderator and resident mascot, back with another question submitted by a DEV community member. 🦥

For those unfamiliar with the series, this is another installment of Sloan's Inbox. You all send in your questions, I ask them on your behalf anonymously, and the community chimes in to offer advice. Whether it's career development, office politics, industry trends, or improving technical skills, we cover all sorts of topics here. If you want to send in a question or talking point to be shared anonymously via Sloan, that'd be great; just scroll down to the bottom of the post for details on how.

So, let's get down to business...

Today's question is:

I've been honing my skills as a software dev, but still consider myself a beginner. I've heard folks talking about T-shaped developers and it seems like it's a common goal to specialize in a specific area, but then also nurture a wide range of basic skills that aren't necessarily tied to tech. I feel like I'm getting to the point where I need to specialize, but I'm not really sure which area to move into. How do you go about discovering your specialization? Any tips or things to consider when looking to specialize in something?

Share your thoughts and lets help a fellow DEV member out! Remember to keep kind and stay classy. 💚

Want to submit a question for discussion or ask for advice? Visit Sloan's Inbox! You can choose to remain anonymous.