In the past three decades, software employment has taken the world by storm, and this next decade promises growth that is unmatched in the job market as a whole. Software is rapidly becoming smarter, faster, and more relevant. The ways we think about how we develop software are also evolving quickly. This isn’t your father’s old desk job any more. With a wide variety of the types of software work that is needed, with a wide range of skillsets required, and with a wide range of innovation still yet to be untapped, software employment is where the action is, and it will offer opportunity for years to come.
Description of Software Employment
Most companies that provide opportunities in software employment require a Bachelors Degree, preferably with a major in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Computer Engineering. A Masters Degree in Computer Science will give you an edge in the hiring process and can help you get your career jump started a bit more quickly. Exposure and experience with a variety of computer systems is a plus as well.
What types of software employment opportunities are there? In a nutshell, software employment seeks to find personnel to: interface with the customer to determine software requirements; develop tests based on the requirements; design and implement the software; test the software; and document the software. Project managers, project leaders, and software development line managers are also needed to oversee the work being done.
The point is that software employment involves a diversity of roles and provides a variety of opportunities. The person who is good at defining requirements may not be good at software design; someone good at testing might not be good at writing code. Successful software employment processes will discern these distinctions and find the appropriate personnel for the job openings.
Software Employment Career
Software employment provides a wealth of variety in the types of software being developed and produced. Whether it is in databases, operating systems, network communications, user interfaces, embedded systems, artificial intelligence, data warehousing, information technology, compilers and software development tools, or anything in between, there is a wide variety of software just waiting for the next generation to be developed.
In terms of a career track in software employment, companies typically provide two routes, technical and managerial. The technical route generally involves starting at an entry level position, often involving working with a mentor or project leader. As experience is gained, more responsibility is handed out; as ability is demonstrated, more and more opportunities open up in software design and software architectural roles. As the software developer demonstrates organizational ability and shows responsibility in meeting deadlines, in subdividing tasks, and in leading the work of others, opportunities may open up in project management or line management as well. Having business skills certainly can help a person who is interested in moving into management.
Salary and Benefits in Software Employment
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the growth in software employment from 2006 through 2016 will be approximately thirty-eighty percent (38%), or 324,000 more jobs, which represents a significant and encouraging growth opportunity.
In 2006, the median salary for an application software engineer was approximately $79,000. The median salary for a computer systems software engineer was approximately $85,000.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers reported that in 2007 the starting salary for computer science graduates (Bachelors) was $53,000, and the starting salary for computer engineering graduates (Bachelors) was $56,000.
Benefits will vary considerably depending on the company, but because of the high demand of quality software engineers, most companies offer competitive benefits.
Opportunities in Software Employment
In a tightened economy, positions in software employment are not always abundant and some patience is required when seeking opportunities. Still, as technology advances, more software employment is needed to meet the growing demand.
In recent years, many companies in the United States have been turning to offshore resources to help achieve software goals in a more cost effective way. While that started in the field of software testing – hiring groups of software testers overseas to meet the testing needs of a product – there is now a growing trend to actually develop some of the software overseas as well.
This really should not be surprising, and in fact it should be encouraged. The competitive nature that comes to play in this context is healthy at keeping all interested parties motivated in performing at their best.
Software Employment Resources
There are a number of employment resources available.
Software Employment Job Banks (http://www.employmentspot.com/careers/computers-it/software-employment-job-banks/): This site is a collection of sites, usable by both job seekers and employers.
Jobs for Programmers (http://www.prgjobs.com/): This site includes a section for recruiters and the resumes are searchable.
iHireprogrammers (http://www.ihireprogrammers.com): has links to software employment sites per state as well as individually posted jobs.
In addition to web sites, there are good books available on software employment opportunities. One of the best I’ve seen is The Software Programmer – Consultant – Network Engineer – Application Developer Career and Job Guide (ISBN 1-9336399-05-9). This book discusses not only current opportunities and where the software employment jobs are, but it helps the reader position himself so that he can leverage his experience and education fully.
Software Employment Conclusion
So why are you waiting? If you are looking for a rewarding and fulfilling career, one in which software employment demand will be high for years to come; if you’re looking for a career that offers a variety of work for people with a variety of skill sets; if you’re looking for a career that pays competitively and offers significant stability, and if you are looking for a career that will allow a bright and creative mindset to be highly successful, a career in software employment may be exactly what you need.
