Thinking about Becoming a Software Engineer?
Depending on your background, the path to becoming a software engineer can vary greatly. One of the most important steps to becoming a software engineer starts with just simply doing. There's a lot of work involved in the path to becoming a software engineer, and it's certainly not just about coding or picking a programming language. It’s important to note that becoming a software engineer doesn’t have to be lengthy or costly. There are high-quality, low cost programs out there to make you an elite candidate in a competitive job market.
Whatever background you come from - CS graduates, bootcamp graduates, self-taught, graduate students, or front-end developers - there are many different paths and programs to becoming a software engineer. Part of the challenge today is to find a path that will work for you, for the job you want to get, and for your budget.
6 Steps to Become a Software Engineer
Once you’ve identified with category you belong in, some of the most important steps to becoming a software engineer are:
- Research - Do your research and select a program that is going to provide you with value and skills to apply in the real world. Find a program that is structured and challenging enough, that really trains you to the level demanded by industry and that focuses on skill development, not knowledge transmission. Apply to programs that have successful graduates going on to work for some of the most innovative and advanced technical companies in the world. Choose a program structure with a curriculum that will align with your lifestyle, goals, and your learning capabilities.
- Analyze - Take the time to dive deep into the options you have for programs. Read through job descriptions and truly narrow down the skills and elements you will be responsible for knowing. If your program doesn't cover those in depth, you should find a new program. In an increasingly competitive job market, you want to know and be capable of anything and everything that will set you apart as a candidate. Choose a program that will expose you to the hard and soft skills necessary for obtaining that job, and eliminate those programs that don't train at that level.
- Be flexible - There will be difficult programs and exercises throughout your learning and even future jobs. Be flexible and persevere through these challenges~you’ll be more skilled in the end. Mistakes will be common and failure is not final. Do your best and try it again. Ask questions, get the guidance you need, but don’t give up. Your success is solely derived from your ability and willingness to be flexible and learn within your program.
- Engage - If you’re making the decision to become a software engineer, then go all in. Go the extra mile, do the optional assignments, get help from your peers, work through tough problems together, and enjoy the experience. People skills are just as important in the tech industry as any other industry. Programs that offers an abundance of teamwork and feedback will teach you these skills.
- Practice - With almost everything in life, the more you practice something, the better you will get. Software engineers are no different. The more you develop and code, the better you will become. Work on difficult projects and show your worth; this will set you apart. This also helps build your portfolio for future recruiters to see. Don’t ever stop coding (seriously - don’t)
- Build - Having a strong technical portfolio is absolutely essential to landing a job as a software engineer. Focusing on this while you are in your program is crucial. This shows the true depth of your knowledge and what you are capable of. You can continue to add to this portfolio throughout the length of your program as you solve real problems and deliver on projects. Take every opportunity to excel at your projects and practice technical skills.
Getting Hired as a Software Engineer
If you want to become a software engineer and get hired in today’s market, use these steps and get started! It is competitive and it is tough, but if you have the technical knowledge, structured problem-solving skills, and the drive for success, you will get offers. Before you start sending job applications, be certain you are prepared and ready. It is so crucial to carefully read through job descriptions and analyze what they are expecting you to know. Take the extra time to be certain that you are skilled in those areas, so you can land that perfect job.
The job market for software engineers and other tech related jobs is expected to continue to grow with trends in online learning, artificial intelligence, and advancements in data analytics. Computer occupations in tech industries are seeing jumps in job increases. If you've ever thought about it, now is the perfect time to take the next steps to becoming a software engineer.
