How to get a job as a software engineer: How to Get a Job as a Software Engineer

How to Get a Job as a Software Engineer

Everything You Need to Know About Getting Hired as a Software Engineer

Software engineers build online reality. Their fluency in programming languages, coupled with their command of engineering principles, enable them to develop everything from network control systems to computer games. Software engineers undertake the exciting work of architecting the world we see online, and their skill set is in high demand.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): “Employment of software developers is projected to grow 24 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Software developers will be needed to respond to an increased demand for computer software.”

Software engineers enjoy a hybrid role that blends the technical and the creative. Those who work in this role are also problem solvers who test and implement solutions, communicating the details of those upgrades to their peers across teams.

If you’re wondering how to get a job as a software engineer, read on to learn what it takes to get your foot in the door.

How to Get Hired as a Software Engineer

How to Gain Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

Degrees needed

If you want to find a job as a software engineer, academic work is step one. Software engineers usually need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering or a related technical field. Some employers may require that candidates hold a master’s degree. Candidates may also be required to have experience working in the industry in which they are seeking employment; for example, candidates pursuing roles in medical or financial industries may have an advantage if they’ve supported these industries in past jobs.

But keep in mind, there are no accreditations or certifying exams required for software engineers; therefore, less traditional educational pathways have emerged to credential incoming pros.

Some companies are open to hiring software engineers who have an Associate’s Degree, for example. Other pros may score a software engineering role after pursuing a streamlined training route, such as a technical boot camp. This two to three-month immersion experience prepares students for the intellectual rigors of the job. After their course work, students are prepared to transition into entry-level roles.

Skills for software engineers:

Regardless of how software engineers go about credentialing themselves for their roles, Fullstack Academy reports that the skillset for software engineers includes:

• Experience creating and maintaining IT architectures and databases
• Problem-solving skills
• Pattern design and experience with cloud-based infrastructure
• Embedded development/debugging experience
• Experience on multi-core CPU or SMP
• Knowledge of multiple programming languages including C/C++

Additionally, those who are a fit for this role need a command of soft skills like good listening, communication skills and the ability to work on a team.

Software Engineer Hiring Process

Professionals with an expertise in software engineering enjoy a wide range of professional opportunities. The BLS points out that because technological growth is ubiquitous, opportunities for software engineers are diverse and plentiful: “Systems developers are likely to see new opportunities because of an increase in the number of products that use software. For example, more computer systems are being built into consumer electronics and other products, such as cell phones and appliances.”

Some industries that stand to be especially robust when it comes to job growth for software engineers include manufacturing, healthcare, medical insurance, business, IT services, retail, research and development, government, defense and security.

Despite the fact that there are plenty of options open to software engineers, job seekers still have to be purposeful and strategic in their searches. Do your homework. Read job posts. See what industries and what types of jobs seem fitting for you.

Business Insider tech reporter Rosalie Chan advises: “Although there’s a high demand for tech jobs, job seekers often aren’t marketing the skills that employers are looking  for. . . The trick is to build skills needed for the job, rather than the industry. For example, let’s say you want to be a software engineer. To find a job, rather than just learning general programming skills, it would be more helpful to look into the jobs you’re interested in and develop the skills that those specific employers want.”

Be an informed candidate every step of the way. This can help guide your studies, internship opportunities and your job search.

How Much Does a Software Engineer Make?

As with most jobs, years of experience as well as the region in which they work impacts the pay they earn. Glassdoor salary data, which reflects the input of nearly 200,000 software engineers across the country, reveals that the annual pay range for this profession is between $71,000-$145,000. The national average pay for software engineers, according to Glassdoor’s data, is $103,000.

Software Engineer Job Market

Steady growth is expected to continue for software engineering roles. The BLS reports: “Employment of applications developers is projected to grow 31 percent, and employment of systems developers is projected to grow 11 percent. The main reason for the growth in both applications developers and systems developers is a large increase in the demand for computer software.”

More good news for software engineers-some of the most celebrated employers are seeking professionals skilled in these roles. Glassdoor’s Chief Economist Dr. Andrew Chamberlain points out that among the employers honored on Glassdoor list of 2019’s Best Places to Work, software engineer is among the most common roles that these employers are seeking. Software engineer also hot on Glassdoor’s 50 Best Jobs in America for 2019; the role earns a spot in the coveted top ten.

If you’ve got the skills to be a software engineer, your prospects look great. Glassdoor posts nearly 140,000 open jobs across the country for software engineers.

Software Engineer Job Interview Tips

Once you earn the opportunity to interview for a role as a software engineer, yours will be a technical interview. The process generally starts with a phone interview. Often, this will be conducted by a recruiter or HR professional. The first phone interview tends to be somewhat general, and is often followed up by a more technical conversation (often again via phone) with the hiring manager. This is then followed by an in-house interview where you’ll get the chance to meet the team, chat and demonstrate your skills.

Often, software engineers are asked to demonstrate their coding skills and to take their interviewers through some problem-solving exercises. You want to demonstrate that you have solid technical skills, that you’re a savvy problem-solver and that you’re a clear, concise communicator.

Consider these software engineering interview questions that were posed to Glassdoor users. Practice these and other common interview questions in preparation for your job interview.

• Suppose you are writing a test script to test a function running in a process overnight. How do you make sure that if the process is halted, your test function will be able to detect that?
• Write some pseudo code to raise a number to a power.
• Given an array of numbers, replace each number with the product of all the numbers in the array except the number itself *without* using division.
• Give me an example of a time you made a mistake at work, how you repaired it and how you communicated this to your supervisor.
• Give me an example of a time you succeeded on a team.

Learn More!

How to Get a Job as a Software Engineer

Everything You Need to Know About Getting Hired as a Software Engineer

Software engineers build online reality. Their fluency in programming languages, coupled with their command of engineering principles, enable them to develop everything from network control systems to computer games. Software engineers undertake the exciting work of architecting the world we see online, and their skill set is in high demand.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): “Employment of software developers is projected to grow 24 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Software developers will be needed to respond to an increased demand for computer software.”

Software engineers enjoy a hybrid role that blends the technical and the creative. Those who work in this role are also problem solvers who test and implement solutions, communicating the details of those upgrades to their peers across teams.

If you’re wondering how to get a job as a software engineer, read on to learn what it takes to get your foot in the door.

How to Get Hired as a Software Engineer

How to Gain Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

Degrees needed

If you want to find a job as a software engineer, academic work is step one. Software engineers usually need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering or a related technical field. Some employers may require that candidates hold a master’s degree. Candidates may also be required to have experience working in the industry in which they are seeking employment; for example, candidates pursuing roles in medical or financial industries may have an advantage if they’ve supported these industries in past jobs.

But keep in mind, there are no accreditations or certifying exams required for software engineers; therefore, less traditional educational pathways have emerged to credential incoming pros.

Some companies are open to hiring software engineers who have an Associate’s Degree, for example. Other pros may score a software engineering role after pursuing a streamlined training route, such as a technical boot camp. This two to three-month immersion experience prepares students for the intellectual rigors of the job. After their course work, students are prepared to transition into entry-level roles.

Skills for software engineers:

Regardless of how software engineers go about credentialing themselves for their roles, Fullstack Academy reports that the skillset for software engineers includes:

• Experience creating and maintaining IT architectures and databases
• Problem-solving skills
• Pattern design and experience with cloud-based infrastructure
• Embedded development/debugging experience
• Experience on multi-core CPU or SMP
• Knowledge of multiple programming languages including C/C++

Additionally, those who are a fit for this role need a command of soft skills like good listening, communication skills and the ability to work on a team.

Software Engineer Hiring Process

Professionals with an expertise in software engineering enjoy a wide range of professional opportunities. The BLS points out that because technological growth is ubiquitous, opportunities for software engineers are diverse and plentiful: “Systems developers are likely to see new opportunities because of an increase in the number of products that use software. For example, more computer systems are being built into consumer electronics and other products, such as cell phones and appliances.”

Some industries that stand to be especially robust when it comes to job growth for software engineers include manufacturing, healthcare, medical insurance, business, IT services, retail, research and development, government, defense and security.

Despite the fact that there are plenty of options open to software engineers, job seekers still have to be purposeful and strategic in their searches. Do your homework. Read job posts. See what industries and what types of jobs seem fitting for you.

Business Insider tech reporter Rosalie Chan advises: “Although there’s a high demand for tech jobs, job seekers often aren’t marketing the skills that employers are looking  for. . . The trick is to build skills needed for the job, rather than the industry. For example, let’s say you want to be a software engineer. To find a job, rather than just learning general programming skills, it would be more helpful to look into the jobs you’re interested in and develop the skills that those specific employers want. ”

Be an informed candidate every step of the way. This can help guide your studies, internship opportunities and your job search.

How Much Does a Software Engineer Make?

As with most jobs, years of experience as well as the region in which they work impacts the pay they earn. Glassdoor salary data, which reflects the input of nearly 200,000 software engineers across the country, reveals that the annual pay range for this profession is between $71,000-$145,000. The national average pay for software engineers, according to Glassdoor’s data, is $103,000.

Software Engineer Job Market

Steady growth is expected to continue for software engineering roles. The BLS reports: “Employment of applications developers is projected to grow 31 percent, and employment of systems developers is projected to grow 11 percent. The main reason for the growth in both applications developers and systems developers is a large increase in the demand for computer software.”

More good news for software engineers-some of the most celebrated employers are seeking professionals skilled in these roles. Glassdoor’s Chief Economist Dr. Andrew Chamberlain points out that among the employers honored on Glassdoor list of 2019’s Best Places to Work, software engineer is among the most common roles that these employers are seeking. Software engineer also hot on Glassdoor’s 50 Best Jobs in America for 2019; the role earns a spot in the coveted top ten.

If you’ve got the skills to be a software engineer, your prospects look great. Glassdoor posts nearly 140,000 open jobs across the country for software engineers.

Software Engineer Job Interview Tips

Once you earn the opportunity to interview for a role as a software engineer, yours will be a technical interview. The process generally starts with a phone interview. Often, this will be conducted by a recruiter or HR professional. The first phone interview tends to be somewhat general, and is often followed up by a more technical conversation (often again via phone) with the hiring manager. This is then followed by an in-house interview where you’ll get the chance to meet the team, chat and demonstrate your skills.

Often, software engineers are asked to demonstrate their coding skills and to take their interviewers through some problem-solving exercises. You want to demonstrate that you have solid technical skills, that you’re a savvy problem-solver and that you’re a clear, concise communicator.

Consider these software engineering interview questions that were posed to Glassdoor users. Practice these and other common interview questions in preparation for your job interview.

• Suppose you are writing a test script to test a function running in a process overnight. How do you make sure that if the process is halted, your test function will be able to detect that?
• Write some pseudo code to raise a number to a power.
• Given an array of numbers, replace each number with the product of all the numbers in the array except the number itself *without* using division.
• Give me an example of a time you made a mistake at work, how you repaired it and how you communicated this to your supervisor.
• Give me an example of a time you succeeded on a team.

Learn More!

How to Get a Job as a Software Engineer

Everything You Need to Know About Getting Hired as a Software Engineer

Software engineers build online reality. Their fluency in programming languages, coupled with their command of engineering principles, enable them to develop everything from network control systems to computer games. Software engineers undertake the exciting work of architecting the world we see online, and their skill set is in high demand.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): “Employment of software developers is projected to grow 24 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Software developers will be needed to respond to an increased demand for computer software.”

Software engineers enjoy a hybrid role that blends the technical and the creative. Those who work in this role are also problem solvers who test and implement solutions, communicating the details of those upgrades to their peers across teams.

If you’re wondering how to get a job as a software engineer, read on to learn what it takes to get your foot in the door.

How to Get Hired as a Software Engineer

How to Gain Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

Degrees needed

If you want to find a job as a software engineer, academic work is step one. Software engineers usually need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering or a related technical field. Some employers may require that candidates hold a master’s degree. Candidates may also be required to have experience working in the industry in which they are seeking employment; for example, candidates pursuing roles in medical or financial industries may have an advantage if they’ve supported these industries in past jobs.

But keep in mind, there are no accreditations or certifying exams required for software engineers; therefore, less traditional educational pathways have emerged to credential incoming pros.

Some companies are open to hiring software engineers who have an Associate’s Degree, for example. Other pros may score a software engineering role after pursuing a streamlined training route, such as a technical boot camp. This two to three-month immersion experience prepares students for the intellectual rigors of the job. After their course work, students are prepared to transition into entry-level roles.

Skills for software engineers:

Regardless of how software engineers go about credentialing themselves for their roles, Fullstack Academy reports that the skillset for software engineers includes:

• Experience creating and maintaining IT architectures and databases
• Problem-solving skills
• Pattern design and experience with cloud-based infrastructure
• Embedded development/debugging experience
• Experience on multi-core CPU or SMP
• Knowledge of multiple programming languages including C/C++

Additionally, those who are a fit for this role need a command of soft skills like good listening, communication skills and the ability to work on a team.

Software Engineer Hiring Process

Professionals with an expertise in software engineering enjoy a wide range of professional opportunities. The BLS points out that because technological growth is ubiquitous, opportunities for software engineers are diverse and plentiful: “Systems developers are likely to see new opportunities because of an increase in the number of products that use software. For example, more computer systems are being built into consumer electronics and other products, such as cell phones and appliances.”

Some industries that stand to be especially robust when it comes to job growth for software engineers include manufacturing, healthcare, medical insurance, business, IT services, retail, research and development, government, defense and security.

Despite the fact that there are plenty of options open to software engineers, job seekers still have to be purposeful and strategic in their searches. Do your homework. Read job posts. See what industries and what types of jobs seem fitting for you.

Business Insider tech reporter Rosalie Chan advises: “Although there’s a high demand for tech jobs, job seekers often aren’t marketing the skills that employers are looking  for. . . The trick is to build skills needed for the job, rather than the industry. For example, let’s say you want to be a software engineer. To find a job, rather than just learning general programming skills, it would be more helpful to look into the jobs you’re interested in and develop the skills that those specific employers want.”

Be an informed candidate every step of the way. This can help guide your studies, internship opportunities and your job search.

How Much Does a Software Engineer Make?

As with most jobs, years of experience as well as the region in which they work impacts the pay they earn. Glassdoor salary data, which reflects the input of nearly 200,000 software engineers across the country, reveals that the annual pay range for this profession is between $71,000-$145,000. The national average pay for software engineers, according to Glassdoor’s data, is $103,000.

Software Engineer Job Market

Steady growth is expected to continue for software engineering roles. The BLS reports: “Employment of applications developers is projected to grow 31 percent, and employment of systems developers is projected to grow 11 percent. The main reason for the growth in both applications developers and systems developers is a large increase in the demand for computer software.”

More good news for software engineers-some of the most celebrated employers are seeking professionals skilled in these roles. Glassdoor’s Chief Economist Dr. Andrew Chamberlain points out that among the employers honored on Glassdoor list of 2019’s Best Places to Work, software engineer is among the most common roles that these employers are seeking. Software engineer also hot on Glassdoor’s 50 Best Jobs in America for 2019; the role earns a spot in the coveted top ten.

If you’ve got the skills to be a software engineer, your prospects look great. Glassdoor posts nearly 140,000 open jobs across the country for software engineers.

Software Engineer Job Interview Tips

Once you earn the opportunity to interview for a role as a software engineer, yours will be a technical interview. The process generally starts with a phone interview. Often, this will be conducted by a recruiter or HR professional. The first phone interview tends to be somewhat general, and is often followed up by a more technical conversation (often again via phone) with the hiring manager. This is then followed by an in-house interview where you’ll get the chance to meet the team, chat and demonstrate your skills.

Often, software engineers are asked to demonstrate their coding skills and to take their interviewers through some problem-solving exercises. You want to demonstrate that you have solid technical skills, that you’re a savvy problem-solver and that you’re a clear, concise communicator.

Consider these software engineering interview questions that were posed to Glassdoor users. Practice these and other common interview questions in preparation for your job interview.

• Suppose you are writing a test script to test a function running in a process overnight. How do you make sure that if the process is halted, your test function will be able to detect that?
• Write some pseudo code to raise a number to a power.
• Given an array of numbers, replace each number with the product of all the numbers in the array except the number itself *without* using division.
• Give me an example of a time you made a mistake at work, how you repaired it and how you communicated this to your supervisor.
• Give me an example of a time you succeeded on a team.

Learn More!

How To Get a Software Engineering Job In 5 Steps

Hiring trends show that software engineers are among the top positions companies are hiring for, with their job outlook projected to grow 22% by 2030. If you’re wondering how to get a software engineering job, you’ll need to master a handful of coding languages: the need for engineers who know Ruby on Rails, Python, and Javascript are on the rise, as well as familiarity with Javascript, Java, and C++.

To help you jumpstart or grow your software engineering career, this guide will provide a step-by-step process of how to become a software engineer, with or without a degree. Below, we’ve outlined the five steps needed to land your first job as a software engineer.

1. Learn the skills and knowledge needed for the role
2. Gain experience through projects
3. Find a mentor and network in the field
4. Begin the job search and application process
5. Prepare for the technical interview process

1. Learn the skills and knowledge needed for the role.

There is no formula to becoming a software engineer, as many engineers are self-taught, and increasingly so since COVID. To get a job as a software engineer, you can:

• Get a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related technical degree
• Obtain an associate’s degree in the above subjects
• Take the self-taught route by reading coding books, taking a software engineering course, or watching videos from software engineers themselves
• Specialize in front-end engineering, back-end engineering, security engineering, DevOps, or testing automation
• Complete a technical boot camp that lasts two to three months

Even though you don’t need a degree to become a software engineer, there are some skills you should have under your belt. Programming languages that are seeing the most growth in recent years include Ruby on Rails, Python, and Javascript; while Java, C++ and C also have a large presence in software engineering. Some of the many skills software engineers need include, but aren’t limited to:

• Problem-solving skills
• Knowledge of multiple programming languages like:
• Ruby
• Python
• Javascript
• Java
• C++
• C
• Creation and maintenance of IT architectures and databases
• Multi-core CPU or SMP
• Pattern design and cloud-based infrastructure familiarity
• Embedded development and debugging skills
• Data structures, algorithms, database concepts, distributed systems, and search
• Container orchestration systems such as kubernetes and infrastructure as code tools such as terraform
• Manufacturing execution system (MES) concepts

How to become software engineer without a degree

Software engineers can be self-taught with the help of online courses, bootcamps, and coding challenges. There’s no requirement that you need a college degree to become a software engineer, but there are some knowledge capabilities needed to correctly program. If you’re looking to become a software engineer without a CS degree, read the tips below.

• Enroll in an online coding bootcamp
• Master specific software engineering languages
• Take online courses or read programming books
• Do the #100DaysOfCode challenge
• Use the same programs as software engineers like Git/Github and Bitbucket
• Read other software engineers’ code to learn their techniques
• Keep up with industry podcasts, news, events, and social media
• Build your own coding projects to add to your portfolio
• Learn the core CS fundamentals
• Get experience through side gigs or internships
• Tap into a software engineering community
• Invest time into networking professionally
• Practice using simple projects to gain experience
• Use HackerRank to prepare for interviews and sharpen skills

Table of Contents

2.

Gain experience through projects.

Getting into the nitty gritty of software engineering requires developers to work on projects that allow real-world applications of their skills. Contributing to open-source projects, which is a project that anyone can edit, modify, or contribute to online, is an excellent way to gain experience and grow your portfolio.

School coursework, online workshops, or following along with video tutorials are other pathways to working on portfolio projects. Building a portfolio for future opportunities allows engineers to showcase their best work: check out this example software engineer portfolio for inspiration. It also allows engineers to work with peers to create something bigger in order to foster lasting connections that could ultimately lead to a professional network.

When it comes time to apply to software engineering jobs, working on projects with other software developers shows employers that you value feedback and working with a team.

3. Find a mentor and network in the field.

Finding a mentor can give you inside tips and a pathway to success in software engineering. It’s crucial to find a person who is where you want to be in the future, so be sure to conduct informational interviews of potential mentors to see if their journey aligns with your career goals.

When you are able to ask a seasoned software engineer about their experience and how they got a software engineering position, they can demystify the application process and give you insight on the most common mistakes in the field so you can avoid them altogether.

4. Begin the job search and application process.

Once you have a stellar software engineering portfolio and the knowledge and expertise to back your job candidacy, you are ready to begin the job search and application process. Make sure to have your mentor or someone in your field take a glance at your resume, cover letter, and portfolio for potential improvements. If you’re just getting your foot in the door, many companies offer apprenticeship programs where you can hone your skills and get experience while you’re at it.

Software engineer job market

Software engineering has been a growing industry since before the dot-com boom. Recent data shows that there are 26.9 million software developers around the world, 4.3 million of which are in the U.S. alone. The projected number of software engineers is expected to reach 28.7 million by 2024. The job market for this career is predicted to increase by 22% between 2020 and 2030.

How much do software engineers make?

Software engineers can earn anywhere between $59,000 and $160,000 annually in the United States, but this number may vary based on location and years of experience. A software engineer’s salary is based on factors such as industry experience, education, and location. To help, we’ve listed how much software engineers can make on an annual basis for the different positions they are hired for.

Front-end developer salaries

• Junior front-end developers can make anywhere between $50,000 to $70,000 in annual salaries.
• Intermediate front-end developers can make $80,000 to $90,000 with a few years of experience.
• Senior front-end developers can make an average salary of $110,000 to $125,000 with four to seven or more years of experience in the field.

Full-stack developer salaries

• Junior full-stack developers (who work both front- and back-end) earn between $48,000 and $72,000 annually.
• Intermediate full-stack engineer salaries range from $89,832 to $113,727.
• Senior full-stack developers can make $95,098 to $134,722 annually.

Back-end developer salaries

• Junior back-end developers can make anywhere between $57,000 to $70,000 annually, with an average salary of $65,400.
• Intermediate or mid-level back-end developers make an average of $106,255 annually, but their salaries can range from $91,935 to $120,392.
• Senior back-end engineers in the US. make an average salary of $161,070 but their salary can range from $136,274 to $195,826.

However, it’s important to note that the biggest employers of software engineers like Facebook, Google and Amazon have much higher salary ranges for the same titles. For example, we’ve listed the average base salary for software engineers at Facebook based on experience level below:

Entry-level: $123,000
Mid-level: $164,000
Mid-senior: $199,000
Senior: $243,000

5. Prepare for the technical interview process.

While it typically takes many interviews to secure a job offer, it’s important to note that every interview offers an opportunity to learn about the company, industry, and field. Make sure to ask for feedback if you do not end up getting the position as this may benefit you in the future.

To help you prepare for your technical interview and land the software engineering job of your dreams, we outlined the hiring process and included some interview tips below.

Software engineer hiring process

To get a job as a software engineer, you’ll need to have a successful interview where you’re able to answer all their questions and pitch yourself as the candidate they should choose for the job. However, there are multiple rounds of interviews you’ll have to complete before you receive a job offer. Keep reading to learn about the different stages of the software engineering hiring process.

1. Initial phone interview with a recruiter or hiring manager. This phone screening is conducted with a member of the company’s hiring committee where you can emphasize your experience and top skills and why you’d be a good fit.

2. Technical second interview with an engineer. The second round in the interview process is where things get more technical. Since this is typically done with a member of their engineering team, expect specific questions about your coding experience and background knowledge. This might also include skill assessments that vet your ability to complete the job you’re tasked with should you get hired.

3. Meeting with additional team members. Some companies will have a third interview with more team members to see if you are a good fit for their team. They may ask questions about how you would fit into their company culture or even about your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer. You might be assigned a skill assessment at this stage or even a take-home project to submit back to them when completed.

4. Final interview with a company leader. The last round of interviews is the home stretch: Make sure to highlight what you’ll bring to the team, how you will improve the company with your work, and what your long-term goals might be. With each stage of the interview process, be sure to put your best foot forward.

5 software engineer job interview tips

Make sure you stand out from other candidates by using these job interview tips for software engineering jobs:

1. Prepare for any skill assessments or in-person coding exercises they may require
2. Know what programming languages you will be using
3. Review practice software engineering interview questions beforehand and prepare your answers
4. Review your resume and cover letter for any errors
5. Prepare for each portion of the interview process from the phone screening to the last round of interviews

Wrapping up: becoming a software engineer

Software engineering is a career with a promising outlook and countless job openings that are waiting to be filled. Success in the field requires concrete knowledge of programming languages, problem-solving skills, and meaningful projects in your portfolio.

Whether you’ve just found an interest in coding or you’ve had multiple years of experience under your belt, getting a job as a software engineer is more accessible than it has ever been. Start applying to software engineering jobs by signing up for a free AngelList account.

Software engineers have plenty of transferable skills that can be used in other similar positions, some of which we’ve listed below. Should you pursue a career change in the future, here are some options for where you can branch out and apply what you already know.

• Quality Assurance Engineer. QA engineers are tasked with tracking the development of software in each stage and testing to each part for functionality.
• Web Developer. For those who specialize in developing website applications, a web developer role may be in your future.
• Information Technology Manager. If helping organizations navigate their technological presence is your forte, you may consider a future in IT management.

Resources for future software engineers

Here we’ve listed helpful resources for current and future software engineers who are looking to land their first software engineering jobs.

• Break Into Tech’s Find Your Fit course. If you’re not sure where you want to work in the tech space, this course can help you find out your passions.
• Team Treehouse Courses. These flexible courses from Team Treehouse allow you to complete coursework in a way that works with your schedule.
• HackerRank. This platform is an excellent resource for practicing technical assessments as well as finding companies looking to hire software engineers.
• #100DaysOfCode. This challenge has participants code for an hour each day and encourages them to tweet about their progress with the hashtag.
• Coursera. Coursera offers a multitude of software engineering courses that teach different specializations across different programming languages.
• Cracking the Coding Interview. This book covers 189 programming questions and their solutions, which earned its reputation as the ultimate guide to tech interviews.

5 Steps to Getting Your First Job in Software Engineering

Unsure how to get a software engineering job or where to start? Landing your first job as a software engineer can seem like an intimidating milestone to reach. It feels even harder when you don’t have a computer science background and you’re transitioning from another field, especially one that you’ve worked years to develop a career in. Feelings of uncertainty come in many forms. Your inner dialog may sound like this:

“My resumé isn’t compelling enough to get a job in this new field.”
“I’m a beginner all over again, and I don’t know enough to do this well.”
“If I start over, I’m afraid I’ll fail.”
“I feel like an imposter trying to get a job in something I know so little about.”

If these are some of the thoughts you’ve had when considering a career change, you’re not alone. These are fears that most of my students have expressed in my 5 years teaching at General Assembly, and they are totally logical fears to have. Fortunately, there are clear steps you can take and definitive questions you can answer for yourself which will keep you on a path to landing a great first job in software engineering. They are:

1. Figure out what kind of software engineering interests you.
2. Learn the basics.
3. Build projects.
4. Begin applying for software engineering positions.
5. Learn from your interviews.

1. Decide what kind of programmer you want to start out as.

You’ve decided to take the plunge into software engineering, but did you know there are many different kinds of software developers? Jobs in programming run everywhere from front-end engineering (on the design side), back-end engineering (on the server side), to security engineering, DevOps, and testing automation!

Those are some of the more common types that most companies will need to hire for, so the question isn’t, “What kind of engineer do you want to be?”, it’s “what kind of engineer do you want to start out as?” This distinction is important because you should try to work for a company that gets you going with a clear set of roles and responsibilities, but also fosters an environment that will allow you to try out other types of work too. Some of the best software developers I’ve worked with were at one point doing a completely different set of tasks at the start of their career.

So, what interests you the most?

2. Learn the basics of software development.

It goes without saying that you’ll want to acquire some knowledge in computer programming before sending out a bunch of job applications. But where to start? There are a ton of great resources out there, but I’ll outline what I think is a great approach for most people to get a good start in programming knowledge:

1. Take some classes. Whether it’s through one of General Assembly’s coding courses, a highly rated video course on Udemy, or a coding bootcamp, it’s important to get some experience learning from an industry professional. It’s also good to be able to collaborate with other students doing a similar career change.
2. Read a lot. The learning doesn’t stop after taking some short-form classes. After you’ve mastered the basics of programming, you’ll be able to effectively self-teach too. Get some good programming literature! Here’s a list of some great books for beginners.

You’ll want to focus your learning on the basics of programming and computer science. Key areas to educate yourself on should include:

• Programming fundamentals: Variables, conditionals, loops, functions, etc.
• Design patterns: How programs are structured to be maintainable and easy to reason about.
• Popular frameworks (such as React, Angular, Express, Rails etc.) are a plus because they provide transferable skills while giving you a competitive edge by staying current. However, it’s still super important to base your education on the fundamentals of programming. A good drummer won’t learn how to play fancy fills without first learning the rudiments, and software development is no different!

3. Build, build, build!

Always have a project to work on. Apply the skills you’re learning by practicing on real-world projects. For example, if you’re reading a tutorial on how to build a user interface with React, try building your own portfolio website using React. You’ll be doing two great things for your career at the same time:

1. Practicing and honing transferable skills.
2. Building your software engineering portfolio with actual case studies and proofs of concept.

4. Start applying for jobs.

Software developer job openings are constantly being posted as new companies are founded, existing companies expand, and established companies evolve. When it comes to startups vs. established companies, there are some significant differences you’ll likely come across. For instance, a new startup might have more employee perks, such as flexible time off, but might also demand more weekend hours put in. On the other hand, an older established company might provide a more clearly defined set of roles and responsibilities and a better structure for employee growth.

It’s ultimately different from company to company, but the pattern I’ve seen lately is that startups provide more incentives to apply, with more initial flexibility for the employee. Keep in mind though that startups are by nature less likely to succeed long-term.

5. Use every interview as a learning experience.

You’ll start to land interviews comprised of multiple stages that will vary slightly by company but typically look something like this:

1. Initial interview with a recruiter or hiring manager that’s usually less technical
2. A more technical second interview with an engineer on the team, where they’ll get to know your current skill set
3. Meeting with more members of the team which will usually include a code challenge of some sort
4. Final interview with a company leader which hopefully includes an offer!

It’s important to remember a few things during the interview process. First of all, most modern tech companies want to hire you, not just your skills. They don’t want to just hear you rattle off a bunch of technical terms that make it sounds like you’re more experienced than you are.

They want to know about you, your passions, your curiosity, your drive to learn, and your drive to grow with the company. None of those things are strictly reliant on 10+ years of experience like the job postings might say. While there is a base level of skill that is required, you’ll want the company to know that you are a good long-term fit; that you can become the software engineer that you want to be with them.

Every interview you take will be a culture fit test. Be a nice person, be curious, ask questions.

The technical part of the interview is often the scariest. During the technical interview or code challenge, sometimes you’ll have to write code by hand on a white board with people watching. It can be terrifying unless you really think about the actual purpose of the technical interview.

What’s important to remember when prepping for the code challenge is that it’s designed to be hard. A well-crafted code challenge is not meant to be completed in short order. Rather, it’s meant to give the interviewer deeper insight on your current skill set as well as your ability to speak about how you navigate through a problem you’ve been tasked with solving. If you were able to finish the code challenge too easily, the company would have no idea where your skills max out at.

When engaging in a code challenge, the interviewer wants to understand your thought process for problem solving; how you might approach going from the prompt to the solution and the reasoning behind it.

For a good code challenge, they want to see your journey through the problem. Of course, you do need to learn the basic fundamentals of programming to even begin a code challenge, but you’ll get to a point where you can at least show the interviewer how you’re framing the problem and coming up with a potential solution.

Every interview is a learning experience. Keep these tips in mind. You’ll get better at the process, and you’ll eventually land that software engineering job where your new career will really begin!

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How to Become a Software Engineer in 2022 (From Scratch)

How to Become a Software Engineer in 2022 (From Scratch) | Columbia Engineering Boot Camps

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Software engineers are the unsung heroes of the digital sector. It’s thanks to their skills (and, of course, the wonders of modern engineering) that our devices can transcend their plastic and silicon exteriors to become the invaluable tools we use today. 

From afar, the work these coders do can seem daunting, even incomprehensible. But thanks to the expansion of computer science education and training options, it has never been easier to enter the software engineering field — even with little to no prior industry experience. All it takes is a healthy level of ambition, hard work, foresight, and adaptability.  

Becoming a software engineer typically encompasses six key steps: 

1. Planning your career path
2. Obtaining an education
3. Gaining experience
4. Getting certified
5. Building your portfolio
6. Applying for jobs

While the upskilling process requires strong commitment and patience, the career rewards it provides are well worth the effort. Read on to learn how to become a software engineer in 2022!

1. Planning Your Career Path

Though many software engineering (or coding) skills are transferable between roles, aspiring software engineers should have a career trajectory in mind. After all, the term “coding” can encompass a variety of different positions; understanding the distinction between software engineering and related fields such as web programming is crucial during the initial career planning stage.

As the name suggests, software engineering generally refers to the creation and implementation of computer software and utility programs. Software engineers use their comprehensive knowledge of computer science and mathematics to develop software products that suit users’ digital needs. Web developers, on the other hand, focus primarily on coding websites. These professionals are tasked with creating and maintaining everything from layouts and functions to navigation and overall usability. 

Once you have a clear idea of your intended career path, you can start navigating it. With that in mind, now let’s continue our discussion on how to become a software engineer. 

2. Obtaining an Education

Generally speaking, there are three main paths aspiring software engineers can take to pursue their education: coding bootcamps, college, and self-directed learning. The option you choose will be contingent on your preferences as a learner and your lifestyle circumstances (such as schedule conflicts, intended timelines, financial resources, etc.). 

Each route comes with its own set of pros and cons, so consider them carefully before enrolling in an academic course!

Now, let’s assess the educational options which may help you become a software developer from scratch.

Coding bootcamp

By attending a coding bootcamp, you’ll have the opportunity to gain a set of job-ready programming skills through an accelerated curriculum. Software engineering is challenging to learn from scratch — but with a bootcamp, even industry newcomers can build a strong knowledge base and ready themselves for an entry-level role quickly if they are willing to put in the time, hard work, and dedication. 

Coding bootcamps may be worth it for those who don’t have the time or resources to attend a four-year degree program. These courses last just three to six months, depending on whether you opt for a part- or full-time schedule, and are often cheaper than multi-year degree programs. Bootcamps are also highly flexible; many offer virtual, in-person, and weekend options to suit working professionals’ scheduling needs. 

That said, because bootcamps tend to focus on web-based coding rather than software engineering, a coding bootcamp may not be the best choice for someone who wants to land a job in the latter field as soon as they complete their formal education.  

But if you want to develop your coding fundamentals and start gaining work experience as soon as possible, you should still consider enrolling in a coding bootcamp geared toward helping you become a full stack developer. Such a course will provide you with a “full stack” of back end (server-side) and front end (client-side) programming skills. Having this foundation will better equip you to hit the ground running as an entry-level professional and start accumulating real job experience — which you can then use to springboard into software engineering.

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College education

College is far and away the most popular educational route among developers today. In 2020, Stack Overflow found that nearly 75 percent of surveyed developers had achieved at least the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree or higher, remaining consistent with numbers observed in previous years. 

Four-year degree programs are popular for a reason: they cover computer science theory and practice, provide communal learning environments, offer access to supportive instructors, and facilitate networking opportunities. These university degree programs are also usually well-regarded by employers. 

However, a college education can be less economical than a bootcamp, and a degree isn’t strictly necessary to become a software engineer, though you’ll often have to work harder to achieve your goals. The same survey also found that just over 20 percent of professional developers did not have an undergraduate degree. Roughly 16 percent of surveyed developers also described college degrees as “not at all important” or “not necessary.” 

In summary — while college can be a fantastic option for those who have the time and resources to attend, it is not a be-all-end-all academic requirement for everyone wondering how to become a software engineer. 

Self-directed learning

There is also a range of self-directed learning opportunities to explore for those who prefer less formal academic options. For instance, learners can pick up necessary coding skills via free educational websites like Khan Academy and freeCodeCamp. In addition to being cost-effective, these classes are designed to suit self-guided instruction and scheduling, making them highly personalized by default. 

But the flexibilities provided by self-directed learning come at a cost. Those who choose to learn independently don’t have the accountability a set schedule or formal instructor offers; rather they are responsible for keeping themselves on track and productive. While this approach may work well for some, those who are less self-motivated may find themselves falling behind on their upskilling timetable.

3. Gaining Experience

Your skills training shouldn’t start and end with formal classes! Aspiring software engineers will want to accrue hands-on experience through volunteer work, personal projects, internships, and other practical work opportunities. Practicing your coding skills outside of the classroom will allow you to pad out your resume, add items to your professional portfolio, and otherwise improve your standing during the job search.

Not sure where to start? If you’re attending a college program or bootcamp, you may want to reach out to your institution’s alumni affairs office to see if they can connect you with any open internship or placement opportunities. Alternatively, you can check out a few of the resources below for inspiration!

Additional Resources

• Code 4 Good — American Red Cross
• Hackathon Opportunities — Second Muse
• How to Find a Software Developer Internship as a Student — freeCodeCamp

4.

Getting Certified 

Want to maximize your chances of being chosen by employers? You may want to consider earning a certification. Certificates are valuable in today’s professional climate, as they quickly confirm your experience to employers seeking top-level candidates. Being certified may help you rise above other applicants when potential employers sift through resumes. 

Below, we’ve listed a few certifications that might benefit an entry-level software engineer. 

Additional Resources

• AWS Certified Developer (Associate) — Amazon Web Services
• Java Certification — Oracle University 
• Professional Scrum Developer — Scrum

5. Building Your Portfolio

A coding portfolio is a crucial asset for all aspiring software engineers seeking employment. This comprehensive body of work is often the first impression job recruiters have of you. It is a great way to showcase your past projects, too; these can convey your versatility and general know-how as a work-ready software engineer.   

As an interested candidate, your job is to provide as much evidence of your abilities as possible — so take time to build out your portfolio accordingly! When summarizing projects, be sure to include detailed descriptions of all technologies utilized, roles you served, and any other relevant information about your process and ideology. 

Additional Resources:

• 5 Rules for Writing a Software Engineer Resume That Will Get You Hired — The Muse
• An Honest Guide to Building a Powerful Developer Portfolio — Better Programming 
• How to Prepare For & Succeed In a Coding Interview — Glassdoor

6. Applying For Jobs

Once you’ve sought out proper training and certification, dabbled in projects, and prepared a layered portfolio, you’ll be ready to apply for software engineering positions. Start by mapping out your career goals, pinpointing jobs you would prefer based on your experiences to date; this will help you narrow down compatible opportunities early into your application process. Update your resume, LinkedIn profile, and other relevant application materials to ensure that potential employers have an up-to-date snapshot of your skills and capabilities. 

It is essential to remain confident and not limit yourself during this time. The sheer number of different roles can be overwhelming at first, but as you test the waters, keep in mind that your right fit is out there — it just might take some time to find it!

What Exactly Is Software Engineering and What Do Software Engineers Do?

Software engineering broadly refers to the practice of building, maintaining, and improving computer software and networking systems. Software engineers, in turn, have extensive knowledge of coding languages, software development, and engineering principles. 

By applying such principles, software engineers conduct complex analyses to develop customized systems and software products based on their clients’ unique demands. This process is usually preceded by intensive studying of specified system requirements and limitations.  

While software engineer job descriptions will vary across industries and employers, most professionals can expect to share the same core set of responsibilities. These include but are not limited to:

• Improving systemic operations by conducting system analysis and recommending procedural changes
• Investigating systemic, network, and product bugs
• Developing new software solutions that suit current business or consumer needs
• Documenting solutions for non-technical stakeholders via visualized charts, diagrams, layouts, and other illustrated materials
• Obtaining and licensing software as needed

As you apply to jobs, remember to tailor your resume and cover letter to the role specifications laid out in the role description! 

How Long Does It Take to Become a Software Engineer? 

The answer depends on you! The time required to become a software engineer will vary based on your desired academic route. For example, a typical college education, such as a degree in computer science, takes around four years to complete and spreads instruction out across seasonal semesters. The pursuit of a degree is a slow but thorough process, and graduation stands as a notable achievement. 

However, if you want to get started with a job in coding sooner and get valuable job experience while you continue to work toward completing the required skill sets of software engineers, you can also consider enrolling in a bootcamp or learning on your own. Most bootcamp courses range from three to six months. During this time, instruction is often quick and intensive, focusing on helping learners build job-ready web development skills as quickly as possible. 

Independent learners face the most uncertainty when it comes to establishing timelines. Generally speaking, motivated learners could teach themselves coding basics within a year or so — however, this span can grow or shrink according to their self-imposed schedule, availability, and aptitude for independent study. 

What Programming Languages Should You Focus on to Become a Software Engineer? 

When you’re just starting out as a software engineer, it can be challenging to figure out which coding languages have the most professional value. Thankfully, you don’t have to cherry pick your skillset alone — we’ve developed a list of the most in-demand coding skills on the market today. 

JavaScript

JavaScript has been consistently cited as the most commonly used programming language globally — not to mention “the most sought-out language by hiring managers in the Americas” (PDF, 2.8 MB). The enduring relevance of JavaScript makes the language a go-to by default; it remains one of the easiest languages to learn and is used by most major web browsers. 

Python

Python is another common language used primarily for back end development and data science. This general-purpose language is tailored to several different programming styles — such as object-oriented and functional — to aid in a variety of projects. Like JavaScript, Python is known for being relatively easy to learn, but even seasoned software engineers should consider its offerings; over 50 percent of hiring managers (PDF, 2.8 MB) now seek candidates fluent in the language.  

Go 

Google-developed Go has seen a steady increase in popularity since its 2009 inception. According to analysts at HackerRank (PDF, 2.8 MB), it has been “the #1 language developers want to learn next” for three consecutive years; it was also found to be the “12th most known language for 2020.” Given the age of many of its prominent competitors, it is safe to assume Go will only continue to carve a deeper niche in the broad programming spectrum, making it a valuable language for today’s engineers. 

Java

Java is the fifth-most commonly used language among professional developers. As a general-use and object-oriented language, Java is especially valuable for developers creating objects that “encompass functions and data.” The language’s versatility, paired with its consistent demand among all notable languages, keeps its appeal timeless. 

HTML

Despite its potentially intimidating name, “HyperText Markup Language” (HTML) is a highly accessible language often used to describe a web page’s formatting and overall appearance. As a markup language, HTML is more specific in its usability, but remains one of the most commonly used languages worldwide. 

Software Developer Salaries & Job Outlook — In New York & the U.S.

Though pandemic-related impacts continue to be felt within the U.S. economy, recent BLS data predicts continued growth in the software engineering industry from 2019 to 2029; this is comparatively much faster than the average for all other occupations. In May 2019, software developers were found to make an average annual wage of $111,620. However, this figure often varies by location. In New York, for instance, the mean wage was found to be $119,570 — a rate significantly higher than the national average. 

That said, remote work trends have reshaped parts of the software developer employment process, with many candidates narrowing their job search to opportunities that offer remote functionality. In turn, employers have been forced to consolidate and restructure significant aspects of their infrastructure to emphasize remote working.  

This trend has influenced but ultimately not hindered the availability of engineering jobs, though it remains to be seen how the pandemic will impact long-term industry salary figures; for now, they are generally stable following a period of constant growth from 2016–2020. Keep in mind that salary is affected by a number of factors including professional experience, educational background, company size, and knowledge of in-demand skills and technologies.

Should You Apply to a Coding Bootcamp to Become a Software Engineer?

Are coding bootcamps worth it? If you want to build the foundational skills necesssary to start coding professionally within six months, yes! Coding bootcamps offer a valuable educational option for aspiring software engineers who want to upskill quickly and start working toward an entry-level position. 

Not sure where to start? Columbia Engineering Coding Boot Camp stands as an excellent venue for this type of learning, offering an immersive curriculum aimed at building both a solid coding foundation and an array of fundamental skills that can be applied to software engineering. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help support your career growth.

FAQs on Software Engineering

Can You Become a Software Engineer Without a Degree? 

While the value of an undergraduate education is undeniable, a degree is not always necessary to succeed as a software engineer if you are willing to work hard and build up your skills and experience.. There are numerous alternative educational paths for honing your engineering skills and establishing credibility, including bootcamp courses and self-directed learning options. 

Can You Become a Software Engineer If You’re Older?

Absolutely. The desire to learn and grow transcends age; while coding is sometimes viewed as a younger worker’s domain, it is more than possible to learn programming when you’re older. All you need is the right amount of curiosity and determination.  

How Is Software Engineering Different From Web Development?

Software engineering refers to the development of computer systems and their underlying software — as well as the broad application of software engineering principles. Web developers, on the other hand, specialize in the construction of web pages and the consistent maintenance of their back end data and general usability. Learn more about becoming a web developer.  

How Much Can You Make as a Coder?

What kind of salary can you expect as a coder? According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, coders average $111,620 per year (which breaks down to a mean hourly wage of $53.66). However, it is important to note that income can vary by experience, company size, and location; a job located in a tech hub like New York City or Seattle could earn you dramatically more than a similar role in Florida, for example. Learn more about becoming a coder and what kind of salary you can expect.

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How to find your first job as a programmer? From a resume to a trial period / Habr

Everyone knows that now programming is a super-demanded and super-paid profession. But few people know that there are very few vacancies for beginners. All employers want a person who already knows something to come to them. Write code that doesn’t need to be thrown away. There are few junior vacancies (which do not require work experience), and the competition here is very high. On the one hand, there is a huge need for programmers. On the other hand, at the beginning of your career, you may encounter difficulties. Employers pay attention first of all to those who already have a line about their previous place of work in their resume. If you don’t have it, it will be difficult.

From my own experience, I graduated from a good university and expected to be flooded with job offers right away. But my resume aroused minimal interest. I received two invitations to interviews, and no one took my hands off me.

So how does a newbie get a first job?

It must be called somehow. There are two options.

1. Let’s say you programmed in different languages. At school, they probably wrote in Pascal, and then they did something in C ++. If you’re older, you may be familiar with Delphi. Therefore, in the title of the resume, you can indicate all the languages ​​\u200b\u200bin which you wrote. Perhaps some will be of interest to a potential employer. For example like this: “Programmer: delphi, python, php, html, java, c#, ruby, scala” .
2. You can indicate that you specialize in one thing, such as Python. Usually, if the title of the resume lists a bunch of languages, then it’s clear that you don’t know anything. Just touched superficially. In the eyes of the employer, you will be a human orchestra who came to audition at the conservatory. You don’t have to do that. Cross out the long sheet and just leave “Python Programmer”. Increase your self-esteem, do not emphasize self-doubt associated with a lack of experience in your resume.

The rule follows from this: choose one programming language and specialize in it. At the university, I wrote in C ++, then I realized that the vacancies associated with it did not really appeal to me, so I had to move in a different direction. I chose C# and Java for myself. I liked both of them very much, and for a long time I could not decide which one I liked more: there is such and such a feature, here such and such, it would seem, are the same. I bought two hefty thick books – C# by Andrew Troelsen and Java by Bruce Eckel. I spent two weeks on each and began to respond to vacancies in both languages. I thought where they would take me earlier – I would go deeper into that language. Now I understand that I have shifted the responsibility for choosing a language from myself to the universe, to fate, to the employer.

When I went to each of the interviews, I felt insecure. In both languages ​​I wrote equally weakly. Shouldn’t have done that. I had to make a voluntary decision. If you can’t choose, flip a coin. The main thing is to decide on one language.

What is the best language to include in a resume? There are many languages, but they very often interchange each other. Not all of them are alive. The main rule is to choose popular languages, do not take exotic ones. No need to hear that some Haskel is very cool, cool, can do everything and everyone, and functional programming languages ​​are so magical … Everyone praises their language.

Employers do not need exotic, but those technologies for which there are many specialists. Decide for yourself whether you need to learn a language in which you will then not be able to find a job?

So when choosing a language, pay attention:

• to its popularity;
• for solving problems that interest you;
• for ease of development: at the initial stage, it is better to choose a simpler one.

Now, by the number of vacancies, the following languages ​​are most in demand: Javascript, PHP, Java, C ++, Python, C #, Ruby, Swift, Objective-C. Having chosen a language, most likely, you will stop there. Maybe in two years you will be disappointed or decide to retrain. But it will hurt a little. On the other hand, you can easily apply your experience in another field of activity.

• If we are talking about frontend — that is, development of the visual part of sites — then everything is simple here, three languages ​​are needed: HTML, CSS, JavaScript.
• But for development of the server part there are many options. The most popular language is PHP. At every report they tell me that they speak badly about RNR, some of it is not like that. Many hypothesize that he will die. But nothing like that, half of the sites are written in PHP, half of the vacancies – in PHP, VKontakte – in PHP, like many other major projects. The language is not going anywhere. If there are critical problems in it, then they will simply be fixed. Ruby on Rails appeared, a cool engine – well, it’s okay, frameworks began to appear on PHP, in which similar features were introduced. Everything is fine. Separately, I will say that Python attracts many people with its simplicity and versatility.
• From the point of view of mobile development of , there are only two options. If you want to write for Android, this is Java. If under iOS – Swift or Objective-C. Both are good decisions.
• Desktop and server development : Python, Java, C++ or C#. There is room for throwing. Python is simpler than the rest. You can write in Java for Android. In C# — to delve into the development of games and websites. C++ is more suitable for those tasks where high speed is required. Otherwise, they have the same capabilities, it’s just that sites write less often in Java.

A reasonable question arises: if you start from scratch, does it make sense to learn a new language right away? For example, Apple switched from Objective-C to Swift, then Swift 2 and 3 appeared. Usually I am conservative and I think that the new is not always justified and really shoots. A new language appears, there are no vacancies for it, but where is the guarantee that they will appear later? Maybe they will write on it from the heels of projects.

As for Objective-C and Swift, I’ve been looking after these languages ​​for a long time, and just the other day the number of vacancies in Swift caught up with Objective-C. In my opinion, this is a very serious indicator that Swift will only gain momentum and may eventually supplant Objective-C.

So, we chose the language and indicated it in the summary. Next, we list the technologies that we know. Let’s figure out again which is cooler. Let’s say you’re programming in PHP. Does it make sense to write that you know C, C++, Pascal, C# and so on? It is not necessary to list all the technologies that are not directly related to your competence. It is necessary to name the vacancy “programmer: PHP”. In this case, the employer is not interested in what you once wrote in C and Visual Basic. All this long tail can not be indicated.

There is another option. Let’s say I’m a PHP programmer, but I know all these technologies because they are related to web development: PHP, YII2, HTML, different frameworks. If you search for a web developer job, you will surely see a hefty sheet of additional requirements with a bunch of buzzwords. And many people are afraid of this, especially in web development, it’s scary that you need to know so much … You should strive for this: know Webpack, work with different databases, and so on.

Many people immediately write to increase their authority that I know this, and I know this approximately, but I am a beginner and I am ready to receive 15-30 thousand so far, and I have no work experience. What will be the impression on the employer? The same: a man-orchestra.

There is another problem. Suppose the employer believes that you know all this. He will come to the interview with this list, poke at any technology and say: “Now we are talking about React, what do you know about it? And what’s that? And this? Clearly, we don’t know React.”

Cross out.

“Okay, let’s talk about MySQL, write me a transaction that does this and that.”
“Well, I only installed the development environment in MySQL, I did two selects …”

MySQL is also crossed out. Everything else he won’t even look at. The employer will no longer be interested in the fact that you fried RNR for six months: he caught you in a lie. So we cross out all of the above.

No one expects a junior to immediately fly into space. The employer, as a rule, is an adequate person. And he understands that a junior will know one programming language and, at best, have a superficial understanding of frameworks. This suits the employer, because he needs a person who will take the routine operations from the leading developers. Therefore, write about your knowledge as honestly as possible.

Moreover, do not even try to get acquainted with all these numerous technologies. If you are a PHP programmer, then write that you know PHP and a little HTML and CSS for layout. They are also familiar with one framework – that’s it, the employer will be happy with it. He won’t race you on YII because you didn’t say you know him. The employer understands that you can be driven on RNR.

If it so happened that you have already touched a lot of things, then honestly write: a superficial acquaintance with such and such technologies. Maybe for the employer it will be a plus.

Should your resume show that you graduated from some university, received some certificates, took courses, and so on? This is a good thing in the initial selection, which many personnel officers pay attention to. It is difficult for them to navigate by other criteria. Therefore, they look at work experience and education to draw some conclusion.

When I was recruiting C# juniors for the team, we posted a vacancy and got 50 responses within two to three weeks. We did not have a personnel officer, so we went the programming way: all candidates were sent a test task. Whoever made it went on. And I, as an employer, were not interested in certificates and a diploma. I didn’t even look at the resume until the person sent me the solution to the test task. But for a recruiter, this can be important.

A very important thing at the selection stage. If you have a portfolio, then a programmer employer will be able to understand whether you are able to solve a problem similar to the one you have already solved.
What can you write in your portfolio? If you want to develop websites, then just come up with a problem for yourself and solve it in the required time. Make a small site and put it on Github. And write: I created a small online store, I used such and such technologies, here is the code. For the employer, this will be an indicator that you also know about Git. He understands: if I take this newcomer to work, he will do to me in two days about the same thing that he himself dealt with for a month. And he will not have to pay to learn what Bootstrap is, to get acquainted with all sorts of necessary things. He himself has already studied this and is now able to solve the problem in a couple of days. So don’t neglect your portfolio. It will help you a lot.

If you have one, please describe it. After that, you will be torn off with your hands. After graduating from university, I received two responses to my resume, and a year later I simply did not know how to hide it. Because everyone needs programmers, and personnel officers see: this guy endured a year and was not fired, he did not screw up, which means he is an intelligent person. If I take him to work with me, then most likely I will also be able to endure him for at least a year, his code will not have to be thrown away.

Resume is ready, what to do next? Before responding to vacancies, you need to mentally tune in a bit so that the process goes right. Imagine your ideal working day, what would you like to get as a result? Otherwise, we will just be a squirrel in a wheel, we will run after some dream, some kind of happiness. Imagine what your office looks like, your colleagues, how you feel about yourself, what projects you are involved in. Just tune in to what emotions you will experience when you start going to work. Make a request to the universe: “I want it to be so, so and so.” And calm down, everything will be fine.

Tell me about how I got a job at GeekBrains. At some point, I got tired of programming. It’s a cool job, I gave it five years, but I was not very satisfied with the goals of the company in which I worked. I thought that it would be interesting for me to open my own school and teach people. Give them the opportunity to get a new specialty, a new profession. Then I saw a vacancy and started teaching at GeekBrains, combining it with my main job. Then I just asked them to work.

This was my conversation with the CEO of GeekBrains.

Gendir: “What can you do? You are programming in C#, and I need Ruby.”
Me: “I don’t want to program, I can do this, I can do that.”

Two weeks later I went to work.

You probably imagine: “I will find a job like this: I will post a resume, they will respond to it, I will come for an interview, and everything will work out.” But work can find you in a completely different way. For example, you will register on a freelance site, complete some order, and you will have regular customers. Or a friend will invite you to work with him. Don’t get hung up on how to achieve your goal. Just be open to suggestions, wherever they come from.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get called for an interview after you’ve applied for a job. At the initial positions, supply greatly exceeds demand. I myself made this mistake, I found one job offer and thought: damn, this suits me, this company is not far from my metro, and the requirements are simple. It seems to me that I’m a great fit for them, and they, the infection, didn’t even look at my resume. Well, what is it? There must be something wrong with me. Or they read but didn’t write anything. Everything, the resume is bad, it is necessary to refine the portfolio, do something else. But in fact, maybe they just have no time. They hired someone a long time ago and just didn’t take the vacancy because the newcomer’s probationary period hadn’t ended yet.

Don’t worry guys. Submit 100, 200, 300 responses, whatever you find. And by the law of large numbers, you will tell the universe that you really want a job. You will be invited to five interviews, at one of them you will get a job – that’s it. If you are sent a test task, do not neglect it. In my experience, 90% of candidates drop out when given a test.

Mood is very important in an interview. Tune in that it’s not you being evaluated here, but you came to understand whether the company is right for you, whether you like working here, whether the team is good, and so on. Otherwise, you will think that you are being examined and sit with shaky knees. You are an expert, a specialist. Beginner but expert. And you also interview the employer: is the project interesting, what are its prospects, what does the workplace look like? You change places a little, and the employer thinks: the person appreciates himself, now I need to convince him that my company is worthy of his presence. This is also an important factor.

Don’t worry all the time about being kicked out right after probation. In my experience, a probationary period is a symbolic thing, a safety net for an employer so that a rookie who messes up can be easily fired. In the vast majority of cases, no sanctions will be applied to you. The employer usually just forgets about the trial period. He looked at the timer – three months have passed, you can register a person.

If you were taken on a trial period, then you don’t have to bombard everyone with questions, otherwise they will think that you are a fool. But there is no need to rush to the other extreme, when a novice developer is given a task, and he goes into himself for three days, because he himself is trying to figure everything out. And the employer thinks: are three days really not enough for you for such a simple thing? So feel free to ask questions. If you have been working on a task for more than an hour and you are not succeeding, go to the elder, ask him, he will help you, everything will be fine.

Friends, and finally parting words: do not be afraid to experiment. Find yourself, find what you like to do. There is nothing worse than spending ten years in a job you don’t like for fear that you won’t be able to get another one. If you like programming, start learning this craft, combine your studies with your main job. If you want, come to us at GeekBrains, and we will definitely help you with this. Good luck to you, and see you soon!

How can a junior programmer find his first job / Sudo Null IT News0001

Business processes go online. Everyone needs user-friendly websites and applications to attract more customers. Companies interrupt each other’s offers – they want to get the right specialist as quickly as possible. And it doesn’t matter how expensive it is. Demand is growing faster than supply. The shortage of personnel is becoming more and more acute. This is how the 2021 labor market in the IT sector lives.

Research HeadHunter shows that in Russia there is low competition and high demand in IT: up to two candidates apply for one vacancy. And programmers remain the most sought-after specialists — 49% of vacancies from the total number in the industry.

Developer salaries increased by 30-80% during the pandemic, and growth continues. More and more companies agree to the conditions of the candidate himself – they want to quickly agree with a suitable applicant and not lose him.

When the market is in high demand, it is easier for a developer without experience to find a job. But we must understand that the profession requires constant development and training. Managers expect that a junior specialist will quickly grow to the next grade, otherwise no one will want to spend time on him. In the article we will tell you how to find a first job for a novice programmer. Tips shared by experienced developers:

Konstantin Voenkov

Skypro Online University Development Manager

Nikolai Suboch

Lead Developer at Tinkoff Bank, Lead Expert of the Skypro Online University Course

Mikhail Cheremukhin-Rerberg

Middle Developer at Alfamentor Bank -Skypro University

Situations when a job was chosen once and for life are a thing of the past. Managers react less strongly if they meet a candidate from another field. And more often they don’t even meet them – the remote format of work and hiring has become a common practice, especially in IT areas. There are many ways to start a career in development. Let’s focus on the three main ones.

1. Study at a specialized university

Classical education is distinguished by the fact that theories give a lot, but how to apply knowledge in practice is not always clear. Four years of study fly by, and the graduate does not even know what he will do at work. Nikolai Suboch told how a student can gain experience while studying :

“A typical junior is a university graduate or senior student. He may be interested in internships from large companies. Universities usually cooperate with employers and give this opportunity to their students. For example, get an interesting internship during the summer holidays and practice. Perhaps there will be an offer to stay in the state.

Another option is for a graduate to prepare a thesis with his supervisor on Computer Science. Then the teacher himself can push the student to speak at specialized conferences on his topic. The IT world is narrow. The graduate learns about the internship from such events or from the supervisor.”

2. Take courses

Online education offers programs that include employment assistance. You study up to 10 hours a week, combining work and personal life. At the end of the course, representatives from the online university help you prepare for interviews and write a resume.

Mikhail Cheremukhin-Rerberg remembers how he got his first job as a programmer:

“I consider myself lucky. I studied at the courses for about a year and ended up in the alumni database. The guys from a Moscow startup by some miracle found me in this huge database. The interview was easy, they asked even more about soft skills than hard skills. We looked at my test projects, understood what to expect: how I write the code, is there a structure, do I follow the techniques.

The main criterion that helped me get a job and will help others is that the employer must understand whether you are going to develop yourself. If you are able to learn on your own, a large layer of problems goes away – you do not run with every question to the elder, do not distract him. You are looking for a solution and figure it out yourself.”

3. Learn programming on your own

Perhaps the most difficult and long way. Learning a programming language is not difficult. But for the employer, it is more important that you understand the development processes, know the principles and approaches of programming, understand the basics of Computer Science. All this is difficult to master without a mentor. And when the main work and family are in priority, it takes more time to study: there is no one to push you, you start and quit several times.

Nikolai Suboch:

“The employer will have additional questions for a junior specialist if he decides to change his profession and master the development on his own as an adult. All companies want to hire a newcomer who will grow to the middle level in a year or two. And if a person stays in a junior position for a long time, he is less useful than time spent.

How a newbie interview goes

The employer understands that discussing past experience with a novice developer is pointless. There are either no practical cases, or they do not relate to programming. Let’s analyze what is checked at interviews with a novice developer.

➤ Motivation and learning ability

Every leader understands that a junior specialist will have to invest a lot of time and effort. Therefore, he chooses an interested and independent employee for himself in order to quickly grow him to a middle developer.

Konstantin Voenkov:

“I look at the candidate’s knowledge and its dynamics. If a specialist has gained his knowledge in a short period of time, this is a good sign for me. This means that he is easy to learn and will quickly grow to the next level.0155