How to Become a Software Engineer Without a Computer Science Degree

I meet so many people who want to learn how to code but always seem to conclude with "I just don't know where to start! 😕".

Getting started is always the hardest 🎬. There are so many technologies and resources out there that it can be a bit overwhelming. So writing this post is my way of offering a starting point for people who are looking to transition into Software Engineering 💻.

So how do you become a Software Engineer without a CS degree?

Upon reflecting on my transition from a Pharmacist to a Software Engineer (SWE), I realised that it all boiled down to answering a series of ten essential questions. Therefore, to help you streamline your path into tech, I've decided to share these ten key questions with you along with some suggestions on how to answer them 📃.

In order to make these 10 questions more digestible, I have decided to create a 'Becoming A Software Engineer' series which will be released bit-by-bit in upcoming posts.

For the first post of the series, we're starting off strong 💪🏾 and looking at these two key questions:

❓What Is Software Engineering?

❓Why Should You Become A Software Engineer.?

What is Software Engineering?

So before we dive into the bulk of things, it's important to have a high-level understanding of what Software Engineering actually is 💻. In a nutshell, Software Engineers design and develop computer systems and programs that are used to solve real-world problems.

They also have to be able to test, improve, and maintain the software to ensure it works as it should. Your favourite apps and websites have all been developed, and are currently being maintained by a bunch of Software Engineers!

Software Engineers use code to create these solutions 👩🏽‍💻. Code is written text that instructs the computer to perform a specific task. There are different coding languages, each serving unique purposes (we’ll dive further into these later on in the series).

Why Should You Become A Software Engineer?

Software engineering skills are highly sought-after. As our world grows ever more tech-centred, more people are needed to drive this technical change. This means greater job security and pay 💲.

Glassdoor did a study in 2022 rating jobs in regard to pay, job satisfaction, and job openings. 50% of the jobs in the ‘top 20 best Jobs’ were tech-related 🔎.

The ability to work remotely, enjoy flexibility, and continue learning are just a few things that contribute to high job satisfaction.

In addition, it is an exciting field. I find being able to turn ideas into fully-fledged products that can improve the lives of thousands of people fascinating. Software engineering is altruistic in many senses, which, for me, helps me feel fulfilled knowing I’m actually having an impact with the work I do.

If you are not a female or from a minority ethnic group, you can skip this part.

Underrepresentation of these groups within the tech industry means:

• A lack of diverse perspectives and experiences.

• The development of technology that overlooks the needs and desires of these groups (or, even worse, discriminates against them, e.g., racial bias in AI).

• Lack of visible role models in the industry, thus discouraging others from pursuing this career and creating a negative cycle.

• Reduced innovation.

So, long story short, WE NEED YOU 🧑🏾‍💻!

Ultimately, ‘finding your why’ will be of great encouragement during your journey of becoming a Software Engineer.

Now that you have a clear understanding of what Software Engineering actually is, and have gathered some insight into why you should become one, we are ready to delve into the next stage.

To ensure you are notified about the next blog post in this series, sign up to the ✉️newsletter here!

Until then,

Ruth