Software Engineers are the “engineers of tomorrow” because they are responsible for building software applications for everything from robots to airplanes. But what exactly does that mean? What skills do you need to become a great software engineer? And how can you make sure you get those skills?
- The first skill is coding. You need to know how to code. That means being able to write computer programs using any language. These days, it’s not enough to understand how to use a programming language; you should be able to learn a new one in less than a month. If you want to land a job as a programmer, you’ll need to know at least two languages.
- Next, you’ll need to understand how computers work. How do they take information and turn it into something useful? How do they store data? How do they communicate with each other? Computer science teaches you these concepts, and you’ll need them to solve problems and build things. You don’t necessarily need a computer science degree, but you need to understand how networks and internetwork function. There’s no point in learning about TCP/IP if you don’t know how networks work.
- Finally, you’ll need people skills. Good interpersonal skills are a must. Most programmers work in teams, collaborating with others to design products. You’ll need to be comfortable working closely with others and dealing with their feedback. You’ll spend time talking to clients, explaining what you’ve built, answering questions, and listening to their ideas and suggestions.
As you start studying computer science, think about the person (software engineer) you want to be. Think about the kinds of people you want to work with and work towards becoming that kind of person. Do you want to work alone? Are you willing to collaborate? In any case, get in touch with Ninja Hunters for career advice.