A presentation about software development as a career
- write instructions (code) for computers to follow
- make websites, program robots, automate factories,
- pretty much everything uses software these days
- Marketing
- Graphic Designers
- User Experience Designers
- Project Managers
- Business Domain Experts
- You learn something every day
- Lots of job options
- Possibility of working remotely
- It’s creative and social-ish
- Level playing field (thank you Internet!)
- Most working environments are very good (low on drama, informal culture, no dress code, average 40-48 hours/wk (more if you want), flexible hours often available)
| Promotional Level | Experience Guideline | Base Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| I | 0-2 yrs | $57k - $76k |
| II | 2-4 yrs | $75k - $93k |
| III | 4-7 yrs | $94k - $116k |
| IV | 7+ yrs | $114k - $139k |
| V | 10+ yrs | $126k - $158k |
(Data from salary.com for Software Engineer | Rochester, MN | 25% - 75% percentile | on 4/16/2019)
- You have to keep learning
- Job/employer churn
- Too much freedom and independence
- Lots of indoor/keyboard/screen/desk time
- Majority of social interactioin might be via tech (chat, phone, video call, etc.)
- You spend most time learning new concepts and thinking about how to build things and make them work with those concepts
- Bachelors Degree (Masters doesn't hurt, usually helps):
- Computer Science
- Software Engineering
- Information Systems
- Many others...
- Coding Boot Camps (e.g. Prime Digital Academy)
- Independent Study (personal portfolio)
- Probably less pay for first few years, but
- Once you're proven lack of degree doesn't matter
- https://skillcrush.com/2016/03/15/64-online-resources-to-learn-to-code-for-free/
- https://codepen.io/ (e.g. https://codepen.io/kevinnewcombe/pen/axVVqK)
- https://frontendmasters.com/books/front-end-handbook/2019/#4
- https://scratch.mit.edu/
- https://codesandbox.io/s/ly62zqm4nm
- Meetups / Free Conferences