Road Map to Become a Software Developer

A report by the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics states that between 2016 and 2026, software developer jobs will grow 24%. There are more jobs than there are people with the right skill set to fill them. Still, landing a software developer job is not easy. Software development is a dynamic field. New programming languages, methodologies, and technologies emerge every so often and revamp the software development processes. Correspondingly, the job needs of the developer job change. If you want to break into this field, here is a road map to get you started. Decide what type of developer you want to be The technologies you use and the skills you need vary with the type of developer you want to be. Front-end developer: Front-end developers are specialists in designing graphical interfaces through which the users interact with the application. Programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are used to create the front-end. Expertise in designing user experience (UX) is another skill employers look for when hiring front end developers. Back-end developer: Back-end developers build the functionality of an application or a website. They are responsible for designing, coding, testing and maintaining an application. To be able to develop the back-end, you should be proficient in languages such as Java, C/C++, Python, PHP, Ruby, Perl, and Scala. Full stack developer: As a full stack developer, you are expected to work on both the front-end and back-end of an application/ website. For this, you should have knowledge in every stage of software development. The skills include UI and UX, APIs, databases, network and hosting environments, quality assurance, and security. Mobile developer: Mobile developers build apps for mobile devices. In this role, you will need a strong knowledge of programming languages like Java, Swift, and Objective-C and platforms like iOS and Android. Start learning Coding Dojo analyzed the job postings on a job search engine to tell which programming languages are popular. The most in-demand coding languages are: • Java: Java is being used extensively for Android development • Python: Python is the language of data science • JavaScript: JavaScript is used for dynamic logic on web pages • C++: C++ is used for application software, game development, and embedded firmware • C#: C# is heavily used in video game development • PHP: PHP comes into picture when interaction with databases required • Perl: Perl is used in system and network administration Get a degree According to Stack Overflow, about 73% of software developers have a degree in computer science or another engineering discipline. You can also learn a programming language or software development by taking up an online course. You can hone your coding skills by joining boot camps. Indeed and Course Report have found that coding boot camp graduates stand a better chance of getting a software developer job. Start job search San Diego, Seattle, Austin, Dallas, Washington DC, San Francisco, and Chicago are some of best cities for web developers. Get a list of questions asked during job interviews and prepare for them, especially if you are seeking an entry-level job. Some common questions are: • Tell me about yourself • What is your favorite language, and why? • What projects are you currently working on? • What are you reading these days? • If you could take a seminar in any subject, what would it be? Practice answering these questions. Also, prepare questions you want to ask the interviewer.