{"id":253,"date":"2021-12-13T09:54:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T07:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arc.dev\/developer-blog\/?p=253"},"modified":"2024-11-28T12:35:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T04:35:48","slug":"how-to-become-a-software-engineer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arc.dev\/talent-blog\/how-to-become-a-software-engineer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Software Engineer: Education, Steps & Tips for Success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you want to launch a career as a software engineer<\/strong> but unsure where to start?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In any profession, landing your first job can be a daunting milestone to reach. Whether you’re self-taught, a coding boot camp graduate, or have an educational background in computer science, there are many ways to become a software engineer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeping in mind that feelings of uncertainty will no doubt arise, we\u2019ve decided to provide an extensive guide on how to get a software engineering job<\/strong>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the basics, like salary, education pathways, and skills, to the more advanced questions, such as writing resumes and passing technical interviews, we cover it all below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, let\u2019s get started, shall we?<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Arc<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Software Engineer Career Path<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While plenty of the skills that are required to have as software engineers are transferable between different roles, there\u2019s a certain career trajectory that aspiring software engineers tend to have in mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coding<\/em>, programming<\/em>, software engineering<\/em>, and software development<\/em> are incredibly easy to use synonymously, and, combined, they can include all kinds of positions. Understanding the differences among them is crucial for successfully planning the initial stages of your career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally, working in software engineering means creating and implementing software and various utilities. However, compared to software development, software engineering is more about the design decisions and technologies chosen rather than the code that is programmed. The average software engineer uses a combined knowledge of computer science and some mathematics (along with what seems to be a generous helping of wizardry) to create software products that provide value to the digital needs of their target audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you can successfully navigate your chosen career path in software engineering, you need to decide what interests you and where your skill set would be the most applicable. Once you’re sure of that, you can start thinking about salary and the steps you\u2019ll take towards your goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Software engineer salary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As with any job, there are various factors that influence the salary any given software engineer can expect. Their geographic location definitely plays a major role, as well as the years of professional experience they have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to salary data<\/a> from Arc\u2019s own database, the annual average salary for software engineers is $71,731. For junior software developers, the average salary is $59,553, while the average salary for senior software engineers is $85,949.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read More<\/strong>: Best Online Developer Communities to Join in 2022<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seniority levels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While this can also vary depending on your specific company and industry, some of the seniority levels in the software engineering profession are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Junior Software Engineer<\/strong> \u2014 These are entry-level positions, generally given to people with little to no experience, such as when coming straight from an internship or after earning a bachelor\u2019s degree. Junior software engineers are expected to perform software development tasks according to client requirements and within a specific time frame. They report to their team leaders, who often act as mentors that guide junior developers. This is the part of your career where you obtain new skills and experience that’s essential for working on more complex projects and tasks later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senior Software Engineer<\/strong> \u2014 A couple of years after landing your first junior position, you will be promoted to a senior software engineer. You will gain a better understanding of the software development lifecycle and master new programming languages<\/a>. At this stage, you may also start managing your own team or training other junior software engineers. Also, this is the part where you’re first introduced to the business aspects of software development, like company-wide objectives and project budgets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tech Lead<\/strong> \u2014 The tech lead is responsible for managing the whole software development process. Once you reach this stage, you will have a substantial team of software design and development professionals to manage. Also, you will provide development progress reports to various company stakeholders and share your inputs in the decision-making process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Team Manager<\/strong> \u2014 Those with a strong leadership<\/a> disposition may progress into a more managerial role. In that case, you\u2019ll be overseeing the career progression and wellbeing of your entire team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technical Architect<\/strong> \u2014 This job role entails overlooking the whole technical design and architecture of a project, as well as building processes for your team and providing them with technical leadership. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief Technology Officer<\/strong> \u2014 The CTO is the head of all the technical aspects of an organization. They supervise all R&D and use leverage technology to contribute to the company’s goals and profit targets. For a software engineer, aspiring to work with a CTO as a service<\/a> can offer a unique opportunity to learn from a high-level industry expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do you need a degree to become a software engineer?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to become a software engineer, having the right education ensures all the doors are open to you. Generally, a bachelor\u2019s degree in software engineering, computer science, mathematics, or another technical field is ideal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, some employers even require a master\u2019s degree from certain job candidates, but don\u2019t worry \u2014 this is rarely the case for junior positions! Also, some industry experience will elevate you from other candidates \u2014 for instance, someone looking for a job as a software developer in fintech will have a higher chance of landing the gig if they\u2019ve already worked in fintech before. Why? Because mastering the skills required for fintech software development<\/a> will equip you to contribute to innovative financial solutions and be at the forefront of shaping the evolving landscape of technology in the financial industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you should also keep in mind that there are no specific certifying exams or accreditations that are an absolute requirement for software engineers \u2014 which means other, less traditional pathways for education have emerged as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read More<\/strong>: 15+ Best Job Board Websites for Software Engineers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

University degree<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we mentioned above, a college degree is the most popular route towards becoming a software engineer. According to Stack Overflow\u2019s 2020 Developers Survey<\/a>, around 75% of all software developers have a bachelor\u2019s degree or higher in appropriate technical fields. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a reason why four-year degrees are so popular with both candidates and employers \u2014 they ensure that job candidates will have the widest elementary knowledge in computer science. These degree programs cover the basic theory and practice in computer science, provide candidates with a communal environment for learning, give access to various instructors, and facilitate the earliest networking opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, a college education is more expensive compared to boot camps or self-taught methods. And while it’s harder to achieve your professional goals without a degree, it’s not impossible \u2014 more than 20% of professional software developers and engineers start without an undergraduate degree. <\/p>\n\n\n

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If you’re wondering how to become a software engineer without a formal computer science degree or college education, read on! <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Coding boot camp<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coding boot camps provide budding software engineers with an opportunity to obtain a useful set of programming skills through a vastly accelerated curriculum compared to a college degree. Industry newcomers get a strong knowledge foundation and the skills they need for an entry-level role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, these boot camps are intense and require a lot of dedication, hard work, and energy. The courses tend to last between three and six months, and these days they’re quite flexible \u2014 you can often choose between in-person, virtual, and weekend options. For many people working part-time and full-time jobs, this is an important advantage over full-time college courses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bear in mind that coding boot camps most commonly focus on web coding \u2014 if you want to become another kind of software engineer, more formal education is likely the better choice. Still, if you’re looking to quickly obtain some coding fundamentals and enter the workforce ASAP, boot camps are certainly an option to consider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read More<\/strong>: How to Improve Your Dev Skills Even When You’re Super Busy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-taught<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The third (and most difficult) option for educating yourself to become a software engineer is being self-taught<\/a>. Today, the Internet is filled with all kinds of self-directed educational opportunities for people that are not as comfortable with formal academic options \u2014 or for those on a tighter budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Educational websites like freeCodeCamp or Khan Academy provide plenty of courses that can teach you the basics of computer science and various programming languages. These courses were specifically designed for self-instruction and flexible scheduling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this level of flexibility doesn\u2019t come without a cost. For one, choosing to learn independently means not having a formal instructor or a set schedule. And many people have a hard time keeping themselves productive<\/a> and on track.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Software Engineering Skills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In order to be successful in a software engineering role, you should focus on building a specific spectrum of soft skills and hard skills<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hard skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As a software engineer, your primary function is to create functional software, apps, or web pages. To do this, you will require a host of technical skills that include, but aren\u2019t limited to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n