How To Become A Software Engineer in 2022
It’s pretty hard to imagine life without smartphones and computers. We use these every single day to browse the internet, mark our calendars, play games, and communicate with friends. And the thing is -- none of those would be possible if it weren’t for talented software engineers who make it happen.
If the idea of creating original content for phones and computers excites you, you might want to become a software engineer. You’d be making a smart decision, as the tech industry is projected to grow 5-6% over the next year, accounting for over $5.3 trillion in market value.
Don’t know where to start? Here’s everything you need to know about becoming a software engineer in 2022.
What Do Software Engineers Do?
A software engineer is someone who designs and develops computer software by applying principles of math and computer science. If you’re someone who likes problem-solving, or if you have a strategic mindset, this might be the perfect job role for you.
There are many different types of software engineers, too, so you can have some freedom within the field. Some professionals specialize in operating systems (like iOS or Windows), others might focus on creative productivity apps or business management software, while others might stick to making computer games for your phone or laptop. The options are really endless.
Typically, however, they are divided into two subcategories. One is application engineering. Application engineers create web applications for businesses and organizations by analyzing the needs of the business. For instance, a small company may want to create its own phone app to schedule clients and manage appointments.
The other type is systems engineers. These types of individuals coordinate the creation and maintenance of an organization’s computer systems. Essentially, they’re like the IT department of a given institution.
None of this is to be confused with web developers or computer programming, which is the act of actually converting an engineer's ideas into programming languages like Java, HTML, CSS, Ruby, or Python. Programming is a better fit for you if you’re a more logical thinker, whereas engineering might be better suited if you’re creative-minded.
Work Environment of a Software Engineer
Most software engineers work in full-time positions, and believe it or not; you’ll spend a lot of time in front of a computer. While it may seem like a solo position at a glance, this is a highly collaborative occupation.
You’ll spend most of your time working with team members, developers, and quality assurance analysts to ensure that a given software is accomplishing its intended purpose. For that reason, you’ll also need to be good at communicating and accepting feedback.
What Experience Do You Need to Become a Software Engineer?
If you’re thinking of becoming a software engineer, it can always be good to come in with a little bit of background information. In high school, try to focus on elective credits in computer science, trigonometry, and calculus to give yourself a good foundation for college.
While a Bachelor’s degree is not necessarily required to become a software engineer, computer science degrees will be a valuable asset during your job search. There are also software engineering master's degree programs, and graduates with a masters in software engineering, mathematics, or related fields may have an easier time finding work.
Certifications or credentials from universities or a coding boot camp accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology will likely prove most beneficial, such as Oracle certifications. Any program that provides in-depth knowledge of the software systems, data structures, and algorithms used daily by software engineers can help you on your journey.
Finally, it’s a good idea to try to participate in an internship program in the technology field to expand your knowledge and apply your educational skills to the real world before jumping into the workforce.
Large tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Amazon all offer robust internship programs, although job openings at smaller companies can similarly provide the skills needed to break into this field.
Working as an IT support technician or a project assistant is a great place to start, as well. Not to mention, these are great resume builders.
Moving Up the Ladder
After you feel like you’ve done your job as a software engineer, you may want to move on to bigger and better things. If that’s the case, a natural progression may be a senior software engineer, in which you’ll enjoy a similar workload with the inclusion of some leadership qualities on top.
Qualities of a Good Software Engineer
If you’re thinking of becoming a software engineer, there are a few different skills that it’s important to possess. For one, you need to understand programming and coding and computer science fundamentals.
But on top of that, you’ll also need to understand design, architecture, and other creative aspects of creation in order to be successful. This is especially true if you’re hoping to design games or software applications.
Basic business skills like collaboration, teamwork, project management, and problem-solving skills are also helpful along this software engineering career path.
Finally, you’ll want to have some advanced skills in information analysis and debugging and testing software to ensure that you can successfully test the software you put out.
What Is the Salary of a Software Engineer?
The salary for software engineers continues to rise as their need increases. In 2020, the median pay for software developers was $52.95 an hour, or $110,140 per year.
While you shouldn’t be choosing this career for the money, the salary certainly helps. Not to mention, you may be able to earn more as a software engineer depending on the exact company you’re working for, as well as the type of work you’re conducting.
Similar Job Roles
If you want to work in tech, but you’re not sure if software engineering is what you’re looking for, don’t worry. It’s a consistently growing field, and you’ll be able to find a position that better suits your interests.
For people who want to focus most on engineering design elements, graphic design may be a fantastic place to be. Here you’ll use computer programs to design and create various types of media for websites, magazines, advertisements, and more.
On the other hand, if you’re more interested in exactly how computers work, you may want to consider becoming a technical support associate. In this position, you’ll provide support to customers experiencing technological issues, such as helping them block spam calls or try to troubleshoot a computer that has been exposed to a virus.
Finally, IT technicians focus on the hardware side of things, helping to install and perform routine maintenance on the computer systems within a company.
This is a good position if you’re more of a logical thinker and enjoy working on your own.
Conclusion
Becoming a software engineer is an exciting career that is entirely possible given the growth of this industry in 2022. If you have a passion for creating original content or programming and coding, this is a career path that might be right for you.
Software engineers can take on many forms, helping to create smartphone applications, computer software, or even video games. They work in a collaborative environment that requires attention to detail, previous experience coding, programming, and a Bachelor’s degree in most situations.
This type of position has a median salary of around $110,000. There’s room for growth by becoming a senior software engineer to add some leadership capabilities to your existing workload.
Regardless, this is a position that a growing technical world needs more of, so if you’re interested, you should definitely stick with it.
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