How to Become a Software Engineer
You don't need a college degree to become a software engineer; it helps, but it's not a strict requirement. See what options are available and make sense for you.💡
“What’s ultimately important is not the amount of time and money you invest but the fruit you grow from them.”
The Questions
Hey Pirates, PK here. Some of the questions I often get is, "Do you need a college degree to become a software engineer?" Is coding bootcamp worth it? Or can you do it by self-learning? The quick answer is you don't need a college degree or bootcamp certificate to become a software engineer; however, they certainly help. In this video, I'll outline the three ways to become a software engineer. They are one, taking online courses, two, completing a coding bootcamp, and three, going to college. I'll also discuss each path's investment time, money, and job prospects. For example, how long does it take? How much does it cost? And how likely is it to land a job? Enough talking. Let's dive into it.
One. Self-Learning
The first and cheapest way to become a software engineer is to learn by yourself. Technically, you can do it for free. For example, watch YouTube tutorials. There are many free excellent online resources, such as YouTube, W3School, FreeCodeCamp.org, and Traversy Media; they're enough to get you started. In my video, Learn to Code for Free, I mentioned that I made a personal bookkeeping app. I implemented it by following a Vue crash course on Traversy Media. I recommend you start with its crash courses on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These resources are not only free but also excellent for getting a taste of programming. Follow along to see if coding is a thing for you.
So how much time should you invest in self-learning? It depends on your commitment. If you commit at least two to three hours a day and create one or two decent full-stack websites, I'm positive you can find a job within two years. But if you can't commit that much time, then obviously, it'll take longer. What about the cost? Self-learning is undoubtedly the cheapest way to learn. As I said, just watch YouTube tutorials, and you can virtually learn everything for free. The result? It'll be the least likely of the three to help you land a job. For example, I met a software engineer with a chemistry and Physics background and a senior software development engineer at Amazon who majored in English. They unanimously agreed that their journeys were bloody difficult. It's also worth noting that staying focused and motivated is tough when you try to learn everything on your own.
Two. Coding Bootcamp
The second most common way to become a software engineer is coding bootcamp. A coding bootcamp is an intensive technical training program designed to teach you the minimum programming skills that employers look for - practical skills. Many are available online, too. Most coding bootcamps finish within a year. If you do your research, you can find a good one at a little over $10,000 with a job guarantee. For example, I recommend the coding bootcamp at Springboard. I used to work as a mentor at Springboard for over a year, so I can attest to how great their program is. You can also get $1,000 off the course by using the discount code PIRATE KING during enrollment.
If you are already a professional looking to make a career transition, I strongly recommend a coding bootcamp. It's the quickest and the most cost-effective way to make that transition. But before you commit to anything, remember to look at some free coding tutorials online first. Try it out and see whether coding is a "thing" for you.
So, how long is a coding bootcamp? It varies from a bootcamp to bootcamp, but I recommend investing in one that's at least 10-12 months. What about the cost? Again, it depends on the bootcamp, but try to look for one that costs less than $15,000 with a job guarantee. As long as you follow their curriculum diligently and digest everything they teach you, you'll successfully become a software engineer.
What about the jobs at big tech? Can you get a job at FAANG with a bootcamp? The answer is yes. For example, my colleague at Microsoft was a bootcamp graduate. It won’t be easy, but bootcamp graduates certainly can start their software engineering careers at a tech giant.
Three. College Degree
The third and most obvious way to become a software engineer is to get a college degree. It doesn't have to be a computer science degree, though. For example, I'm not a CS major; I majored in Electrical & Computer Engineering. However, it's still closely related to computer science, so I tried to take as many coding courses as possible, and that was enough to get my foot in the door. Likewise, even if you are not strictly CS but similar such as data science, information systems, or even electrical engineering, try to align your courses to those related to coding. Doing a master's degree in computer science is also an option.
Getting a college degree is not a short endeavor, however. You will most likely spend four years on the degree. It's also the most expensive option out of the three. The bright side is that it has the highest likelihood of landing the job. You invested the most time, money, and effort into it, so the result better be good, right? There's no such thing as a guarantee, but a degree will certainly help.
Summary
So these are the three different ways to become a software engineer. No matter which path you take, remember this. What's ultimately important is not the amount of time and money you invest but the fruit you grow from them. Coding is hard, and you must take it seriously to become a software engineer successfully.
So, what is the best path forward for you? Only you can answer that question. Weigh out the options, and make a decision that's best for you. Thanks for watching. I'll see you at the next one. Bye.
“What’s ultimately important is not the amount of time and money you invest but the fruit you grow from them.”
Related
▶️ Learn to Code for FREE
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📑 Free Software Development Curriculum
🥾 Springboard Coding Bootcamp ($1,000 Discount)
⬆️ Pathrise: 1-to-1 Professional Mentorship
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⭐️ PK’s LeetCode Resources
