If you’re looking for a career in software development then you have come to the right place!
We’re fortunate enough to live in a digital age that has revolutionised the world and has pretty much changed our approach to just about everything. How we shop, how we watch films & listen to music, how we find out information, how we keep in touch with each other, the list goes on. The big question though is how do you go about creating a career for yourself in this bustling market? Where do you start and what’s the best way to get noticed? Once you have a grounding how do you land that dream job. Well the following advice should help you on your journey. There is not a set path that dictates how to get into development, developers tend to have all kinds of backgrounds and you’re best off taking the approach that suits you.
Self-Taught
Some people have a natural flair and a passion for development and have spent many years tinkering around in their spare time experimenting with various coding languages. This has given them a great grounding to starting a career in development and also showcases some very valuable attributes. Coding is not the easiest thing to get your head around when you’re starting off, so if you’re self-taught and can do it you’re obviously a pretty smart cookie. It demonstrates an aptitude to learn independently whilst being able to drive yourself to achieve your own goals. It also demonstrates having a true/genuine passion for development which many employers will look for. Another key advantages are that most self-taught developers tend to have an impressive portfolio which is absolutely vital when the time comes to apply for positions.
Boot Camps
Joining a boot camp is a great way to start off and has many advantages. There are many boot camps out there that will enable you to learn a variety of languages which is great if you know you want to get into development but are not sure where you want to focus your attention. There are also boot camps out there that will focus on specific technology stacks which is great if you know where you want to focus on and would like to be on your way to becoming an expert. One of the key advantages of learning through this way is the guidance and support you will receive. The nature of coding is not just about the code you write, it’s structure and the approach you take are equally as important if you are looking to build quality applications which is something many developers fall down on at the start of their careers. Having someone who can not only guide you but can also provide constructive feedback should stop you developing bad habits and will also enable you get it right from the start. The other key advantage from attending a boot camp is their courses tend to be more orientated to securing you a position at the end. Also many employers will look out for developers who come from a particular boot camp if they have had big successes with other developers they have taken on from them in the past.
Computer Science Degrees
For some employers a mandatory expectation for a developer is to have a Computer Science Degree and is probably the most traditional route to starting a career in development. Obtaining a degree has many advantages particularly as they tend to provide a lot of theory and can give you a good holistic view of what you are dealing with. Studying for a degree will require a great deal of independence and there will be an expectation for you to research topics and teach yourself. The advantage of going down the degree route is that you will also receive the additional support similar to what you can receive from a boot camp which is structured guidance from lecturers. They will teach you the difference between good vs bad code and the techniques / methodologies that will help make you successful in the commercial world of development. Another key advantage is that most degrees will have modules that are outside of development that are extremely useful for you to have an understanding in. For example you will most likely cover modules on networking and databases or you may cover modules on cyber security. All of these are extremely valuable areas to have knowledge in for when you join the commercial world.
