For many devs, success doesn’t come with a loud gong or a trophy. It shows up quietly in how others treat you, the types of problems you solve, and how much ownership you’re trusted with.
As a recruiter focused on my candidates’ growth, I often encounter questions from them about whether they’re progressing in the right direction.
So I went digging through Reddit threads, Quora answers, engineering blogs, and real-world conversations to spot 5 underrated but powerful signs that you’re not just surviving in tech…
You’re succeeding.
1. You’re the one improving processes
“Top engineers don’t just write code—they refine the system.” As one Redditor puts it
“They proactively look to make meaningful improvements in their tech, team, org, processes, etc.” Another Redditor notes.
Suggesting CI/CD changes, automating repetitive tasks, or reducing bottlenecks shows ownership and impact. Qualities any senior Dev or Manager will appreciate.
2. You communicate clearly (often with confidence)
“Great code only counts if people understand it.” A peer in r/cscareerquestions says:
“Learn how to communicate assertively and clearly… ask so many questions… share the work you did to answer the question yourself.” Suggests a Reddit user
Clear communication in software engineering ensures team alignment, reducing misunderstandings and costly errors. It also speeds up problem-solving by enabling faster collaboration between developers, product managers, and stakeholders.
Senior engineers master technical clarity—whether it’s Slack, docs, or stand‑ups.
3. You operate at both macro and micro levels
“Success comes from thinking big and sweating the details.” Another Reddit comment observes:
“The very best engineers can do fantastic system design… and at the same time… optimizing data structures… basically, deal with both the high level and lowest level and everything in between.” reddit.com
At a micro level, career progress reflects in how you keep a deep focus on code quality, bug fixes, and system optimization. At a macro level, you help team align technical decisions with business goals, scale systems efficiently, and anticipate long-term challenges.
If your work spans from architecture to memory tuning, you’re on the right path.
4. You keep learning (even areas others overlook)
“Look for growth beyond your comfort zone.” As one senior dev advises:
“Try to pick up something new every couple of years… concentrate your learning on things that have proved that they’ll stick around… bash, TCP/IP… will be still around in 50 years.” Recommended by another Redditor
Progress is guaranteed for the talent who understands and values core engineering systems, foundations tools and is not just chasing the hottest frameworks.
5. You find regularity in responsibility & respect
“Successful engineers are seen as problem-solvers—not just coders.” Reddit wisdom highlights
“Roles with increasing responsibility, scope, impact, titles, etc. Positive feedback from my managers and peers, compensation increases etc” Another commenter mentioned
If your projects are growing in complexity, leadership trusts you with bigger tasks, and your efforts are noticed, that’s a clear sign of success.
Why these signs matter
While clean code and debugging are table stakes, real success comes from ownership, communication and breadth:
- Ownership signals you’re shaping how things work—not just building functionality.
- Communication makes projects move faster and earns trust from non-dev colleagues.
- Depth + breadth let you design systems and also dive deep when performance or architecture depends on it.
- Learning foundational tech gives you a lens that survives shifting trends.
- Recognition from peers & managers confirms you’re not only delivering—you’re delivering with impact.
