Software

Engineering &
Web Development
Ultimate Career Guide
Contents
Introduction
01
Software Engineer vs. Web
Developer
02
What Are the Top Skills for
Software Engineers?
04
CS Degree vs. Coding Bootcamp
07
Software Engineer Job
Description
10
Job Market for Software
Engineers
11
Salaries for Software Engineers
12
Finding Software Engineering
Jobs
13
Technical Portfolio Tips for
Software Engineers
14
Technical Resume Tips for
Software Engineers
15
Job Hunting for Software
Engineers
16
A Day in the Life of a Software
Engineer
19
Software Engineering FAQ
22
About Us
23
 01
Introduction

Have you ever wondered who is responsible for building the software and programs we use
every day? Behind every computer program or digital technology, small or large, is a
Software Engineer. An essential part of many companies, they are in high-demand and well-
paid for their work developing and maintaining software.

Software Engineering is an important career in which you can do meaningful work solving
new and interesting problems. With this guide, you’ll learn more about what a Software
Engineer does, what your potential salary can be as both an entry-level and senior Software
Engineer, and see how to break into this vital career.
 02
What is a Software Engineer?

Now, what exactly is a Software Engineer? A Software Engineer is someone who solves
problems by building software with programming languages. Programming languages are
how computers are directed to accomplish tasks, and it’s possible for a Software Engineer
to make use of several different languages to do this.

And yet, this is a bigger question than you might think, as the responsibilities for a
Software Engineer can vary greatly depending on the company and department they work
in. For example, you can find Software Engineers working on self-driving car technology,
improving the efficiency and effectiveness of a search algorithm, or building a game engine
for the next generation of video game consoles.
 03
What is a Web Developer?

While researching what a Software

Engineer is responsible for, you’ll likely
also see mentions of Web Development as
another possible career path. Comparing
the two, you’ll find that Web Developers
are more focused on technologies related
to either front end development, like
designing and implementing the user
interface for a website, or backend
development, like building a service that
connects to a database to provide
essential functionality for a business.

We’ll mostly focus on what being a

Software Engineer is about here, but if
you’re more interested in either side of
Web Development, you can read our
article on Backend vs Front end
Development to quickly learn what these
positions are about.
 What Are the Top Skills for 04
Software Engineers?
Even though the programming languages or methodologies used by Software Engineers can vary
between companies, there are still some important traits that we can identify as being common
to most people who work in this position. The following are the most important skills for any
software engineer:

1. Problem Solving
One of the most important skills will be your ability to solve problems and think logically, in
general. Often you’ll be tasked with creating a program or a feature that doesn’t exist yet, so
you’ll need to think of a good solution to accomplish what is necessary.

Additionally, you’ll often run into obstacles while you’re actually building your program; for
example, a feature of the programming language or library you are using might not work exactly
as you expect, or the project requirements will change when you are already half-way through the
implementation. You’ll have to handle these situations gracefully and still turn out a program that
functions as expected.
 05
2. Detail-Oriented
Being detail-oriented is another invaluable trait for Software Engineers.

Programming languages by their own nature demand precision. A misplaced character

or some other kind of typo can result in a program becoming non-functional. A
misunderstanding of how to use a certain feature of the language can cause
unexpected behavior or result in a program that mostly works but ends up needing
further attention and maintenance later.

One great example of how While not every program

important this is for a or feature you work on can
Software Engineer is potentially result in the
Mariner 1, a spacecraft loss of $18.5 million,
designed by NASA in 1962. keeping the same level of
Shortly after its launch, it seriousness regardless of
had to be ordered to self- your task will serve you
destruct, possibly due to well as a Software
something as innocent as Engineer.
a missing hyphen in its
instructions.
 06
3. Clear Communication 5. Teamwork
This may be surprising to some, but being able to You’ll often be working on a team as a
communicate clearly both in-person and otherwise Software Engineer, and in these cases it’s
is very important as a Software Engineer. Being important to be able to work with others
able to articulate exactly what you’re trying to do
to finish a program efficiently and
or the behavior you are seeing with your program
effectively. Other Software Engineers will
will save everyone on your team time when fixing
be contributing code to the project you’re
problems or deciding on the best path forward.
working on, and they won’t always have
the same idea of the correct solution for a
Similarly, a Software Engineer can choose to add
comments to the programs they write to account particular problem that you do. Or you

for the current expected and known behavior for might have to provide assistance to a

that program. Good comments that are easy to colleague who is having difficulties
read and understand will make the lives of those understanding how to tackle a particular
who maintain your program easier, while comments problem or understanding a part of a
that are unclear and misleading could even have a program you wrote. In all cases you’ll have
negative effect when people make changes on the to be professional, respectful and happy to
assumption that your comments are correct. help your team members.

4. Continual Learning 6. Empathize With End Users

As a Software Engineer, you’ll likely be expected to
Lastly, one of the most important skills
keep up with the updates and movement
you'll need to find success as a software
happening with the technologies you use when
engineer is the ability to empathize with
building software.
the actual people who will use your

These days, most digital services and programming software. It's crucial that you are able to

languages are continuously being updated. put yourself in the users' shoes,
Sometimes, these changes will result in your understand their needs, and strive to solve
program having to be updated to account for the the real problems they face. After all, that's
new behavior, and sometimes you will have to the whole point of being a developer:
rework your program to implement new features resolving users' problems with
that are possible with the latest update to a service technological solutions.
your company already uses.
 07
CS Degree vs. Coding Bootcamp
There are many ways a person might end up working as a Software Engineer, but perhaps two of the
most commonly considered are going to college to obtain a Computer Science degree and,
alternatively, attending a coding bootcamp.

So, what are the differences between a CS Degree and Coding Bootcamp?

Knowledge-wise, obtaining a Computer Science degree from a college will prepare you with more
foundational knowledge that is important for solving the deeper technical questions that you might
not dig into at a coding bootcamp. For example, you might learn the principles of machine learning,
create your own program compiler and see how to analyze the efficiency of various search algorithms
in Computer Science classes in comparison to learning how to implement and work with popular web
technologies at a coding bootcamp.

It’s important to note that we can draw a distinction here between Computer Science and Software
Engineering. Software Engineering could be thought of as the application of the more theoretical
Computer Science with the practical lessons and principles we’ve learned about how to best build
software. This isn’t to say that if you obtain a Computer Science degree that you won’t be able to
become a Software Engineer; in actuality, many Software Engineers started out with completing a
degree in Computer Science.

Beyond just the different kinds of information you’ll learn in each environment, you’ll need to weigh
how much time you’re willing to spend learning, how much money you can spend and what kind of
problems you are more interested in solving in your career. If you’d like to read a more detailed
breakdown, check out our article on the differences between college and coding bootcamp.
 08
How to Evaluate a Coding
Bootcamp or Training
Program
When you consider how much time and money
you’ll be investing into a coding bootcamp or
training program, it becomes clear that it’s
important to research and evaluate the claimed
and actual benefits before committing to one.

Luckily, it’s never been easier to find this

information!
 09
How to Evaluate a Coding Bootcamp or Training Program

When you consider how much time and money you’ll be investing into a coding bootcamp or
training program, it becomes clear that it’s important to research and evaluate the claimed and
actual benefits before committing to one.

Luckily, it’s never been easier to find this information!

With how pervasive social media is in our lives, a You’ll also want to make sure the rigor and
person who is either satisfied or dissatisfied with schedule of the bootcamp will fit your life. Some
their experience in a coding bootcamp will likely bootcamps can be quite intensive, demanding the
leave a post expressing these feelings for the benefit same or higher level of attention as a full-time job,
of others. For example, there are many submissions while others can be a little more relaxed. Ask the
on places like Reddit where you can read candid organizers of the bootcamp about how many
recounts and discussions about coding bootcamps hours per week a student spends on average
in general or about specific training programs. working on the curriculum and whether there are
any breaks provided between sessions.
You’ll want to consider how the bootcamp or
training program makes money from you. This may It’s also important to clarify how much support
sound cynical, but this can actually be a useful point you will or can receive during the course. Some
to consider: while some programs just charge you a bootcamps are more self-directed, while others
fee, there are others that actually do not charge you make it easy for you to ask questions from your
upfront but instead offer you an Income Share instructor or an assistant. Especially if you are only
Agreement (ISA). With an ISA, you agree to repay starting to learn how to program, choosing a
the bootcamp based on your salary after completing bootcamp that is friendlier and more accessible in
their course, so the bootcamp has a vested interest this way can be the difference between success
in your success and helping you be well prepared to and failure.
land a good job after graduating. Some programs
will even refund the money you pay them if you’re
not able to get a Software Engineering job after
entering the workforce. Career Karma regularly
reviews top coding bootcamps, so
Be sure to review the different technologies they
intend to teach you and make sure they are relevant check out our ratings before
to the problems you are interested in solving. Joining you make a decision!
a bootcamp that is more focused on server-side
engineering when you would prefer to work on front
end web development would lead to an unpleasant
surprise. So, it’s worthwhile to look over the
curriculum to prevent this from happening.
 Software Engineer Job 10
Description
When reviewing the job description for a Software Engineer position, you’ll often see
mention of specific programming languages and other technologies they would like you to
be familiar with, the software methodology you will be expected to follow, a general
overview of what you’ll be working on and what you will be building, and any other
background knowledge it would be best for you to have.

You may also see listings for jobs with other names that appear similar or exactly the same
as you would expect for a Software Engineer. Companies will sometimes search for a
“Software Developer” or “Programmer” and use these terms interchangeably; make sure to
expand the scope of your search to take this into account!
 Job Market for Software 11
Engineers
Software Engineers are currently in high-demand, and this demand is only going to grow. The
number of Software Engineering jobs is projected to grow 28% in the next nine years. With
expertly designed and developed software becoming increasingly important for many companies’
operations, this isn’t surprising.

Software Engineer Job Market in Major Tech Hubs

This is particularly apparent in tech hubs like Seattle, San Francisco, and Denver, where major
companies are always looking for the best talent to work on developing the newest technology
and maintain what has already been built.

Major Tech Companies with Job Openings for Software Engineers

Almost every big or popular company that employs Software Engineers are looking for more. As an
example, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and Oracle are all still recruiting for people who can
fill this role. If there’s a particular company you’re looking to work for, locating the careers page on
their website can be a good starting point to see what’s available and what kind of work you
would be doing for them as a Software Engineer.
 Software Engineering Salaries 12

The salary you can expect as a Software Engineer can vary greatly depending on your location, but a
general entry-level salary at the average company will range from around $45k to $65k per year. The
upper limit of this can increase in areas with particularly high costs of living and for companies that are
looking for the best talent.

Seattle
$116,494
Portland
$86,416

Boston
$98,968

New York
Chicago $107,000
San Francisco Denver $89,818
$126,069 $90,451 Washington, DC
98,900

Los Angeles
$100,614
Phoenix
San Diego $87,958
$101,316 Dallas Atlanta
$88,019 $86,416

Austin
$89,651 Houston
$87,098

Miami
$84,767

Average Software Engineer Salaries in Major Tech Hubs

With the above in mind, take a look at the average salaries of Software Engineers in the some of the
tech hubs in the US to get a sense of what you could be making in these places:
Dallas, TX: $88,019/yr Portland, ME: $95,273/yr Phoenix, AZ: $87,958/yr
San Francisco, CA: $126,069/yr Houston, TX: $87,098/yr Boston, MA: $98,968/yr
Denver, CO: $90,451/yr Miami, FL: $84,767/yr Washington, DC: $98,900/yr
Seattle, WA: $116,494/yr New York, NY: $107/yr Chicago, IL: $89,818/yr
Atlanta, GA: $86,416/yr Los Angeles, CA: $100,614/yr
Austin, TX: $89,651/yr San Diego, CA: $101,316/yr

As you can see, skilled Software Engineers are well compensated--and this isn’t including any bonuses
or perks that the employer might provide.
 Finding Software Engineering 13
Jobs
It’s never been easier to connect to companies and businesses who are interested in hiring Software
Engineers! Let’s look over a few of the options available to you.

Job Search Sites Networking

The tried and true method, general job search Another great method of finding a job, reaching out
websites like Indeed, Glassdoor and LinkedIn are to the people who you know or have worked with
still useful for finding Software Engineering can often prove to be the easiest way of getting an
positions and submitting your resume to interview and a position. This is applicable
companies for review. Remember, some companies regardless of whether you obtained a Computer
may list a position under the title Software Science degree or went through a coding
Developer or Programmer, so you’ll want to try bootcamp. If there’s an acquaintance working at a
variations on your keyword search to make sure company you’re considering applying to, reach out
you are seeing everything that would be relevant to to them and offer to buy them a coffee so you can
you. learn more about the position and possibly get your
name known in the office.
With a job search site, you can also search for a
specific technology or programming language you Hiring Companies
are familiar with or are looking to learn about; for
Finally, companies like Triplebyte are offering a new
example, if you would prefer to work on the
twist on the hiring marketplace concept by
backend of servers, you might search for “PHP” or
conducting a thorough interview of applicants and
“node.js” rather than just Software Engineer. This
matching them to companies who are looking for
might pull a few more positions you would have
talented individuals. If you’re feeling confident in
normally missed in your search.
your abilities, you’ll want to consider going through
this process, as it can really jump-start your career.
 Technical Portfolio Tips for 14
Software Engineers
One of the most important parts of impressing a recruiter is demonstrating your ability, and
maintaining a portfolio of your own projects or other technical contributions you’ve done is
an excellent way to do this.

A fairly common portfolio provided is a GitHub profile. GitHub is a platform that allows
programmers and Software Engineers around the world to collaborate on the development
of software, and a person’s profile page on this platform will show which projects you’ve
contributed to and what exactly those contributions were. If this sounds intriguing, we have
some great resources on our site going into more detail about what GitHub is used for and
how you can start building a programming portfolio on GitHub.

However, what you provide doesn’t necessarily have to be a GitHub page. Maintaining your
own website with examples of projects you were a part of, details about what you were
responsible for, and how many people use your software can be equally useful for
convincing a recruiter you’re worthwhile.
 Technical Resume Tips for 15
Software Engineers
Depending on if you just got out of a coding If you’re providing a website or other
bootcamp or graduated college with a kind of resource the recruiter or
Computer Science degree, you might be interviewer can see, verify that
unsure of what to put on your resume when everything is still working! This will both
applying to your first Software Engineering prevent any embarrassing situations in
job. That’s okay! There are a few things you the interview and give yourself a
can do to make your resume more appealing refresher on what you’ve created, better
to the hiring manager. equipping you to answer questions you
might be asked.
Review the job posting you’re interested
in and make a note of any programming Finally, you’ll also want to go through
languages or other technologies that you our ultimate guide to technical resumes.
are already familiar with. Restructure your It contains some excellent information
resume slightly to emphasize any of your and tips on how to make your resume
projects and experience that is relevant to look professional and catch the eye of
the posting in this way; this will increase any recruiter!
the chances of the recruiter recognizing
your capabilities for the job.
 Job Hunting for 16
Software Engineers
Once you’ve prepared your resume with our guide and
are ready to start your hunt for a job, you’ll want to
also review the following information we have about
handling interviews as a Software Engineer.

Software Engineer Interviews

The kinds of questions you’ll be expected to answer

will vary from company to company. Some might ask
you to solve brain-teasers in addition to the standard
interview questions of “Where do you see yourself in
five years?” while others could ask you for a
“practical” example where you create a small project
Common Interview Questions
either on-site or at home to demonstrate your
ability. However, we can cover some common topics
For more technical positions, you’ll also be
so you have a better idea of what to expect!
asked questions that probe the depths of your
conceptual knowledge. For example, you could
be asked to implement a standard sorting
algorithm, possibly on a whiteboard, and have
to walk the interviewer through each step of
your program. With positions that work with a
specific programming language, you might also
be asked questions that will demonstrate your
understanding of the nuances of the languages
you’ll be working with.

For example, they might show you an excerpt

of code you wouldn’t normally see but has a
subtle bug or flaw that you’ll have to identify
and correct. If you’ve listed any projects on
your resume, be prepared to discuss them in
detail. You’ll be asked what you were
responsible for, if there were any difficulties
you encountered, and how you solved them.
 17
You’ll likely be asked what you know about the Questions You Should Ask
company you’re interviewing with, what kind of
products or services they provide and how you will
On your side, you’ll want to ask the interviewer
be able to contribute. Remember to research the
questions that give you a better sense of how the
company thoroughly before the interview so you’ll
company operates and what will be expected of
be best equipped to answer these questions!
you. For example, a great question to get a sense of
whether the position is a good fit is “What traits or
Finally, you could also be asked questions that
behaviors do you typically see in an individual who
assess how you can handle tricky workplace
excels in this position?” Their answer will help you
situations. They might ask how you would handle
identify what the company values and what you
a hypothetical scenario of a colleague making it
should concentrate on to eventually move up in
difficult for you to complete your job because their
responsibility.
portion of the program was improperly completed,
for example. You’ll want to answer these questions
and behave in these situations with
professionalism, respect, and provide an answer
that shows a clear path for moving forward.

And if you’ve performed some research about the

company and what they do, you might ask the
interviewer to elaborate in more detail exactly what
kind of problems you’ll be solving and how they relate
to the goals mentioned in the resume or the overall
objective of the business. This question can be a
great jumping off point into further discussion about
the nuances of the position. The conversation that
follows from this question can help you demonstrate
the value you will add if hired, as well as show your
genuine interest in being a Software Engineer.

In our article “Top 3 Tips to

Prepare for an Interview” we
have some great advice on how
you can best present yourself to
your potential employers.
 18
Helpful Resources for Finding Software Engineering Jobs

As mentioned above, using job-search sites, networking with people you’re familiar with
and working with a recruitment company are all great paths you’ll want to consider for
finding a position in Software Engineering.

Additionally, regardless of whether you went to a college or bootcamp, the place where you
built up your skills is invested in your success and likely has resources for you to help find a
Software Engineering job. Speak with your career center if you’re at a college or whoever
was appointed your career counselor at your bootcamp if you have difficulties finding a
place or just want some direction on where to start.

Focusing on colleges for a moment, they often hold career fairs which can be an excellent
place to meet in-person with potential employers. You’ll get great practice interviewing for
your role and build up experience of the kinds of questions you’ll have to answer. Career
fairs are also great networking opportunities; even if you don’t find a job on that exact day,
getting your name out will make it easier down the road.
 19
A Day in the Life of a Software
Engineer
The average day for a Software Engineer can vary greatly between
companies and even between departments; for example, an
engineer working at Google might be solving different problems
than someone at Microsoft.

Still, there are certain characteristics that tend to be true and we

can roughly categorize these based on whether you are an entry
or senior Software Engineer.
 20
A Day in the Life of a Software
Engineer
Entry-Level Software Engineer

Starting out, you’ll receive direction from the more senior members of your
team and be expected to solve problems in the way you’re told.

You’ll be doing a lot of self-research either online in general or through your

company’s internal documentation when determining the best way to
actually go about accomplishing a particular task. Question and answer
websites like StackOverflow and research through search engines like Google
will be invaluable; if you have a question about a certain part of a
programming language or library, it’s likely that someone else also had that
same or similar question. Being self-sufficient in this way is a great way to
demonstrate your willingness to learn and your ability to get things done.

Common Tasks and Responsibilities of an Entry-Level

Software Engineer
Implementing features as directed by
management or the more senior members
of your team
Performing self-research to fill in
knowledge gaps
Becoming familiar with the industry your
software is used for
Resolving simpler bugs or errors with the
behavior of a program
Writing tests to guarantee the correctness
of new and old functionality
 21
Senior Software Engineer

As you grow more experienced as a Software Engineer and transition into more of
a senior role within your company, you’ll become more responsible for both
creating solutions to more complex problems and making more architectural
decisions, like what libraries or digital services will be best suited to solve the
particular problems your company is currently facing.

Additionally, you’ll likely be providing at least some direction to the newer

members of your team and sharing your expert knowledge with them, helping
them get accustomed to your company’s workflow and start contributing code.

Common Tasks and Responsibilities of a Senior

Software Engineer
Evaluating and choosing what technologies your team will use to complete a
given task
Resolving complex issues identified with the performance of the program
Performing code reviews with your colleagues
Delegating tasks as appropriate
Mentoring newer members of your team
Using your built-up product knowledge and other experience to resolve edge-
cases and decide the best way to move forward with solutions
 22
Software Engineering
Careers FAQ

It’s never too late to get started!

Am I too old to consider a As is said, you never know until
career in Software you try, and coding bootcamps
especially are designed to get
Engineering? you started in careers like
Software Engineering as soon as
possible! If you’re still feeling a
little unsure, check out our
article on coding bootcamp for
older adults!

Can I become a Software While being comfortable with

higher levels of math can
Engineer even if I’m not certainly be helpful, especially
when solving certain problems
interested in or good at or working at certain
companies, it’s not a strict
Math? requirement to be a Software
Engineer. You can still
contribute meaningfully to
projects in other ways, and for
many companies, the problems
you work on won’t require the
use of college-level
mathematics at all.

Do all coding bootcamps Nope! There are plenty of

coding bootcamps that are
cost money? completely free. We have a
great list of 35 No-Cost
Coding Programs that can set
you on the path to becoming a
Software Engineer without
having to part with a penny.
 23
About Us

Career Karma helps people interested in

breaking into careers in technology find
the best job training for them, starting
with coding bootcamps.

With the free Career Karma app, you can

discover peers, coaches, and mentors to
help accelerate your career in technology.

Website: https://careerkarma.com/
Email: info@careerkarma.com
Twitter: @Career_Karma

Lain Vineyard is a staff writer at Career

Karma, covering topics related to software
engineering and all things programming.

Lain holds a B.S. in Mathematics from the

University of Oregon and has won several
programming competitions.
 Download the FREE
Career Karma app
today for access to a
community of peers,
coaches, and mentors
who will support you
in your journey to a
new career!
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