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Date: December 17, 2018
WHSV – Software developers can work with people from all over the world, from right at home.
For one software developer in the Valley, he used his skills as a farmer to make a transition into a career he loves.
“So I grew up on a farm, and learned a lot of problem solving there,” said Kendal Miller, a software developer for LightCastle Technical Consulting. “And then did some interesting, odd jobs and what not.”
Miller made the switch from a poultry and beef cattle farmer to a software developer with LightCastle Technical Consulting.
“Anytime anything broke, it’s kind of am emergency,” said Miller. “Because if the water hose would break, you don’t want 14,000 chickens to go without water, so you had to figure out quickly how to solve that problem.”
His passion for problem solving and interest in computers helped him find a way to build, without getting his hands dirty.
“In software development, you can build things that … more or less you manipulate letters to do it,” said Miller. “You still use your hands to type, but you’re not getting dirty.”
From the comfort of his own home, Miller is able to connect with people from across the globe, fixing software issues.
“Problem solver,” said Tamara Funk, owner of LightCastle Technical Consulting. “We’re looking for people who are self starters, who can figure out what’s wrong and fix it, and people who are reliable and careful in their work.”
According to statistics gathered by the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board, salary for this position can range from $54,000 to more than $97,000. There is a projected growth of 545 jobs over the next decade in our region. Most software developer positions require a bachelor’s degree, but some ask for an associate degree or post secondary certificate.
“If you’re interested in a technical career, you can live here in the Shenandoah Valley, and enjoy the beauty and the relatively low cost of living, and with remote work, you can work for great companies and earn pay that’s above the average for the area,” said Funk.