How To Become A Software Developer

Abhishek Srivastava

SEO Head at NICHE Digital Media

发布日期: 2020年6月6日

Did you know the employment of software developers is forecast to increase a whopping 26 % through the next decade? To put this in context, the average growth for all occupations in the United States is just 5 percent!

If you’re looking to pursue a career in software development, you’ve made a smart decision.

There’s a strong demand for software developers, largely driven by the increasing need for computer software and applications.

But what does it take to join this career? Continue reading for a quick, helpful guide on how to become a software developer.

Pursue A Bachelor’s Degree

If you already know how to code, you might be wondering why you need to go to college and pursue a bachelor’s degree.

Well, coding is a big part of any software development project, but there’s a lot more it.

This is why you need to pursue a bachelor’s degree in software development, software engineering, or computer science.

Either of these programs will enhance your knowledge of programming, database security, software security testing, problem-solving and algorithm design, and cloud computing.

As part of the program requirements, students are typically required to complete a project.

Take this as an opportunity to develop software that will showcase your creative problem-solving abilities. Most potential employers will ask about your project before making a hiring decision.

If you’re unable to enroll in a bachelor’s program, it’s also possible to get started with an associate’s degree in either of these fields.

As you gain professional training, don’t forget to nurture the occupational skills you need to be a well-rounded software developer.

You need strong analytical, problem-solving, interpersonal, and communication skills.

Pick A Specialization

After earning a degree, you don’t need any further professional certifications or licenses to get hired. However, if you want to improve your job prospects, it’s important to specialize.

For instance, you could choose to specialize in front-end development, where your primary role is to develop user interfaces.

Or you could specialize in backend development, where you focus on the server side of things.

Or you could be a python developer, where you focus on developing software using the python programming language.

There are several software development specializations, so be sure to do some research and find one that suits you best. You can pick two specialities to improve your versatility as a software developer.

Find Employment

As a newly qualified software developer, you’ll certainly start out by working for an organization.

Established IT firms are the primary employers, but specialized software development agencies also take in a sizeable chunk of developers.

Some larger organizations, such as colleges and universities, corporations, and government agencies, as well as some small businesses, also hire in-house developers.

An increasing number of software developers are starting to embrace the gig economy. You can become a freelancer, which involves finding your own clients.