How to Become a Software Engineer in India: Starter Guide (2024)

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 a software engineer does to a step-by-step guide on how to become a software engineer. So, keep reading the article till the end to learn 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?

Software engineering is concerned with applying principles to software systems. 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. Software engineering includes working with programming languages, software development methodologies and learning quality assurance techniques.

Why Become a Software Engineer?

Pursuing a degree in software engineering after completing your 12th can be a great choice for many reasons. Software engineering as a profession in India is one of the most rewarding career options as you can create solutions for real-world problems. You work on interesting and challenging projects and come up with smart solutions for the consumers. There is always a need to learn something new, which can be exciting. Not only are there a lot of job opportunities for those who want to become a computer software engineer, but with a graduate degree program, you can also pursue higher studies. 

Benefits of Software Engineer Degree Program

There are many benefits to choosing software engineering as a career path in India. 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.

Also read: How to Become a Software Architect

How to Become a Software Engineer?

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

Step1: Choose Computer Science as Optional

If you want to become a software engineer after 10th or 12th then you can choose computer science as your optional subject in your 10th or 12th which would help you understand the subject and its applications.

Step 2: Gain a Bachelor’s Qualification 

After completing your 12th with computer science as your optional subject, you can opt for a B.Tech in Computer Science degree, a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science or even a Bachelor in Computer Applications degree.

Step 3:  Learn Programming Languages and Technologies

To become a computer software engineer one needs to start learning programming languages like C++, JAVA, Python and Javascript. A software engineer needs to know several frameworks and software technologies such as cloud computing, information technology etc. Through practising data structures and algorithms, coding challenges, and project building, one gradually improves one’s abilities.

Step 4: Apply for Internships 

Thinking about how to become a software engineer in India, gain practical exposure and learn how to work in a professional environment, through internships. You can do internships during your college years by applying through various portals such as Internshaala, Linkedin and many more. Sometimes an internship can turn into a full-time opportunity therefore acquiring an internship is important for applying for jobs.

Step 5: Get a fresher level job

As a fresher, there will be many jobs available in the market for a fresher. Start by creating a perfect resume tailored according to your skills and include your certifications, hackathons and projects. With the help of the resume, you can apply for a software engineer role easily. Use the job portal, company career pages and networking connections to get a fresher-level software engineer job.

Step 6: 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 that teach you the latest skills and knowledge related to your field. 

Step 6: Networking

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. Interacting with professionals in the industry opens up doors to valuable opportunities and internships. Platforms such as LinkedIn and other networking forums help to increase your reach and also help you stay updated with the trends.

Software Engineer Salary and Eligibility

Salary

On an average basis, software engineers in India earn around INR 8.5 LPA. The minimum salary for software engineers is INR 3.4 LPA and an experienced engineer can earn up to INR 20 LPA or more. 

Qualifications & Eligibility

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

• 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 
• Communication skills, interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, and team-building skills. 
• Ability to work on time.

Eligibility Criteria 

The minimum eligibility criteria required to become a software engineer in India is a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. 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 and Git	Creative Problem-Solving Skills
Data Structures and Algorithms	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 11.3 LPA
HCL Technologies	INR 4.8 LPA
Infosys	INR 8.4 LPA
Microsoft	INR 13 LPA
Google	INR 22 LPA
TCS	INR 7.5 LPA
Samsung	INR 16.1 LPA
Intel	INR 14 LPA
Adobe	INR 10 LPA
Cisco	INR 18 LPA
Deloitte	INR 8 LPA
IBM	INR 10 LPA
Cognizant	INR 8.4 LPA

Source: Ambitionbox 

Become a Q&A Expert at Chegg

You can earn extra income by becoming a Q&A expert at Chegg. A wide variety of subjects such as economics, business environment, mathematics, statistics etc., are available.  

If you are proficient in any of these subjects then solve students’ queries and get paid for each accepted answer. You can work from anywhere on your own schedule and receive monthly payments via bank transfer.  

Sign up now and start earning with Chegg. 

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