How to become a software engineer in 2025

Now is a great time to consider a career as a software engineer. Despite the recent layoffs and hiring freezes at some tech companies, the future remains bright overall for software engineering professionals. Whether you’re just starting out or thinking about making a career change, there are several good reasons to consider software engineering.

• The compensation is great
• The number of jobs is projected to increase over the next several years
• Constantly evolving technology is giving software engineers new challenges to address, problems to solve, and specializations to pursue

As is the case when we pursue any new career path, the road to becoming a software engineer may appear long, challenging, or ambiguous. You’ll need to do some research and soul-searching to understand where to start and which route to take. For this, we’ve prepared a roadmap to point you in the right direction.

As you embark on your journey, this roadmap will:

• Help you answer big questions about becoming a software engineer
• Offer structure
• Point you to resources for more information

Career paths inevitably vary from person to person. Some advice in this article may not apply to you, and some of the questions we’ll present resist hard and fast answers. But in the end, we hope to take some guesswork out of the process.

Let’s get started!

Steps to becoming a software engineer#

Let’s address one caveat: each person’s journey into software engineering is unique. Previous education, training, and experience will vary from person to person, as will requirements from job to job.

The specialization you pursue will also shape your path. Today, there are many popular disciplines in software engineering:

• Front-end engineers focus on the user interface (UI) and client-side functionality of software applications. (Read more about front-end vs back-end development.)
• Back-end engineers specialize in applications’ structure and server-side operations, including data management and internal systems.
• Full-stack engineers work on both the front-end and back-end of applications.
• Data engineers focus on transforming data to be easily digestible and available for analysis by data scientists.
• Machine learning (ML) engineers work on data science teams, designing and implementing programs and systems that can learn and make decisions on their own.
• Security engineers specialize in testing the security of systems, highlighting the flaws, and making improvements.

These roles require specific technical skills, which we’ll talk about after finishing the broader steps of this process. Most software engineering career paths share a few of these, and next we’ll review these steps and estimate how long most of them will take.

Step 1: Make a career plan#

Your process will begin with research and planning. You can start figuring out how you want to arrive at your goal by asking yourself some questions:

• How do you want to get your education? Whether you pursue a computer science degree or take an alternate route, you’ll need to learn new skills and information to become a software engineer. Debating between a coding bootcamp vs a computer science (CS) degree? Many employers still prefer candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree in CS or a related field. But you don’t necessarily need such a degree to get a job. In addition to bootcamps, other employment avenues include earning a college certificate or studying independently.

Heads up: Alternative, non-degree paths will generally prepare you for more junior roles, such as junior/associate software engineer or computer programmer, and may not be sufficient for specializations like data engineering and machine learning.

• What software engineering specializations interest you? In addition to the engineering roles we’ve already discussed, options include web development, DevOps, and computer systems.

Keep in mind: You can’t really know whether you’ll like a chosen specialization until you’ve tried it. So if you have doubts after picking a specialty, don’t worry. Remember that software engineering roles share many basic competencies, and you can always adjust your route later.

We can’t estimate how long this process will take for you. You’ll want to do your due diligence while researching and planning. The decisions you make will determine how the rest of your roadmap unfolds, starting with the next step of the process: getting an education.

Step 2: Get an education#

As we mentioned, you can enter a degree program in computer science or pursue an alternate path. Either way, educating yourself is crucial. Let’s compare the pros and cons of some of the options.

Time estimate: Finishing your education could take 12 weeks to six years, excluding the time it takes to apply for and wait to begin a program.

Path picker: fastest, cheapest, and safest routes in 2025#

If you’re comparing routes for how to become a software engineer, weigh them on three axes: time to first job, total cost, and risk.

Degree path (safest): high credibility and broader options (including research and some specialized roles). Expensive and slow, but powerful for visas, relocation, or companies with strict degree screens.

Bootcamp path (fastest): 12–16 weeks of high-intensity training, usually targeted at web development. Strong fit if you can study full-time and build 2–3 production-quality projects. You’ll still need portfolio polish and interview prep.

Self-taught path (cheapest): flexible and sustainable for career changers. Works best with structure: a weekly study plan, milestones, and an accountability partner. Pair your curriculum with public projects and open-source contributions to create evidence.

Apprenticeship/returnship path (emerging): paid learning-on-the-job programs from employers. Great for non-traditional backgrounds. Expect assessments plus a cohort experience.

Tip: pick one route, but borrow strengths from the others. For example, a self-taught learner can mimic bootcamp structure and pursue an apprenticeship.

Build a portfolio that hires you (2–3 anchor projects)#

Hiring teams want to see proof, not just promise. Create 2–3 “anchor” projects that demonstrate how to become a software engineer who ships:

• One user-facing app: a full-stack web or mobile app with auth, CRUD, search, and payments or real-time features.

• One data/infra piece: a data pipeline, ETL job, or cloud-hosted service with observability.

• One team-style project: contribute meaningful PRs to an open-source repo (issues, tests, docs, features).

Each anchor should include:

• Live deployment with a short demo video.

• README with problem statement, architecture diagram, tradeoffs, and future work.

• Automated tests and CI; basic telemetry (logs/metrics).

• Issues board showing shipped milestones.

This portfolio structure shows depth, breadth, and your ability to own the lifecycle end-to-end.

Step 3: Get real-world experience#

Employers generally want to hire software engineers who have proven experience in the field, so this step might seem to present a problem. How do you get your first real-world exposure if you need experience to get a job? Recent hiring freezes in the tech industry could further complicate this situation for those starting out in 2025.

Fortunately, there are ways to gain valuable practice that will help you stand out to employers and get that first software engineering job.

• Complete an internship
• Participate in hackathons
• Complete personal coding projects, including work on open-source projects

If you’re working toward a degree or bootcamp certificate, your program should be able to help you find these kinds of opportunities. If you’re studying on your own, you will have to be proactive. Start learning about:

• Building your brand
• Perfecting your resume
• Planning coding projects
• Contributing to open-source projects

Be sure to preserve your work on the real-world projects you complete. This will become especially important down the road as you prepare to look for jobs!

Time estimate: Plan on spending at least a few months getting this experience, though some of these pursuits could happen alongside your education.

LinkedIn, resume, and referrals: Make the market come to you#

Resume (ATS-ready):

• One page, results-first bullets (action verb + what you built + impact).

• Skills section mapped to job descriptions; avoid dense blocks of buzzwords.

• Link to portfolio, GitHub, and one flagship project video.

LinkedIn:

• Headline that states your target role and stack.

• About section with a 3–4 sentence narrative, then a bulleted “Core skills.”

• Project entries under Experience with links and a one-line impact.

Referrals:

• Short outreach works best: who you are, why them, and a single ask.

• Attach your flagship project link; make it easy for them to say yes.

• Track conversations; send concise updates, not spam.

This skills-first packaging helps when you describe how to become a software engineer without a traditional background.

Step 4: Earn a certification (optional)#

Completing a certification will help you stand out to potential employers. Some certification providers expect previous professional experience in the field, so you might need to wait to complete this step until later in your journey.

Some well-known certifications include:

• Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional
• Professional Software Developer
• C/C++ Certified Professional Programmer
• Microsoft certifications
• AWS certifications

Time estimate: You might need multiple years to gain the requisite experience before you pursue certification. You’ll also need to plan time to study for an exam, which will vary by credential.

A 90-day interview prep plan#

Days 1–30: fundamentals

• Refresh data structures and algorithms (arrays, strings, hash maps, stacks/queues, trees/graphs, two-pointer, sliding window, BFS/DFS, sorting, binary search).

• Implement in your primary language; write tests; measure complexity.

• Rehearse 10 short behavioral stories using STAR: conflict, ownership, learning fast.

Days 31–60: applied practice

• Daily timed problems; shift to patterns recognition, not rote memorization.

• System design basics: requirements → API/data model → components → scaling → tradeoffs; practice small designs (URL shortener, rate limiter, feed).

• Mock interviews weekly; record yourself to tune clarity and pace.

Days 61–90: simulation and polish

• Alternate easy/medium problems with mock interviews.

• Build one more feature in an anchor project to keep shipping.

• Dry-run loops: phone screen → technical → system/behavioral → onsite.

• Create a pre-interview checklist: environment, IDE, time checks, clarifying questions, test cases, and a final recap of tradeoffs.

Consistency beats cramming; keep sessions short and focused.

Step 5: Prepare for your job search#

Your job search will be a lot more fruitful if you start well-prepared. Before you apply, consider the following actions:

• Build a portfolio of projects: Complete individual coding projects on your own time or volunteer on open-source software projects. Create a free account on GitHub and maintain your code in repositories there. (Bonus: you’ll learn version control in the process!)
• Prepare for interviews: Practice solving coding problems, study common software engineering interview questions, and behavioral interview questions involving soft skills.
• Network: Use LinkedIn groups, school alumni networks, and other tools to connect with other software engineers and companies you’re targeting.

Time estimate: This preparation might require a few weeks to a few months.

Using AI coding assistants responsibly#

Modern teams expect you to wield AI effectively, not replace understanding with autocomplete. Guidelines:

• Use AI for scaffolding, boilerplate, and tests; verify logic and security yourself.

• Treat generated code like code from a junior teammate: review, refactor, and add tests.

• Keep prompts focused on requirements and constraints; paste only non-sensitive snippets.

• Always be able to explain what the code does and why you chose that approach.

Demonstrating this discipline in interviews signals maturity.

Step 6: Search for software engineer jobs#

You’ve come a long way, and it’s time to begin your job search. Use online resources like Indeed, Glassdoor, Dice, ZipRecruiter, etc., to research and apply for open positions. As of August 2022, fewer opportunities may be posted due to hiring freezes at tech companies. This situation is unlikely to persist forever, however. As you continue your search, keep track of your applications in a spreadsheet or other document.

Time estimate: Your circumstances will dictate how long your job search takes. Anticipate at least a month or two of applying and interviewing even if employers respond to your applications quickly. They might not, given those hiring freezes. If you hear back from a software company, expect multiple rounds of interviews over about four to six weeks. But try to stay positive if you don’t get an interview or job offer right away. Not only is the job market cooler, but experiencing rejection before landing a role is common, and your interviewing skills will improve with practice.

Market strategy: Remote, local, and niche roles#

Remote and hybrid roles remain competitive. Broaden your surface area:

• Target smaller firms, product-led SMBs, and agencies that value shipping evidence over pedigree.

• Explore niche domains that match your background (fintech, healthcare, media, industrial). Domain fluency is a force multiplier.

• Consider adjacent titles that are gateways: software developer, platform engineer, test automation engineer, solutions engineer, developer productivity, or integration engineer.

Define a two-track search: 10–15 high-intent applications with tailored materials each week, plus daily networking and open-source involvement.

How long does it take to become a software engineer?#

It can take anywhere from three months to six years to become a software engineer, depending on factors that include:

• Your existing technical skills (e.g., what do you already know before starting your technical education?)
• Your work experience (e.g., how does your previous experience translate to software engineering?)
• Your previous education (e.g., if you have a degree, is it in a relevant discipline?)
• Your career goals (e.g., are you aiming for an entry-level position or something more senior?)
• Your timing (e.g., are you searching for a job when the market is cool or hot?)

Suppose you already have some technical skills, experience, and a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. In that case, you might become a software engineer within a few months of beginning a job search if the market is healthy. If you’re on the other end of the spectrum and searching in a cool market, you might need several years to address gaps in education, experience, and skills and find a job in the industry.

Yes, that’s an ambiguous answer. But as discussed earlier, we can be more definitive about how your education choices will affect your timeline.

Any post-education steps you take before applying for jobs will require additional time. Keep that in mind when planning your timeline for becoming a software engineer, along with various requirements you’ll need to satisfy.

Requirements to become a software engineer#

The requirements to become a software engineer vary based on previous experience, specializations, and career goals.

Education#

Learning about software engineering is a must, as we mentioned earlier. Many employers prefer candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. But that CS degree is not a codified requirement per se, and you can still prove your proficiency by learning to code through certificate programs, bootcamps, and self-study.

Relevant experience#

Additionally, many software engineer jobs require multiple years of hands-on experience for candidates even to be considered. The requirement will vary depending on the seniority of the role you’re trying to land. Employers will expect far more experience in a senior software engineer candidate than a computer programmer applicant.

As we’ve discussed, you can build experience and boost your chances of success with:

• Internships: Completing these can provide valuable experience, boost your chances of landing future employment, and get your foot in the door with hiring companies.
• Professional certifications: While not a requirement, these can improve your competitiveness, signaling proficiency and dedication to potential employers.

Technical skills#

Your education and professional experience will help equip your toolkit with technical skills. But you will likely need to continue to learn new skills on your own through books, videos, and online learning platforms.

To add, any software engineering specialization you pursue will require its own skills. Here are the six disciplines we defined earlier and some of the skills commonly expected of candidates.

Soft skills and qualities#

Finally, certain intangible qualities will help you succeed in software engineering. While anyone can become a developer, these six characteristics are borderline requirements to become an outstanding engineer:

• A desire to build and create
• A team mindset
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Empathy
• Determination
• A love of learning

Employers will vet these skills through your communication in the interview process, and you should continue demonstrating them on the job to build your professional reputation.

How much does a software engineer make?#

Like many best-paying jobs in tech, software engineering jobs can be lucrative. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for software engineers in 2020 was $110,140 per year ($52.95 per hour). Because this is a median figure, your actual salary or wage could be higher or lower. But whatever level you start at, software engineering jobs have plenty of room for salary growth.

Another critical factor to consider is the demand for software engineers, as measured by the number of jobs available. The BLS projects that software engineering jobs will grow 22 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. For a less scientific approach, search for software engineer jobs on sites like Indeed, Glassdoor, Dice, ZipRecruiter, etc., to see what positions are available in your geographic area. Additionally, Glassdoor can estimate salaries for specific companies based on employees’ anonymous reports.

Next steps to becoming a software engineer#

By now, you should have a clearer idea of the steps to becoming a software engineer, how long it takes, the typical requirements, and how much you might earn. Hopefully, this knowledge has inspired you! Now it’s time to get to work, starting with making a career plan.

Once you’ve drafted a plan, the next step is to dive into learning. Regardless of how you pursue your education, you’ll be picking up technical skills. To help you with this, Educative offers interactive software development instruction for learners at all levels.

If you’re just starting, learning a programming language will be worthwhile, and the versatility of Python makes it a great place to begin. Our new course Learn Python will give you a handle on this prevalent programming language. In it, you’ll explore the building blocks of Python before moving on to higher-level concepts such as functions and loops. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to create basic applications in Python 3.

Happy learning!

Your first 90 days on the job: Compounds your career#

Landing the role is step one. To accelerate:

• Set learning goals with your manager; ask for a starter project with a clear user impact.

• Ship small PRs fast, write tests, and add docs.

• Shadow oncall; learn the observability stack and deployment pipeline.

• Schedule weekly 1:1s; collect feedback; surface blockers early.

• Pick one craft pillar to deepen (testing, accessibility, performance, security, or cloud).

This mindset turns the playbook for how to become a software engineer into a sustainable, upward career path.

Continue learning about software engineering#

• 8 of the best paying jobs in tech

• 5 red flags when interviewing for your first developer role

• 6 characteristics that can make you an outstanding developer