There are many benefits in becoming a Back-End Developer, including salary expectations above the national average and a booming job market that’s expected to continue rising over the next decade.

So, if you’re considering a career in the field, there’s no better time to get started. You don’t even need a degree, as employers are primarily concerned with candidates having the knowledge and skills they’ll need to succeed in the role.

The exact requirements to become a Back-End Developer will vary between companies, but generally, you’ll need a solid understanding of programming concepts and technical skills. Below, we’ll explore a Back-End Developer’s role and required skills, then show you how to become one without a degree. Use the table of contents below to jump to a specific section. Or, if you’d rather jump right into training, check out our Back-End Engineer Career Path.

What is back-end development?

Back-end development refers to everything that happens on the server-side of an application, including communications between the database and browser. Back-End Developers code the inner workings of a site rather than what users actually see.

The back end consists of the servers, databases, and programs that users don’t directly interact with but enable a website’s functionality. Take a blog post as an example. A Web Designer or Front-End Developer determines stylistic elements like font and color, but the page’s actual content needs to be retrieved from a database — or the back end of the application.

What does a Back-End Developer do?

In the video above, Doug, one of our Senior Back-End Engineers, sheds some light on the role’s responsibilities. As he explains:

“There’s really no limit to what a Back-End Engineer might be working on. It could be just the data that’s shown on the page — who the user is, what sorts of products are available. But you can do a lot of complicated things like recommendations and using machine learning, too, or creating code that’s constantly running in the background, crunching numbers and solving problems.”

Back-End Developers build and maintain the servers, databases, APIs, and other systems that run in the background of an application using tools like SQL, Java, and PHP. These developers are essential as they provide the services that the front end of an application needs to function.

In another post, we take a closer look at a Back-End Developer’s role and responsibilities.

What skills do you need to become a Back-End Developer?

Back-End Developers need a variety of skills to perform their daily tasks, including the technical skills required to build back-end components and soft skills like communication and collaboration that allow them to work efficiently as part of a team. Let’s take a closer look at the skills you’ll need as a Back-End Developer.

Coding skills

Back-End Developers use coding languages, libraries, frameworks, and other programming tools to manage their servers, databases, and APIs. The specific tools you’ll use in your career will largely be determined by your company’s tech stack, but generally, these tools include:

While commonly used in the front end, some Back-End Developers also use JavaScript as frameworks like Node.js extend its functionality into back-end development.

Problem-solving and analytical skills

Back-End Developers should be very analytical, capable of analyzing software requirements while constructing a system’s functionality. As Doug explains in the quote above, they have various responsibilities, so they need to be able to quickly develop effective solutions.

Communication skills

Back-End Developers need to be great communicators as they play a key role in the web development process that involves talking to various stakeholders (both technical and non-technical) to identify their needs.

Collaborative skills

Throughout your career, you’ll often find yourself working on a team with other developers. To do so, you’ll need to know how to share ideas, accept and delegate responsibilities, and perform collaborative technical practices like pair programming and code review.

Agile development skills

You’ll also need to understand agile development practices that prioritize collaboration between teams responsible for performing different tasks. These cross-functional teams work together to complete projects more quickly and efficiently by bringing a wide range of skills into the mix.

Multitasking skills

Back-End Developers should be able to work on multiple projects at once, which requires planning and prioritizing. It also means reaching out to other team members to assist with certain tasks when necessary.

Organizational skills

Back-End Developers should be very organized. While a computer can decipher code that isn’t clear and clean, your peers will have trouble navigating if many elements are out of order.

Being organized makes both simple and complicated tasks easier to perform. Well-organized, readable code allows developers to make changes and edits on time and interpret its contents without confusion.

How long does it take to become a Back-End Developer?

The length of time it takes to become a Back-End Developer varies from person to person. If you’re already familiar with a couple of programming languages, you’ll progress quicker than someone new to programming altogether.

It can take several months to learn the knowledge and skills you’ll need as a Back-End Developer — or longer, depending on your schedule and pace. Committing a set amount of time to your learning can accelerate the process, so set a goal for how many hours you’d like to dedicate to your coding each week. These goals can always be adjusted as needed.

How much does a Back-End Developer make?

Back-End Developers are in high demand as businesses rely on them to keep their websites and applications running. This reliance on their skills means these developers can expect a competitive salary — currently averaging at $108,507 in the U.S., according to Salary.com.

Still, there are several factors that’ll influence your salary as a Back-End Developer. The industry you decide to work in will be one of the largest determining factors, as salary expectations fluctuate with industrial needs. At the moment, the fields that pay their Back-End Developers the highest salaries include:

• Education
• Transportation
• Retail
• Communication
• Healthcare
• Entertainment

Your location also plays an important role. Those living in larger cities like Seattle and San Francisco can expect a higher salary (and cost of living).

Salary expectations by experience level

Back-End Developers typically fall into three categories: junior, mid-level, or senior. Generally, your salary expectations will rise along with your years of experience.

Junior developers with up to three years of experience usually earn around $78,000 a year, again, depending on location and industry.

Mid-level Back-End Developers have between four and six years of experience and can expect an average of $92,237. Senior developers with over six years of experience make about $123,077.

How to write a Back-End Developer resume

After gaining the skills you’ll need for a career in back-end development, the next step is creating a resume. Your resume provides a snapshot of your skills and experience to prospective employers during your job search.

Remember, back-end development is a very competitive field, so you’ll want your resume to stand out. Below, we’ll walk you through everything you need to include in your Back-End Developer resume.

Contact info

Begin with your contact information. Putting it at the top makes it easy for prospective employers to find. You’ll want to include your name, address, email, and phone number, along with any professional social media accounts.

Career summary

A career summary briefly introduces your technical skills, work experience, and interests. It’s the first thing hiring managers will see after your contact information, and it’s a great way to highlight your desire to work in the industry.

Limit your summary to three sentences or less. The details will come later. Here’s a basic example of a career summary:

“Enthusiastic back-end web developer with one year of experience building APIs for companies. Emphasis on scale and maintainability.”

Rather than writing everything out in complete sentences, concentrate on actionable items or terms that briefly describe your experience like those used in the example above.

Technical skills

Add your technical skills just below your career summary. This will make them more visible and improve their chances of matching the keywords searched for by recruiters’ software.

Think of this as being similar to conducting a job search. Just as you type in certain keywords to look for specific positions, recruiters search for developers with certain programming skills.

Create a list using bullet points to make it easy to scan. Consider listing your skills by competency to make it easy for recruiters to spot your specialties and areas of expertise.

Work experience

After your technical skills, add a section summarizing your experience with back-end development, such as jobs, freelance projects, or volunteer work. Include the names of your employers and briefly describe two or three of your primary responsibilities.

Try to include something quantifiable — recruiters love to see measurable items like “reduced lead time from idea to software delivery by 10%.” If you don’t have work or volunteer experience, list your projects instead.

Education

Even without a degree, you should still highlight your education in your resume. List any relevant coding courses you’ve taken, along with any certifications you’ve received, to highlight your credentials. If you prefer, consider titling this section “Coursework and Certifications.”

Don’t forget the cover letter

A cover letter is what introduces you to a recruiter or prospective employer. It’s a great opportunity to sell yourself. Recruiters may even read it before your resume, so make it count.

Your cover letter should be specific to the job, so you’ll want to tailor it for each position you apply to. Begin by introducing yourself. Provide a short statement about why you enjoy working as a Back-End Developer and why you want to work for that specific company. Then, summarize your experience and skills, taking care to mention any notable projects you’ve completed.

Make your cover letter short and to the point. A few paragraphs should suffice. If you include it with a resume, format it in block style like you would a business letter. If you’re sending it as an email, be sure to include an opening salutation like “Dear,” followed by the recipient’s name, and a complimentary close such as “Sincerely.”

Accompany every resume you send out with a cover letter, even if it’s not required. The only time you should skip this step is if the employer specifically requests that a cover letter not be sent, though this is rare.

How to build a Back-End Developer portfolio

A Back-End Developer portfolio is a website showcasing your skills and experience through projects. These portfolios help illustrate what you can do to potential employers and clients.

Be creative when building your portfolio website. It should look professional while showing off your personality.

Incorporate visuals that will grab the attention of visitors. These can be in the form of your logo or other graphics. Don’t be too busy with visuals, or they might detract from your content.

Include a skills page

Though you’ll list these in your resume, it helps to highlight them in your portfolio if a recruiter views it first. List the programming languages, libraries, frameworks, and other tools in your tech stack.

Include a list of projects

These can be projects you completed during your coursework or on the job. Either way, they’ll illustrate your proficiency with the tools listed above.

Create an About page

Here’s where you can tell visitors a little about yourself. Include how long you’ve been working in the industry, why you chose this field, and past employers or clients. If you’re new to the industry, substitute this last piece of information with any certifications you’ve received.

Add your contact info

Potential employers and clients who view your portfolio need to know how to contact you. Add your email address and links to any of your social media profiles. Make sure these are pages you frequently update to show that they’re still active.

Update your portfolio

You’ll want to consistently tweak your portfolio to ensure it’s always up to date — especially as you complete new projects.

Review all work before posting it live. This will help you avoid making unnecessary mistakes that could potentially cost you a job.

How to prepare for a Back-End Developer interview

The point in creating a resume and portfolio is to help you land an interview. During your interview, you’ll likely be asked questions about your experience in past roles and familiarity with various programming languages. These questions will help your interviewer determine how well you can perform the role’s duties and work on a team.

Your initial interview can take place either over the phone or in person. You’ll likely speak with the hiring manager or the leader of the team you’d be joining.

Before your Back-End Developer interview, there are several steps you should take to prepare.

Look up interview questions

Before your interview, you’ll want to rehearse with some practice questions. Search for these questions online, write them down, then practice your answers. This will spark your thought process and help you sound more confident when faced with those questions during your interview.

Make sure you’re able to speak well to any projects you’ve completed. Be prepared to explain what steps you took and why. You’ll also want to be able to speak to your experience, as your interviewer will want to know about your work ethic and response to certain situations.

Prepare for a technical interview

Your initial interviews might take place over the phone, or even virtually, on platforms like Skype or Zoom. If you do well, you’ll proceed to the next round of interviews, which often occur in person and sometimes include technical interviews.

During a technical interview, you’ll be asked to perform tasks that demonstrate your skills and help the recruiter gauge how well you’d fit in the company. The specific tasks you’ll carry out will vary by company, but they commonly include:

• Take-home assignments
• Pair programming, where you’ll partner with another developer to write code
• Whiteboarding

For tips on how to prepare, check out our technical interview guide.

Some interviewers may even delve into your familiarity with specific programming languages. To ensure you’re well-prepared, check out any of the Skill Paths below:

Interview tips

Here are some more tips to help you do well during your Back-End Developer interviews:

• Communicate with your interviewer. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
• Complete the take-home assignment in a distraction-free area. Many of these are timed. If you can’t complete it in the time you’re given, make notes about the steps you would take if you had the time. Many employers are more concerned with communication and problem-solving skills than those who can write code the fastest.
• The whiteboarding exercise allows you to solve problems and showcase your technical skills. Again, it’s more about the process, not the solution. In other words, it’s more about how you got to the answer than the answer itself.
• Practice interviewing alone and with others. Answer questions out loud just as you would when preparing for a presentation. Get friends and family members to ask you questions and ask them for feedback.

Getting started

After you’ve learned the required skills, built a portfolio, and created a resume, you’ll be well on your way to a career as a Back-End Developer. If you need help getting started, take a look through our programming courses to start learning any of the languages listed above.

Or, if you’re looking for more guidance on your journey, check out our Back-End Engineer Career Path. We’ll teach you the fundamentals of back-end development, programming languages and tools, and how to use them to build impressive projects that you can feature in your portfolio. You’ll also earn a certificate upon completion that you can feature in your resume.

It seems like there’s news of a security breach every other day. So much of our personal data is online, and cybercriminals are eager to take advantage of it. Cybersecurity professionals are on the front lines of this fight, helping organizations and individuals keep their information secure and defended against constantly evolving threats.

Cybersecurity is an exciting field with a highly in-demand job market. One recent survey found that 57% of organizations had unfilled cybersecurity positions on their team. To help you learn more about what it takes to become a cybersecurity professional, we’ll explore what it takes to enter the field and some of its most popular roles.

The path to a cybersecurity career

The first step on your path to a cybersecurity career is education. Cybersecurity professionals need to have a broad educational base, including knowledge of:

• Cybersecurity standards
• Cyber threats
• Cryptography
• Network security
• Device security
• Programming languages

While discussing cybersecurity in our forums, Carolyn Y., one of our Curriculum Developers, expands on the last point, explaining how:

“An all-around cybersecurity expert ideally knows a little of every language. However, there are specific languages to prioritize depending on different areas of expertise.”

Carolyn goes on to explain how different languages are used in cybersecurity, describing Python’s capacity for malware analysis, HTML and JavaScript’s role in web security, PHP’s utility in defending against DDoS attacks, and SQL’s use for protecting databases.

6 in-demand cybersecurity careers

Cybersecurity careers are varied, and there’s an option for every personality and work style. Let’s look at some of the options.

1. Cryptographer

Cryptography involves using encryption to protect information. For example, if you had a diary as a kid that you wrote in code so your parents couldn’t read it, that’s a basic form of cryptography.

Security systems use cryptography to encrypt sensitive information to prevent bad actors like cybercriminals from reading it. Healthcare, financial, business, military, and personal information all need to be protected. Cryptographers use a variety of encryption techniques to help us do so. According to ZipRecruiter, cryptographers make an average of $145,356 per year in the U.S.

2. Penetration Tester

Penetration Testers, also known as ethical hackers, help organizations identify their vulnerabilities by attempting to breach their cybersecurity defenses. To do so, they use various techniques to test systems, including phishing and social engineering.

Phishing involves using email to trick employees into downloading or revealing sensitive information. Social engineering is similar, but instead of sending an email, you gather information in person by posing as a new employee, a repair person, or someone else who could easily be able to infiltrate an organization. In the U.S., Penetration Testers make an average of $86,012 per year, according to Payscale.

3. Security Engineer

Security Engineers design secure systems and software. They assess potential threats, develop solutions to combat those threats, and then implement those solutions. They also identify when systems have been hacked, assess the damage, and improve their systems accordingly.

A Security Engineer’s role tends to be collaborative, so it’s a good fit for someone who likes to work in a team environment. They also need strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work well when the pressure is high. The average salary for a security engineer is $93,931, according to Payscale.

4. Security Administrator

A Security Administrator does many of the same tasks as a Security Engineer. The primary difference is that Security Administrators are often fully responsible for the network as a whole. Along with monitoring their systems for threats, testing for vulnerabilities, and installing solutions, they also train newer employees and develop policies.

The average salary for a Security Administrator is $91,661 per year, according to ZipRecruiter.

5. Forensic Computer Analyst

Forensic Computer Analysts are essentially detectives who use digital data to solve crimes. Their work requires patience and dedication, as it typically takes much longer than you might think to find the necessary data.

Forensic Computer Analysts might also work for private businesses to help improve security. The average salary for a forensic computer analyst is $74,896, according to Payscale.

6. Chief Information Security Officer

A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is an executive who oversees an organization’s cybersecurity department. They’re often responsible for staffing open cybersecurity positions, and they also coordinate with other executives to ensure their organization’s security needs are met. They may also help develop disaster recovery and business continuity plans.

The average salary for a CISO is $173,684, according to Glassdoor.

Getting started

Ready to get started with cybersecurity? There are several options for your first steps. For example, our Introduction to Cybersecurity course covers cybersecurity standards, cyber threats, cryptography, network security basics, and more.

You could also start by learning other essential skills, like the programming languages Carolyn recommended earlier in the article. To start learning those languages, use any of the courses below:

With an average salary of over $106,000, a career as a Software Engineer is an attractive option. In addition to the pay, software engineering is a valuable service that presents a stimulating challenge — and it can be a lot of fun. But can you become a Software Engineer without a degree? The answer is definitely yes.

Like many tech careers, your skills and professionalism have more weight than a piece of paper with a degree on it. If you can learn what you need to bring to the table and deliver, you can qualify for many Software Engineer jobs.

If you’re wondering whether being a Software Engineer is the job for you and what you need to succeed, read on. We’ll share what a Software Engineer does, the skills needed, how to write your resume, and what you can do to build your software engineer portfolio.

What does a Software Engineer do?

A Software Engineer develops software and systems for organizations. The range of solutions a Software Engineer designs is huge: from video games to operating systems to web applications and more.

In addition to writing the code and building solutions, a Software Engineer has to work with various people who have a vested interest in the success of the solution. These may include managers, executives, and other team members. A Software Engineer may also interact with end-users or focus groups that represent their needs.

At the end of the day, a Software Engineer’s job is all about designing software to solve problems. And the job market for Software Engineers promises to be strong for many years to come as the number of challenges that businesses face continues to grow. This is true regardless of the kind of Software Engineer you want to become.

For example, a Full-Stack Engineer designs everything needed for an application to work, including the entire front-end and back-end. But, you can choose to specialize in front-end or back-end development. Our Full-Stack, Front-End, and Back-End software development Career Paths are good places to begin your journey as a Software Engineer.

Xavier, a Software Engineer, outlines much of what’s involved in the video below:

He sums up software engineering this way: “At the end of the day, we’re all trying to solve different problems with code.”

What technical skills does a Software Engineer need?

A Software Engineer’s toolbox is built on specific technical skills to create solutions and address challenges the team and the organization face. A Software Engineer needs to have or develop the following skills:

• Programming language skills. The languages the engineer knows may vary based on the type of software engineering they do. But these are central to their success. You can explore various types of programming languages in our course catalog.
• Source control. Source control is used to help you manage and store your code. There are tools, like Git and Github, that make it easier to manage your code.
• Database creation and management. Databases store the data that applications use to serve end-users. Knowing how to make and program databases, using languages like SQL, will help a Software Engineer produce more complete solutions.
• Operating system management and control. While many Software Engineers will never have to build an operating system, it’s good to understand how different operating systems work. This knowledge will help you design solutions that use the operating system’s resources without inadvertently introducing vulnerabilities to the application, the computer, or the network it’s connected to.
• Microsoft Excel. Excel is a useful tool for tracking how a project is progressing and creating reports that outline the success or challenges of an application. It often plays a key role in reporting results to decision-makers and other stakeholders as well.
• Text editor. While it may seem more important to understand how to write code, text editor skills shouldn’t be overlooked. With many text editors, you can use keyboard shortcuts to make the entry and editing processes faster and more accurate. There are plenty of text editors you can familiarize yourself with, such as Notepad++, Atom, Visual Code, and others.
• Basic networking. In today’s cloud-heavy business environment, networks are essential in facilitating communication between people and systems and the deployment of software solutions. Many Software Engineers will have to understand how a client-server model works, which involves a server that hosts an application, making it available for multiple computers that are connected to its network.

What soft skills should a Software Engineer have?

Soft skills are those skills that, while not necessarily involved in coding, are still essential to the process of designing, producing, and presenting solutions. In many cases, soft skills involve interacting with others on your team or other stakeholders.

Xavier mentions several soft skills involved in the day-to-day lives of developers. He notes that although people often think a Software Engineer spends all day writing code, they have to do a lot more. For example, he says, “You are reviewing other peoples’ code, you’re meeting with other people to talk about how to do things… and you’re relying on other people a lot to do your job.” All of this requires a full set of soft skills.

Communication

Communicating — whether you’re absorbing the ideas of others or presenting your own — is pivotal to the success of a Software Engineer. A good communicator knows how to listen to the needs and ideas of others and incorporate what they learn into their solutions.

Communication also plays a central role in conveying the effectiveness of your solution to managers and executives. Whether presentations or chats across a table, these discussions need to take place to make it easy for the stakeholder to understand what’s going on. And a good Software Engineer needs to be able to get their ideas across in a way that makes sense to people who don’t have a technical background.

As Xavier points out, a Software Engineer has to work with “a Product Manager, a Data Scientist,” and others — all of whom “work together to build something for the user.”

Patience

Despite processing times that can take only nanoseconds, the overall software development life cycle is often very time-consuming. Developing the soft skill of patience will help you:

• Get along with team members. They may take an hour to do something you could do in 30 minutes, but, with patience, you can focus on the value of their solution instead of how long it took to create it.
• Avoid putting too much pressure on yourself. It’s easy to forget the value of being patient with yourself as a Software Engineer, particularly because you may have worked hard to get faster at some elements of your craft. Still, realizing that some things simply cannot be rushed can significantly benefit the end result.
• Work with slower systems. Testing and rollout can often take a long time. You may have a super-fast set up at home or may be coming from a company with a system that’s far faster than what you find in front of you. With patience, you can adjust to different operating speeds without getting frustrated.

Empathy

Empathizing involves putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. It’s different from sympathy, which involves merely understanding how someone else feels. So, an empathetic person can feel the emotions of others and imagine how their challenges impact them on a personal level.

With empathy, you can understand why an executive feels pressure from stockholders to get a solution ready before the next fiscal year begins. You can also understand the feelings of someone else on the team who put in a lot of time and effort — only to have their solution fail, perhaps multiple times.

You can also use empathy to understand the daily concerns and struggles your end-users are facing. This helps you better design your solutions as you focus on solving problems that will make their lives easier. Xavier explains it well as he notes that, “When writing code, you’re actually solving real problems in the world.” Understanding the emotional motivators at the core of these problems requires empathy.

How to write a Software Engineer resume

Your Software Engineer resume, especially if you’re just getting started, doesn’t have to list a long history of jobs, and it certainly doesn’t have to have a computer science degree at the top. The purpose of your resume is to clearly present the qualities and skills you have that will bring value to the organization you’re applying to.

So, it’s important to use verbs that convey the essential things you’ve done — either while working for another company or on personal projects. Some of the verbs to consider using include:

• Collaborated
• Designed
• Modified
• Implemented
• Determined
• Led
• Addressed
• Resolved

These kinds of verbs should begin the descriptions of what you have done in the past.

Further, you will want to ensure the following elements are included in your technical resume:

• Technical skills
• Certificates you’ve earned
• Courses and training you’ve completed
• Awards you’ve received
• Any volunteer experience you have, particularly if it incorporates technology or teaching others technical skills
• Personal projects you’ve done or are currently working on that exemplify skills your employer may be interested in
• Languages you can speak and/or write

How to interview for a Software Engineer position

The process of interviewing for a Software Engineer position will invariably involve answering questions about what you will bring to the company and those designed to test your technical skills. In many cases, you may have multiple interviews, and one may be primarily focused on observing how you solve a problem presented by the interviewer. This is referred to as a whiteboard interview, and during your presentation, you write out your solution on a whiteboard — live, in front of your audience. Here are some things to keep in mind during the various phases of the Software Engineer interview process.

Prepare to answer questions about what drives you

You may be asked why you enjoy being a Software Engineer. It would be best to answer this honestly, but be sure to highlight intrinsic motivations, such as the thrill of solving problems or helping people and organizations. You don’t want only to mention things such as salary, other opportunities it may make available (such as becoming a CIO), or being able to create your own schedule at times if you work from home. While these are all understandable reasons, they can change, depending on circumstances, and may come across as self-serving.

You may also be asked questions about what drives you to work for that particular company. You can highlight things such as:

• How your specific skill set can be useful for addressing a challenge the company is facing
• How you were inspired by a product, service, or innovation the company produced in the past
• How an element of the company’s culture, philosophy, or driving principles align with your sensibilities

Answering these questions correctly will require a good amount of research. You can often find most, if not all, of what you need on the company’s website and other resources online.

Practice and prepare for any presentations or whiteboard interviews

Presenting your work in front of people assigned to judge it can be nerve-wracking. The best way to shed some nerves and deliver a compelling presentation is to get lots of practice ahead of time.

In the case of a whiteboard interview, it’s unlikely that you’ll know the question ahead of time. So, when you practice for this type of interview, it’s helpful to set up your presentation environment by testing out the technology and getting the right lighting.

Also, during the whiteboard interview, remember to:

• Ask plenty of questions to clarify the requirements or to buy yourself some time to think and calm down.
• Write down all elements of your solutions and talk through them as you proceed, so your audience can fully understand.
• If you forget an element of syntax, write something in its place.
• Try not to say, “I don’t know.” Instead, you can say you don’t recall or that you would be happy to research the answer and report back.

In some interviews, you may get the chance to present work you’ve done in the past or specific elements of your portfolio. While practicing for this, remember to:

• Go through the presentation multiple times, specifically addressing areas that feel weak or thin.
• Use good lighting that prevents unnecessary shadowing on your face.
• Maintain interactive eye contact with the section of the screen where your audience’s faces will be; don’t bury your head in your notes.
• Use gestures as you speak. They convey enthusiasm and personal investment in what you’re talking about.
• Smile. It will relax both you and your audience.

We have courses specifically designed to help you perform your best during the interview process. As a Software Engineer, you can check out the following:

Building a Software Engineer portfolio

To build your Software Engineer portfolio, you’ll want to prioritize examples of your work that clearly convey your strengths that will be useful in the position you’re applying for. So, let’s say you’re applying to be a Front-End Engineer, you’ll want to position work you’ve done on user interface design higher in your portfolio than data analyst work. While your portfolio should still include some of the more tangential work you’ve done, you want someone skimming it to easily find what they’re looking for within a few moments.

Here are some other guidelines that will help your portfolio shine:

• Research the requirements of the role you’re applying to and cherry-pick samples that pertain to the job
• Make sure your portfolio is easy to read and navigate
• Use plenty of images and avoid long blocks of text
• Thoroughly explain charts and graphs. The reader shouldn’t have to scroll back up a few paragraphs to understand one of your visual elements.
• Invest in your own web URL, such as one that incorporates some or all of your name
• Ensure your contact information is right at the top. You can have a “Contact Me” page as well.

How long does it take to become a Software Engineer?

The time it takes to become a Software Engineer will vary depending on your circumstances. But, in general, you’ll learn the coding languages and technologies you need to engineer solutions. Then, you’ll start adding to your portfolio of work — even if that means taking on small or one-off jobs — just to build up your portfolio. The time it takes often depends on how much time you have in your schedule to learn the skills you’ll need and then build your portfolio.

With our courses, you can obtain the skills you need and develop your portfolio at the same time. As you interact with teachers and fellow students, you get real-life experience you can use while searching for your first software engineering job and for many years into the future. Start learning with us today for free.

Whether you’re new to the field of software engineering or you’ve been at this for a few years, having a polished resume is essential before you apply for your next position. The document itself might be compact, but it can take some time to craft if you don’t know where to start.

We’ve pulled together what you need to include on your Software Engineer resume so that you can save some time while writing yours. First, we go over what you need to include. Second, we have some tips if this is your very first Software Engineer resume. Last, we’ll show you where you can find additional resources to prepare for your new job and the interview process.

Why do you need a software engineering resume?

When you’ve had a long career in another field and a resume that is full of experience, you might think that will be enough to land an interview for a new career. But that’s not true, unfortunately. You need a technical resume that’s specifically crafted for the programming, engineering, or development job you are looking to land.

The purpose of a resume is to capture a snapshot of who you are professionally and what skills you have to get you into the “yes” pile of resumes for an interview. Some larger companies use resume scanning programs that look for relevant keywords and specific Software Engineer skills. So, if you’ve recently taken online courses in software engineering, you can highlight those courses as a way to include keywords and skills.  Read our tips on how to list online courses on your resume.

What should go on a software engineer resume?

There are a few key sections that need to be on your Software Engineer resume in order to get noticed by your hiring manager. Let’s take a closer look at what should be included in each section.

Contact information

Include your name, email address, mailing address, any social media handles, and a link to your portfolio if you have one. Keep these details in an easy-to-find spot so the hiring manager can effortlessly find them and get in touch with you, such as at the top or in the top right-hand corner. You could even use icons to draw the reader’s eye to your contact information.

A heading specific to software engineering

Even if you’re just starting out, consider giving yourself an appropriate title to signify you’re serious about being a Software Engineer and working in the field, such as Junior Software Engineer.

Programming skills

If the software engineering position you’re applying for has a specific set of required programming skills and your skills match those requirements, list them out in a section titled “Skills.” Be sure to only put the skills you actually have gained by learning on the job,  taking courses, interning, or teaching yourself. If the job you’re applying for requires web development skills, then be sure to list HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and any applicable libraries you’re familiar with. If the position requires back-end engineering skills, then be sure to also list those, including SQL, Python, and any other specifics.

Job experience

It’s standard to start with your most recent jobs and then move backward in time. If you’re lucky enough to have had a long and illustrious career, then you can pick and choose some of the more relevant experiences you’ve had through the years. But be mindful of too much information as you don’t want to bombard the recruiter with pages and pages of experience. Instead, use bullet points so you get to the facts quickly.

If this is your first job as a Software Engineer, you can still list your experience. But get creative about showing that you can solve problems, work with technology, and succeed in a team environment. It might not have been in the same role, but you can show you’re a reliable team member and great overall employee.

Courses and education

If you have a degree or certificate(s), be sure to list it on your resume. If you’ve earned a certificate, have a professional designation (like Professional Engineer), or have completed online courses, you can include these under the “Education” heading of your resume. There is high demand for Software Engineers, so don’t let your learning path stop you from applying for a job. What matters is that you have the skills — not how you got to the finish line.

What if this is your first Software Engineer job?

If this is the first resume highlighting your skills as a Software Engineer, you may not have a long list of relevant technical experience. That’s perfectly understandable and expected. You’re likely applying for a junior position, meaning your hiring manager will be expecting a Junior Software Engineer resume.

To compensate for not having a long list of jobs in the field, you could substitute in a section detailing your latest programming projects. These could be things you’ve created on your own, work you’ve taken on for free to build your portfolio, or projects that were part of online courses you completed.

You can also include a list of your online courses or certificates. This shows how you filled in any gaps in your knowledge on your own accord, and it’ll help show the recruiter that you have the skills required to be successful in the job.

While it may be your first job as a Software Engineer, you could actually have more skills than are necessary for the one you want. For example, you might have taken courses to be qualified as a Full-Stack Engineer, but the position you’re applying to is a Front-End Engineer (or Web Developer) position. Be sure to carefully select and highlight the skills that apply to the job you’re trying to land so that it’s easy for the hiring manager to see how you’re the right fit.

How to get ready for your Software Engineer interview

Once your Software Engineer resume is complete, it’s time to submit it to the company you’ve been dreaming of working for. Then, the next step is to prepare for the technical interview. It’s much more involved than other interviews because the hiring team needs to determine if you know what you’re talking about, and if you’ll fit in well with their team of developers and engineers.

If you want to learn more about technical interviews and brush up on your software engineering skills, consider our Full-Stack Engineer and Front-End Engineer Career Paths. Both of these Career Paths contain courses on what to expect and how to prepare for a technical interview.

Even someone with the most brilliant solutions can have little to no impact if they aren’t an effective communicator. This is especially true at the workplace and while on a job interview. As a good communicator, you can learn from others while conveying the value of your ideas, opinions, and feelings. Read on to learn how to communicate effectively at the workplace, during a job interview, and in life overall.

How to improve communication skills during an interview

Your job interview is your chance to show your interviewer that you can contribute ideas and develop effective solutions. It also allows them to gauge how well you can work with a team, accept feedback, and consider others’ thoughts and feelings.

There are several ways that you can illustrate your communicative skills during an interview. There’s more to communication than just what you say. Eye contact, facial expressions, and even your speech rate all contribute to your effectiveness as a communicator. Below, we’ll explore some tips for how you can improve your communication skills during a job interview.

Maintain eye contact

In many cultures, maintaining eye contact shows that you’re respectful, attentive, and fully present in a social situation. Still, for many people, eye contact can feel awkward. During a job interview, it’s best to try to overcome any discomfort you have with eye contact — especially if you’re interviewing in a country where it’s expected.

If your eyes dart around the room while someone is speaking, at a computer screen — or even worse, a phone — your interviewer may think you’re not invested in what they have to say or the position itself.

Maintaining eye contact during an interview is far easier if you’re confident about what you’re talking about. To ensure you’re ready for your interviews, you can check out our courses designed to help you say and do the right things while in front of a prospective employer:

The 50/70 rule

According to a report from Michigan State University, it’s best to maintain eye contact 50% of the time while speaking and 70% of the time while listening. When speaking, it’s common for people to allow their eyes to shift as they think about what to say. Plus, if you intently stare into someone’s eyes while talking to them, you may risk coming across as intimidating. Hence, the reduced eye contact while speaking.

Still, while listening, eye contact plays an integral role in the communication process. To achieve the 70% experts recommend, try to hold eye contact while your interviewer is speaking for between four and five seconds. Then, slowly glance off to the side as if you’re thinking about something they just said before reestablishing eye contact for another four to five seconds.

Control the speed of your speech

Speaking quickly is a natural result of nervousness, but you should try to avoid rattling off quick sentences during a job interview. Here are a few tips for controlling the speed of your speech:

• Focus on the beginnings and endings of each word you say. When you commit to saying each word completely — naturally, without over-annunciating — you both control your pace and make your words clearer.
• Pause in between sentences. At times, even a sentence that comes out quickly can still be understood if the listener has an extra moment to process it.
• Periodically check in with your listener. Taking brief breaks to ask questions like, “Does that make sense?” prevents you from quickly running through several sentences in a row. It also shows that you care about how what you say is coming across.

Use appropriate facial expressions

It’s OK to smile, especially if you’re nervous. A smile will put your interviewer at ease and may even encourage them to smile as well. Still, as a general rule, it’s typically best to mirror the expression of the person you’re speaking to. If they smile, you can too. If they look serious, you can show you appreciate the gravity of what they’re saying by slightly furrowing your brow or thoughtfully pursing your lips.

On the other hand, if you smile for the entire interview, even when the interviewer is talking about a troubling challenge the company is facing, you risk coming across as someone who takes important things too lightly.

Ask questions

Asking questions shows that you’re fully invested in the interview. While fact-seeking questions are excellent, you don’t have to limit yourself to general queries about the job or the organization’s goals. Feel free to ask clarifying questions that restate what was just said when your interviewer stops speaking or before forming a reply.

For example, after the interviewer explains how the DevOps team is structured, you could say, “So it sounds like the same person handles the roles of software tester and release manager. Do I have that correct?” They may nod their head or say yes. You can then continue, “That’s an interesting way of maintaining quality control. About six months ago, I worked on a team that took a similar approach…” This way, you show interest and attentiveness while highlighting your past experience.

General tips to improve communication skills at work

After the job interview, communication becomes even more important as you’ll need it to collaborate with others and effectively convey your ideas and solutions. Here are some tips for improving your communication skills at work:

Ask for feedback

Asking for feedback shows you are a thoughtful, humble person who wants to improve. While receiving feedback, you can also get actionable goals that you can use to measure your success.

Listen more than you talk

Talking too much during a conversation can make the other person feel undervalued. Devote more time to listening than talking. If you’re able to get the other person talking, you can learn from them, make them feel more comfortable, and earn a reputation as someone who cares about the opinions of others.

Pay attention to your nonverbal communication

Your body, like a picture, speaks a thousand words. Try the following:

• Keep your arms uncrossed while listening. This, in effect, shows you are welcoming the other person’s thoughts.
• Instead of facing the other person straight on, stand at a slight angle. In this way, they won’t feel trapped or boxed in by your body.
• Use gestures while giving a presentation. Keep your hands out of your pockets, and be sure to use them while trying to convey emotion.

Improving your communication skills will help you land the job you want and enhance your impact while there. With our courses, you can strengthen your knowledge base while improving your communication skills. Working with other students and teachers gives you the chance to practice active listening and contributing your ideas for the benefit of all involved. The connections you make can also boost your career prospects for many years to come. Get started for free today!