Roadmap to Become a Software Engineer

If you're here, we assume you've heard about software engineering from somewhere.

Maybe it was a friend? A colleague? A relative, perhaps?

Maybe they mentioned the huge salary of a software engineer they know. Or they introduced you to someone who worked on an amazing-looking website that you often visit.

Or maybe THEY are a software engineer and do both those things. And now you're itching to know how one becomes a software engineer.

Whatever the case, we're glad you're here. And we're here to tell you exactly how to become one.

We're not going to lie — it's not easy. However, it's not as difficult as you might think, either.

But before we get into the meat of the matter, there's one important thing to consider.

What is your 'Why'?

Programming is a career that requires a lot of focus and dedication. It requires a motivation factor strong enough to keep you going when you encounter a seemingly unsolvable problem (which we guarantee you will come across countless times in your career).

That is your 'Why.'

Maybe you want to earn a lot of money. Or maybe you want to bring into reality that brilliant video game concept you always had. You could also just simply love coding and solving complex problems.

These all are great reasons to pursue software engineering.

The only thing to keep in mind is this: your reason has to be strong. It should be strong and grand enough to get you started on the path AND keep you going when the going gets rough.

Learn How to Learn

Now that you have figured out why you want to become a software engineer, you'll want to figure out the how.

Everyone learns in different ways.

Some focus better in the morning; others in the evening.

Some learn better when alone; others when they're around people.

Some prefer a university education, others prefer taking part in bootcamps and engaging in self-directed learning.

Some learn better with video tutorials; other like to read stuff. Or maybe interactive tutorials work better for them.

Some like to master one concept before moving on to the next one; others like to get an overall picture of what it is they're learning before diving into the nitty gritty.

Figure out what works for you.

If you already know it, great. If you don't, try different things until you realize your ideal way.

After this, you have to learn how to retain your knowledge.

For this, we urge you to research about techniques like active recalling and space repetition.

Roadmap to Becoming a Software Engineer

After figuring out the 'why' and the 'how', it's now time for the 'what'. Here's where the fun begins, and so does the hard work.

As with everything, we begin with the basics and work our way up.

Brush up on your Fundamentals

Here's what we mean when we say 'fundamentals':

• A bit of basic algebra
• Basics of how a computer works, and
• A problem-solving mindset — a practice of breaking down a problem into smaller, manageable parts and solving them step-by-step.

And no, we don't mean you need to be great at mathematics or be a genius at solving problems. We just want you to know what you'll be doing for the rest of this journey - using computers and solving problems.

Decide your Specialization

Software engineering is a diverse field, and specialization is arguably THE most important step in your software engineering journey. It decides everything that follows.

Your specialization is, in part, decided by your reason to get into it in the first place.

For e.g. If you want to create that game you've always had in your mind, you would choose Game Development.

Or, if you want to build cool websites, you can go into Front-end Development.

If you're undecided, here's a list of the most common specializations for you and what they entail.

Research further on these specializations, learn more about the industry and choose one. If you're unsure which one to go with, pick the one that interests you the most.

You won't know what you like until you try things out. And you can always change your mind later, so there's no harm in exploring at this stage.

Now, all that's left to do is start learning the skills your specialization needs, starting with the programming language.

Learn a Programming Language

A software engineer needs in-depth knowledge of at least one programming language. So, the first thing you should focus on is becoming a proficient coder.

If you haven't decided on a language yet, we suggest you start with Python. In our 11 years of experience in teaching programming, we've found Python to be the best entry point for novice programmers.

Python is like English and has easy syntax which lets you focus more on building your programming logic and problem-solving skills. This makes it easy for you to learn other languages.

Interactive lessons, where you immediately practice what you learn, is the best way to learn a new programming language quickly.

If you're learning Python, we highly suggest you give Programiz PRO's Master Python learning path a try.

Within the learning path, we've included only the most important things a beginner should focus on. We've also broken it down into courses by difficulty level, so it's an easier, more engaging learning experience.

If interactive learning is not your cup of tea and you'd rather read tutorials, you can find the easiest Python tutorial on the internet. Or you could watch our tutorials on YouTube.

Pro-tip – When learning a new programming language, remember this: codes are just line-by-line instructions. You will eventually find the issue if you check line by line.

Test Yourself with Challenges and Quizzes

As soon as you get the hang of a new programming concept, you should start challenging yourself with quizzes and coding exercises.

This will not only help you retain your learnings better but also enable you understand where they might be useful in the real world. Doing this also lets you figure out your confusions and help build a problem-solving mindset.

That's why Programiz PRO's coding courses include challenges at the end of every important lesson.

We also have separate Challenge courses that thoroughly test your know-how.

For instance, we have end-of-lesson challenges in all of our Python courses, and we've built separate challenge courses - Python Basics Challenges and Python Beyond Basics Challenges - that you have to take on your way to unlocking your certification.

Edabit's Python Challenges and Solve Python by Hacker Rank also are great resources if you want to test your Python prowess.

Learn about Data Structures and Algorithms

A software engineer has to deal with a lot of data and complex problems daily. Therefore, they have to have a good understanding of different types of data, ways to organize them, and algorithms.

Knowledge of data and algorithms better will make you an efficient engineer, enabling you to analyze and optimize your code.

Also, questions about data structures and algorithms are among the more frequently asked questions during interviews for software engineering jobs.

Therefore, learning about them early in your software engineering journey will not only help you stay ahead of the curve, it will also improve your chances of landing a great job.

If you're learning Python as your first language, our DSA: A Complete Roadmap Using Python will be an excellent course to take. It will familiarize you with everything you need to know about data structures and algorithms at this stage.

Learn about Database Architecture and SQL

Another thing a software engineer has to be good at is designing, storing, maintaining, and managing the architecture of a database. Basic database operations like CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) and SQL (Structured Query Language) are some fundamentals a software engineer has to know.

If you're wondering what SQL is, it's a query language used for retrieving and manipulating data in relational databases.

Read more: SQL vs. NoSQL: Which Database Should You Use?

If you're at this stage, our Learn SQL Basics course will help you get familiar with all the basics you need for your level.

Build Something On Your Foundation

If you've learned the things we've mentioned until now and still going strong, congratulations! You've learned all the basics.

Now, it's time to go beyond the basics.

Here are some things we suggest you get started with as soon as you feel ready to take that next step.

Build a Personal Project

The best way to put your knowledge into practice is to build something on your own. These could be anything — a small video game, a personal website, an alarm clock application, etc.

Projects increase your confidence in your problem-solving, coding, and analytical skills. It'll help you figure out ways to use the new programming concepts you learned.

This helps you remember them for longer, understand how different ideas fit together, and prepare you for the real world of programming.

And it's a great thing to show off on your resume. It shows you're both skilled and motivated.

If you're looking for ideas for your first project, we suggest you start with something simple. Here's a list to get you started:

• Calculator
• To-Do List App
• Guess the Number Game
• Simple Web Page
• Temperature Converter
• Word Counter
• Basic Chatbot
• Random Quote Generator
• Basic Image Gallery

While building projects, it's better if you do not bother setting up an environment locally at this stage.

Instead, use online project-building tools, like our Playground, which allows you to build, save, and share projects – all online without downloading complicated software on your PC.

Learn Advanced Programming Skills and Tools

When you start building projects, you will have to interact with various programming tools. A few of these are

• Git (Version control),
• GitHub.
• Command line, and
• IDE (Integrated Development Environment)

Again, you do not need to learn everything. But knowing the basics of these will make your life a lot easier.

Expand Your Expertise

Once you have a fairly good understanding of the skills and tools mentioned above, now it's time to gain real-world experience. Here's how to do it:

Look for Internship Opportunities

Software engineering internships allow you to learn how coding works in the real world in a professional setting. They are relatively low-pressure environments where you can learn not only technical skills but also non-technical, like functioning within a team, good communication, and collaboration.

While seeking internship opportunities, it's better if you find ones that align with your area of interest. This will make the opportunity that much more fun and help your chances at landing relevant jobs.

Internships are also a great way to build relevant connections with like-minded people and people with more experience than you. These make your transition into your professional engineering career smoother.

Seek Jobs that Teach You More about Your Specialization

After the internship, you should immediately look for jobs in software engineering. Like with internships, looking for your industry-related jobs is vital if you want to make good progress in your career.

However, it's perfectly fine to start in any industry. Your primary focus at this stage should be to gain experience: there's always something to learn, no matter where you are.

Platforms like LinkedIn and Glassdoor will be of great help here.

When you do land a job, you'll need to prepare for interviews. If you're learning Python, you can use our Python Interview Questions course to prepare for your first interview.

It contains the most frequently asked Python-related questions, plus a few nuggets of wisdom to make you well-prepared for any curve balls you might get thrown.

Contribute to Open-source Projects

Another way of greatly improving your real-world knowledge about programming is to contribute to open-source projects.

Open-source projects are projects that everyone is free to use, study, modify, and distribute. You can find a lot of open-source projects related to your area of interest.

You will find both inactive and active projects on the internet. And while it's great if you want to build upon an inactive project, it's better if you choose an active project. This way, you'll stay updated with the latest practices and styles, making the experience a more engaging one.

When working with open-source projects, you'll get time to practice a growth mindset. Just remember this: every time you touch a code, it should come out better than before.

If you're looking for your first one, GitHub is a great place to start.

Find Good Communities to be a part of

When starting out, your problem-solving skills are not great. You will inevitably use Google or ChatGPT to help you figure things out.

Sometimes, however, even Google does not have the answer. In this case, you turn to the next best resource — people.

Programming communities are a great place to hang out if you're just starting out. They will provide you with support through shared experiences, offer help with problems you might face when building your project, or even keep you updated with the latest trends in your area of interest.

You can find both physical and virtual communities. If you're looking for something online, r/programming on Reddit will be an excellent first choice.

Final Thoughts

If you've stuck around till here, you now know every step you need to take to start your career in software engineering. You know where to start, what to prioritize, and how to go about everything.

Software engineering is a rewarding career path, one with diverse challenges but similar growth opportunities. Also, as technology is an ever-evolving landscape, the job of a software engineer is rarely dull.

So, if you feel this is your calling and are looking for a place to start, our Master Python learning path is the ideal course for you. It has quizzes, challenges, and a completion certificate - everything you need to level up your coding game.

So what are you waiting for? Start learning now.