I've talked about this before in other posts. And although my advice is to look for Development jobs if you want to be a Developer, there is a way for Support folks to eventually make a transition to Dev.
As with any job, this transition will require that you build competency in your technical abilities and that you build a network of contacts that will help you make a successful jump.
The one thing I can say about building a good network with Developers, for Support staff, is to build solid relationships with your own Dev team. I'm sure this is not a ground-breaking revelation. A good way to do this is to learn the application well: which involves formal and informal knowledge transfer from guess who? Be responsive to issues and lend a helping hand when the Dev team needs help to get their work accomplished. If invited, make an effort to attend social functions that involve Dev staff. Knowing folks outside of work settings is always beneficial when building networks. Remember that these same Development folks might be able to point you to internal or external openings.
In terms of building your technical abilities, as a Developer, there are several ways to accomplish this. Being that your day-to-day doesn't require you to have a heavy Dev focus, you'll need to find a way to keep your skills sharp (and to build new skills) outside of work. There are several ways I can suggest for you to do this.
Take on freelance work. This is better than having a pet project at home, in that you'll have requirements and deadlines you'll need to meet. You won't just toss these projects to the side when your buddies invite you to have a beer. Take on projects that will challenge your comfort zone but, yet, give you a fighting chance to deliver. Solid results and good feedback is always welcome in your resume and on networking sites.
Another possibility is to take a college course or two. Many companies, these days, will actually pay for your tuition. So take adavantage of those programs, which can provide a solid foundation when building new skills. Again, the good thing about taking college classes is that you have deadlines to meet. Given the price of the courses, you also won't just toss them aside.
Support efforts also benefit from efficiency. Building tools to make the support effort more efficient is always a good challenge to take on. And you can do this while at work, if your extracurricular life doesn't allow for taking on side projects.
And yes, it's OK to take on pet projects of your own. Try to incorporate new things in them. For example, if you don't know how to use patterns, try to learn about them and implement your code using those designs. Incorporate best practices like code refactoring. These types of exercises will make your brain more efficient at applying these techniques when the time comes. Keeping your skills sharp will help if you want to transition to Development and it will also make you a better Support resource until then.
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