If You Want to Get in the Tech Space: Become A Software Developer

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Whilst we live in the rise of sophisticated artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and also layoffs, there are a lot of questions and opinions around whether the tech industry is still worth entering. There has also been a great emphasis that software development is dead – but they are wrong.

For organisations to become digital-first, they will need software developers, analysts and other related roles to get there.

The U.S. News & World Report ranked software developers as #1 in the best technology jobs. They were also #2 in Best STEM Jobs, #3 in 100 Best Jobs and #19 in Best-Paying Jobs.

If you are wondering how software developers are still high in demand when the use of AI and machine learning tools are taking over? Just the same way any other role in the world will have to evolve to improve their workflow and efficiency with the current market, software developers will do the same with the new tools that are getting released.

The best new technology that has just dropped still requires maintenance, upgrading, and troubleshooting. Nothing is ever the finished product. Therefore, tools like ChatGPT, which are providing a better workflow and work-life balance for a lot of people still require experts with the right skills to ensure it runs smoothly.

This is where software developers come into the picture.

Why We Need Software Developers?

As mentioned previously, there is a lot of fear of entering the tech industry due to layoffs. However, the number of layoffs remains largely unchanged, regardless of what you are seeing on the internet.

More and more organisations are becoming reliant on technology if they already haven’t started. Digital solutions are the main business goal, therefore the demand for skilled software developers shows little to no sign of slowing down.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, they predict a growth rate of 26% for software developer positions over the next decade. This means we will be seeing an increase of 1.2 million new software developer jobs by 2030.

Do not fear the tech layoffs, it’s a false alarm. AI will become more sophisticated over the years, but at its core, it will require software developers who have the ability to solve problems and provide businesses with opportunities to build better solutions.

How to Become a Software Developer?

You’re probably asking yourself, so how do I do it? How do I get my foot into becoming a software engineer?

Computer Science Knowledge

Your first step will be to understand everything you need to know about computer science. There are various steps you can take, for example pursuing a degree, taking an online course, or teaching yourself.

Here are some recommendations:

Get Practical Experience

Employers want to hire people who can apply their knowledge and put it into practice. This entails a portfolio of real-life example projects to which employers will typically be drawn to. This shows that you have taken the time to learn the fundamentals and can apply them – to a company like theirs.

Here are some recommendations:

Check out Top 16 Technical Data Sources for Advanced Data Science Projects

Wrapping Up

Do not be taken aback by the headlines circulating around tech layoffs. The demand for software developers is continuously rising.

Your best bet is to start learning today!

Nisha Arya is a data scientist, freelance technical writer, and an editor and community manager for KDnuggets. She is particularly interested in providing data science career advice or tutorials and theory-based knowledge around data science. Nisha covers a wide range of topics and wishes to explore the different ways artificial intelligence can benefit the longevity of human life. A keen learner, Nisha seeks to broaden her tech knowledge and writing skills, while helping guide others.