Is Software Engineering a Career You Want to Pursue?

There’s no wrong way to become a software engineer. 

As one of the fastest-growing and highly-paid careers out there, software engineering, the sector continuously sees people vying for the job. 

From afar, the work programmers do can seem a little daunting. After all, there are hundreds of processes that go into ensuring our devices transcend their material exteriors to become the invaluable tools we use today. Thanks to the expansion of computer science education and training options, it has never been easier to enter the field of software engineering - even if you have little to no prior skills or experience. The key is to have a healthy combination of ambition, hard work, foresight, and adaptability. 

Software engineering at its core is problem-solving. As technology is ever-evolving, the role calls for individuals to keep up to date with new systems and processes. Even seasoned engineers find themselves constantly learning something new. As such, software engineers come from various backgrounds.

Software engineering typically breaks down into four main categories: 

Front-end web developers create applications and websites that are functional, efficient and optimised for user experience 

Back-end web developers ensure the server-side design, structure and maintenance are seamless

Full-stack web developers have both front-end and back-end skills and responsibilities 

Quality engineers’ work pertains to quality assurance checks throughout the development cycle, performing tasks such as automation testing and fixing bugs

How do you start narrowing down to a decision? If you have a knack for design and care about UX. front-end development may be for you. If you love puzzles and figuring out logic games, going down the back-end development lane could be a natural step. Want to be an all-rounder? Then full-stack is your best bet. 

To truly know which role is your calling, connect with engineers to understand the daily tasks and types of codes they work on to see if it plays to your interests. 

Ways to start your journey

 From taking the traditional route of formal education to undergoing online lessons, stepping into the programming world can occur at any point in one’s career. Though the path you take depends on where you’re at in life, how much time, money and effort you can invest on learning new skills, and the accessibility around you, there is a path for everyone. 

Here are some ways to get there: 

Traditional education: The more traditional route is through a multi-year degree at a college or university which education focuses more on theoretical knowledge than hard skills. It’s also the most lengthy and expansion option. 

Shot-courses: Over the course of a few months, learn from courses (such as General Assembly’s Software Engineering Immersive) or trainings that teaches specific languages, frameworks and skills to help you become a software engineer without (and faster than) a degree. 

Self-learning: Self-taught engineers choose to learn new skills solo, leveraging any free resource available and learning on the fly (for example, utilising developer tools in the browser to see how web pages work). 

Just like there are many ways to enter the field, there are also many avenues and turns a career in software engineering can take you. The key is to understand what type of coding role suits you. 

Confidence Comes from a Supportive Network

Regardless of the path you take, building your network is a fool-proof way to continuously develop your skill, gain feedback, and uncover new opportunities along the way. Allies and mentors can assist you to help you achieve the personal development you aspire to achieve. 

Becoming a software engineer typically encompasses six key steps: 

• Planning your career path
• Obtaining an education
• Gaining experience
• Getting certified
• Building your portfolio
• Applying for jobs

While the upskilling process requires strong commitment and patience, the career rewards it provides are well worth the effort.Your path will also undoubtedly be made more fruitful with a dedicated guiding presence along the way. 

General Assembly’s Software Engineering Immersive course does not only train you with in-demand skills taught by our expert instructors. We also help you craft standout portfolios to make you top of competitive candidate pools and ease the job application process. 

In just 12 weeks, become a job-ready software engineer equipped with industry-leading knowledge on your way to making ground-breaking digital moves.