No matter whether a person is stuck in a career they dislike or want to explore more lucrative job opportunities, becoming a software engineer wouldn’t be too complex, as long as they are willing to put in the hard work. Not only software engineers enjoy a great pay scale, usually this profession offers an above-average work-life balance. Even of a person does not have a CS Degree; they can always join training programs offered by companies like Revature to gain the skills and expertise required to become a good software engineer.

Revature offers a general guideline on joining the software engineering field without a CS degree

Software engineers are among the highest-paid professionals in the contemporary landscape. Moreover, with the consistent technological advancements taking place across the world, the demand of such professionals is only expected to climb up in the future. Typically, software engineers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or IT field. But even without such a degree, one can join this field if they are determined to achieve their goal.

Here is a simple guide to become a software engineer without getting a degree:

• Select the right programming language: As there are a number of programming languages popular today, it can be confusing for a person new to the field to select the ideal one to focus on. Popular programming languages include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, C, C++, and Java. The language one selects must depend on the domain or industry they want to work in the future. For example, Java could be a good option for someone planning to work in back-end development, while JavaScript or Python are ideal for web development. Python can especially be a great language to start with, as it is readable and efficient. It is also open source, and therefore allows candidates to have access to plenty of tools for free. Once a person knows a certain particular language/stack well, it is not too difficult to transition to a new one. After building a strong foundation in one programming language, a person would be able to transition to new languages, frameworks, and technologies with relative ease.
• Start with self study: When a person chooses to study alone, they are able to avoid external chaos and confusion, and truly focus on the task-in-hand. Candidates must schedule for each day and divide their work into hours. They shouldn’t, however, forget to take breaks in between to prevent stress and mental fatigue.
• Pick a training program: Companies like Revature offer a variety of training programs and classes that allows people to learn software engineering skills and expertise, without spending years on getting a degree. Candidates should carefully explore these training programs, and subsequently get enrolled in the one that suits their career goals and requirements.

Once a person has acquired adequate understanding and training for becoming a software engineer, they can start looking for entry level jobs in this field. They may attend job fairs, search job boards, or reach out to companies directly to land their first job in software engineering.