How to Become a Software Engineer? Quick Guide

November 23, 2023
how to become a software engineer

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Thinking about how to become a software engineer and live a life among people who are always in the pursuit of creating something new? Then you are at the right place, here in this article, you will get to know everything from what is software engineer to a step-by-step guide on how to become a software engineer. So, keep reading the article till the end to know about software engineering and how you can join forces with other 5.2 million software engineers in India; and create a crowned career in this field. 

What is Software Engineering?

Nowadays, everything is connected digitally. We live in a digital age. Everything we do in our daily life is connected to technology. Also, our entire work is based on technology.  

Just like we use our computers to work, everything is being done online, all because of software. And these kinds of software are developed by software engineers, but their job is not limited to this. 

Software engineering is concerned with applying principles to software systems. And software engineer jobs include planning, designing, developing, testing and maintaining these software systems. 

A software engineer creates different applications or websites based on the customers’ needs. They develop the code, the main framework behind any digital space.   

Why Become a Software Engineer?

A bachelor’s degree in software engineering makes the job search easy for engineering enthusiasts. Not only are there a lot of job opportunities for those with the right engineering skills, but with a graduate degree program, you can also pursue higher studies. 

Interesting Facts About Software Developers

Benefits of Software Engineer Degree Program

There are many benefits to choosing software engineering as a career path. These include: 

  1. Demand: The field is in high demand. As it is a growing sector, many companies, multinational companies, public sector, employ software engineers. With plenty of job opportunities, you can work anywhere. 
  2. Flexibility: As many companies move to work from a home culture, software engineers have more flexibility in their work orders.  
  3. High Pay: Software engineers are paid a decent amount as compared to other professions.  
  4. Easy Job Search: As software engineers’ demand increases, you can find several job opportunities in every industry.

How to Become a Software Engineer?

Here are the steps that you can follow to become a software engineer.

Step-1 Gain Quality Qualification 

The very first step to become a software engineer is gaining the right qualifications. This educational journey starts from the school itself where you need to choose physics, chemistry and mathematics as core subjects. After school, you gain college qualification where you learn all the aspects of engineering. 

Step-2  Learn Language and Skills 

Colleges can teach you to an extent, the rest is upto you to figure out how to become a software engineer. To do so you need to start learning coding languages like C++, JAVA, and PYTHON. And practice whatever you learn and hone your programming skills. 

Step- 3 Enroll in Internships 

Thinking about how to become a software engineer, gain practical exposure and learn how to work in a professional environment, then consider doing internships. You can do internships during your college years; this will give you the best opportunity to hone software engineer skills and get insight into what is software engineer.  

Step-4 Continue the Learning 

With changing technologies and the introduction of AI, software engineers are forced to keep themselves updated with the latest developments. For this, they need to keep learning to stay relevant and succeed in their career. So, do the courses, complete certifications and take workshops which teach you the latest skills and knowledge related to your field. 

Step-5 Meet the People 

Your network affects your career a lot, if you want to go forward in your career then network with people from your field who are ahead in their careers. If possible, find a mentor for yourself who can guide you on how to become a software engineer in the right way. 

Recommended read: 

Software Engineer Scope & Demand in 2023-24

Software Engineer requirements can be seen in top MNCs. The demand for software engineers can be seen from last year with the success rate of placement of software engineers at 93.5%.  

The demand for software engineers is rising again. It is reported that 1.2 crore vacancies will open for engineers in the coming 5 years. This opens up a wider scope in this field and for the students who want to make a career in engineering. 

Salary

On an average basis, software engineers in India earn around INR 5.3 LPA. The minimum salary for software engineers is INR 3.4 LPA. And an experienced engineer can earn up to INR 4 LPA. 

Qualifications & Eligibility

As we move forward in the guide on how to become a software engineer, let’s see the eligibility and software engineer requirements. 

  • Bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering 
  • 0-1 year of software development experience 
  • Knowledge of programming languages and coding 
  • Knowledge of relevant tool suite, coding skills 
  • software development knowledge 
  • Written, oral skills, interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, and team-building skills. 
  • Ability to work on time and on a tight budget.
  • Understanding of various computer science concepts

Eligibility Criteria 

The minimum eligibility criteria required to become a software engineer is a bachelor’s degree. You must have passed 12th with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Computer Science as an optional subject.  

You must have at least 60% in the 12th board to take admission to the bachelor’s degree program. After that take the all-India entrance test of JEE, MHT CET, etc., to get admission to top colleges. 

Software Engineer Skillset

Here is a list of soft and technical skills required in the software profile. Mentioning these engineering skills can boost your resume.  

Technical Skills Soft Skills 
C programming Language  Verbal Skills 
C++ Written Skills 
Web Languages: HTML, CSS, JAVAScript Interpersonal skills 
Python Analytical Mind 
Databases: Oracle, MySQL Creative Problem-Solving Skills 
Coding Skills Team Building Skills 
Machine Learning Networking Skills 

Software Engineer Top Recruiters

Here is a list of top employers who hire software engineers. 

Recruiters Average Salary 
Oracle Financial Services INR 6.7 LPA 
HCL Technologies INR 4.17 LPA 
Infosys INR 6.42 LPA 
Microsoft INR 27.26 LPA 
Google INR 40.51 LPA 
TCS INR 5.54 LPA 
Samsung INR 14.55 LPA 
Intel INR 16.88 LPA 
Adobe INR 22.13 LPA 
Cisco INR 17 LPA 
Deloitte INR 8.11 LPA 
IBM INR 6.32 LPA 
Cognizant INR 7 LPA 

Source: Ambitionbox 

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Software Engineer Jobs in India – Summary

If you are an aspiring software engineer, hope this quick guide helped you in choosing whether this career option is right for you,  

Becoming a software engineer is not difficult if you have programming skills, and a computer science or IT background, or are interested in these subjects. Most students are shifting to become software engineers as technology demands increase.  

Pro Tip: Make sure your resume is well-optimized and targeted towards the job you’re applying for. A well-written career objective can go a long way! 

Once you settle in this profession you can earn a good position and salary. You can also work in top multinational companies. There are many high-paying domains in engineering today like Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Metaverse, etc. Hence, it is a great career option to start your career.  

Frequently Asked Questions 

How many years does it take to become a software engineer? 

You can become a software engineer after completing your minimum education. It takes 4 years to complete a bachelor’s degree after which you can start working as a software engineer. However, if you have a master’s degree like MTech, MCA or MBA, then your salary package will increase. It will take at least four years to become a software engineer.

How to become a software engineer after the 12th?

To become a software engineer after the 12th you have to appear in the entrance exam to get admission to top colleges of the countries. Some of these exams are: 

1. JEE 
2. MHTCET 
3. BITSAT 
4. VITEEE 
5. SRMJEEE 
7. MET 

After clearing any of these exams with a minimum score you can get admission to top engineering colleges. And after completing your four-year degree program, you can join the top companies in India or abroad. 

How to Become a Software Engineer Without a CS Degree?

The very first thing that everyone says is that you need to earn the CS degree to do so. However, if you can become software engineer with CS degree too by following these steps: 

1. Learn the basics of computer science 
2. Practice coding 
3. Build a portfolio of your work 
4. Network with other software engineers 
5. Start applying for jobs 

10 Reasons Why You Should Become a Software Engineer in 2023 

If you are in doubt about whether or not, should you become a software engineer or not, then let it be clear that the skills of software engineer are always required no matter how much technology changes. Here are the reasons why you should become a software engineer in 2023: 

1. Thriving Job Market 
2. Competitive salaries 
3. Opportunities for growth 
4. Flexible work arrangements 
5. Job satisfaction 
6. Versatile Industry Applications 
7. Collaborative Work Environment 
8. Creativity and Innovation 
9. Entrepreneurial Opportunities 
10. Job security 

How to Become a Network Engineer? 

Becoming a network engineer is slightly different from becoming a software engineer. Thus, there are different steps for this, which are: 

1. Fulfil Educational Eligibility 
2. Gain Practical Experience
3. Acquire Networking Certifications 
4. Specialize in a Network Area 
5. Continue to Learn and Stay Updated 

How to Become a Cyber Security Engineer?

To become a cyber security engineer, you need to follow different steps than the one you follow to become a software engineer. The road to becoming a cyber security engineer follows the following steps:
 
1. Get a degree in cybersecurity   
2. Gain experience in cybersecurity 
3. Get certifications 
4. Network with other cybersecurity professionals 
5. Stay up-to-date on the latest trends in cybersecurity 

Skills Required to Become a Cloud Engineer 

Cloud engineers are the type of engineers who work on designing, building and maintaining cloud computing systems. They are responsible for ensuring that cloud systems are secure, reliable, and scalable. Skills required to become a cloud engineer are: 

1. Cloud Computing Fundamentals 
2. Knowledge of Cloud Platforms 
3. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) 
4. Scripting and Automation 
5. Monitoring and Troubleshooting 

 
How to Become a Senior Software Developer? 

If you want to grow in your software engineer career and become a Senior Software Developer, then there are more steps that you need to take other than honing your software engineer skills. These steps are:  

1. Obtain a Solid Foundation in Software Development 
2. Gain Practical Experience 
3. Expand Your Technical Skill Set 
4. Demonstrate Leadership and Initiative 
5. Continuously Learn and Improve 
 

 

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