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

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 Wellfound account.

Related jobs to software engineer

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.