How to Become a Software Developer?

9 min readJun 6, 2022

If you’re interested in learning how to become a software developer, this post is for you.

You’ll learn about all of the steps involved in becoming a developer, from figuring out what kind of developer you want to be (there are dozens of job types), the education requirements, and what your options are to acquire the education.

What is a software developer?

Software developers write code using a programming language such as Java, C#, C++, PHP, or others.

The code written by developers powers websites, mobile apps, games, banks, stock markets, and artificial intelligence. Software literally keeps our lights on, provides entertainment, informs us, and helps us buy products and services.

How much do developers get paid?

As of June 2022, software developers in the United States make an average salary of $106, 275, according to GlassDoor.

This salary is the average for all types of software developer, but you can earn more or less depending on the types of software you write.

Why do people become software developers?

Developers have a lot of perks and are in very high demand!

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for software developers is expected to grow 22% between 2020 and 2030. Around 189,000 openings are expected each year if the job market continues with the current pace.

Developers earn a higher average salary than many roles, they generally work in an office (or remotely) with air conditioning, a flexible schedule, and many developers have a favorable work/life balance.

Development frequently involves problem-solving, which can be frustrating at times, but upon completion provides a high level of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Steps to become a software developer?

There are a few high-level steps to become a developer:

Figure out what kind of software developer you want to be
Identify what companies are looking for in a developer
Choose how you’ll gain the required skills and experience
Complete your education
Create a compelling resume
Ace some interviews
Accept a job offer

Depending on what type of developer you decide to become, it can take anywhere from 1 to 4 years to complete all of the required education.

What kind of software developer career do you want?

There are dozens of types of developer jobs, each with its own unique requirements and types of software that they produce.

Overview of Developer Roles

Web Developer — web developers create web applications and web services that power other devices
Web Designer — web designers are similar to web developers, but they focus more on user interfaces and experience. Web developers generally make software that works, while designers make things that look nice and work well for you as a user
Mobile Developer — mobile developers create mobile apps that allow you to get things done on the go
Backend Developer — backend developers focus primarily on services that power other applications
Front-end Developer — front-end developers build the portion of applications that you see and interact with
Full Stack Developer — full-stack developers are responsible for creating databases, backend web services, as well as the front-end portion of applications that users interact with. You can think of a full stack developer as having the responsibilities of both a back end and front-end developer
Embedded Programmer — embedded programmers write code that works on specific hardware devices, such as the software that runs on your phone and products like security cameras or your Ring doorbell
Game Developer — game developers create software that provides entertainment and education. They build games for mobile phones, game consoles, computers, and arcades
Graphics Programmer — graphics programmers create computer graphics for games, movies, commercials, and interactive experiences, such as virtual reality devices
Data Scientist — data scientists use software to evaluate data and make recommendations. Examples could include an application that will tell you what kind of dog is in a photo, projected fuel consumption for your car over the next year, and recommended medical treatment based on symptoms you’re experiencing
Software Engineer in Test — also called a software development engineer in test (SDET), these types of developers write code that helps test software with the goal of increasing quality and reducing errors in applications

After you decide what type of developer you’d like to become, the next step is to identify what skills and experience companies are seeking.

What are companies looking for? Look at job postings

The easiest way to identify what companies are looking for is to look at job postings.

Using the guide above and your preference, search on your favorite job site with the job title you’d like to be qualified for.

Searching for “Web Developer” jobs within Indeed looks like this:

Next, find 10–20 jobs you’d like to be qualified for

For this example, I’ll choose jobs similar to the following results for my “Web Developer” search:

For each job you’ve selected, make a combined list of the skill and education requirements.

Requirements for job 1:

Requirements for job 2

From my search for “Web Developer”, I’d list the following as required skills and experience:

Software development experience
Enterprise systems
Coding proficiency
Code testing
Maintain new features
Develop new features
Code reviews
Team up with other developers
Estimate time for development
Production support
Experience with documentation
API development
Database Development
Front-end Development
Back-end Development
ASP.NET
C#
SQL Server
HTML
CSS

In addition to the requirements listed for the developer jobs you chose, you should also consider:

Soft skill needs — are you proficient at business writing, communication, time management, resume writing, and interviewing? If not, you need to add these skills to your list of required skills.
Networking — the best job opportunities often come from someone in your network, not from applying to a job posting. You should always be building and maintaining a network of others that is mutually beneficial for learning, finding employment, and helping each other succeed.
Portfolio — if you don’t have development work experience to add to your resume, you should create a portfolio to demonstrate your skills.
Software development fundamentals — development fundamentals are not listed on the job description because there is an expectation that you already know they are requirements. Examples of development fundamentals include knowledge of Algorithms, Data Structures, Software Development Life Cycle, Logic Design, and Object-Oriented Programming. If these skills were not listed on the job postings you identified, add them to your list now.

Choose how you’ll gain the required skills and experience

Before you can choose how you’ll get the required education, you need to ask yourself:

How much time can you dedicate on an ongoing basis?
When would you like to be qualified for the jobs you found? Be realistic — it often takes a year or more to become proficient as an entry level software developer.
How much money can you afford to invest?
Can you acquire scholarships, grants, or student loans to pay for your education?
Would you prefer having someone coach you or do you know enough about the requirements to teach yourself?

After you understand your capacity for financial and time investment, use your list of job requirements to decide what kind of education will fulfill the requirements.

Your 3 main options to get educated are:

University or College program — focus on strong development fundamentals and theory; applicable to nearly every development job
Development Bootcamp — the primary curriculum is usually practical development skills and web programming
Self-Directed Learning — choose your own adventure and learn anything at your own pace

Each approach has benefits and downfalls to consider.

Pros & Cons of learning through University or College program

Pros:

You could develop a very comprehensive understanding of development fundamentals
Colleges and universities are excellent for building a network
Universities have programs to help you find a job, create your resume, and help with interview practice
Most of the skills you need to learn are included
Universities often have internship programs to help you get experience before your apply to your first job
Community college program costs are usually very reasonable
Higher amount of credibility

Cons:

Depending on your ability to get free money toward your education, this path could be the most expensive option
2-year degrees take two years to complete; 4-year degrees take four years to complete
The majority of students are not 100% prepared for their first job solely based on the curriculum provided
University programs usually focus on writing code in a vacuum so you might not know how to build applications from start to finish
You also have to complete general education requirements, such as history, natural science, social sciences, foreign language, etc.

Pros & Cons of learning through a Bootcamp

Pros:

Bootcamps are accelerated programs
Primary focus is on applicable skills, meaning you should know how to build applications upon completion
Community-college sponsored bootcamps can be as low as $3000
Many bootcamps offer job assistance programs and money-back guarantees
Your fellow students are all on the same completion track
Total immersion into software development means you’ll see results faster

Cons:

Many bootcamps require an assessment prior to acceptance
The average cost for a private full-time coding bootcamp is $13,583 in the United States
Employers don’t view bootcamps as favorably as university or college education
Generally don’t cover theory aspects of software development in as much detail
Often solely focused on web development
Long hours to meet the time completion demands

Pros & Cons of becoming a Self-Taught software developer

Pros:

Potentially the most affordable option — many courses are free or cheap
High probability that someone else has asked your question — and the answer is available online
You can learn only what you need or get broad exposure to many topics — your choice!
Learn at your own pace and at any time of the day
You’ll become an expert problem solver
Potentially more exposure to different technologies

Cons:

Lack of overall guidance or direction — most beginners don’t know what to learn
May be hard to find a community to help you when you get stuck
Less opportunity to build up teamwork or people skills
Hardest path to finish due to dedication and self-discipline required
Time to complete may be longer
No job assistance program

After choosing your path, complete your education

Completing your developer education will vary depending on the path you’ve selected:

Steps to become a developer by attending a University or College

Apply to schools
Complete the education requirements
Build a portfolio
Build a resume
Practice interviewing
Apply to jobs
Accept an employment offer

Steps to become a developer through a Bootcamp

Apply to the program
Complete the education requirements
Build a portfolio
Build a resume
Practice interviewing
Apply to jobs
Accept an employment offer

Steps to Become a Self-Taught developer

Develop your learning plan
Complete the learning plan
Build a portfolio
Build a resume
Practice interviewing
Apply to jobs
Accept an employment offer

Time to get started on your developer career

No matter which path you choose, you’ll have the opportunity to work in a well-paid, highly rewarding profession that has more job demand than there are people available to fill.

If you’d like to see additional details for how to make the most of the university, bootcamp, or self-taught approach to becoming a developer, please let me know in the comments below.

I’ve gone through all three approaches in my career and would be happy to cover the steps in much more detail.