How to Become a Software Engineer? Quick Guide

March 6, 2023
how to become a software engineer

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Students who have completed their studies in engineering, especially in computer science or information technology, want to become software engineers. But one question that often comes to their mind is how to become a software engineer.  

There are over 26 million software engineers globally. This makes it the most preferred sector as well as a competitive one. 

In this article, we will provide a complete guide on how to become a software engineer, its demand and scope, salary, and its top recruiters.  

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. 

Benefits of Software Engineer Degree Program

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

  • 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. 
  • Flexibility: As many companies move to work from a home culture, software engineers have more flexibility in their work orders.  
  • High Pay: Software engineers are paid a decent amount as compared to other professions.  
  • Easy Job Search: As software engineers’ demand increases, you can find several job opportunities in every industry.

How to Become a Software Engineer?

If you are wondering how to become a software engineer, the first thing you need to do is complete a minimum four-year bachelor’s degree program with 12th background in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Computer Science. After a B.Tech degree, you can either start working in companies or go for further education like MTech or MBA

Software Engineer Scope & Demand

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 

Q.1 What qualifications do I need to be a software engineer? 

Ans. If you are wondering how to become a software engineer and what qualifications you need; then software engineer qualifications should be in education and both soft and technical skills. To get into this field, you must have a bachelor’s degree with 12th in physics, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer science as optional subjects. 

In addition to education, you must also possess skills such as programming, coding, team building and strong oral and written skills. 

Q.2 How many years does it take to become a software engineer? 

Ans. 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. 

Q.3 How to become a software engineer after the 12th? 

Ans. 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: 

  • JEE 
  • MHTCET 
  • BITSAT 
  • VITEEE 
  • SRMJEEE 
  • 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. 

Q.4 Is it hard to become a software engineer? 

Ans. Becoming a software engineer is all about your passion and dedication which makes the profession easy and difficult. Software engineering becomes easy if you have the skills and passion to learn coding and programming languages.  

However, with the increasing demand, today many students pursue software engineering which makes it quite competitive. Here you have to compete with lakhs of students to get admission to a good college. 

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