A career in software development can take a lot of different forms. You can focus on web development, mobile apps, embedded systems, and more.
Virtually every industry needs software solutions, and the impact your work can have is enormous.
So what specific options are there, and what are the essential skills you need to pursue them?
In this blog, we explore the wide range of career opportunities within the software development sector. Discover the most important programming languages, frameworks, and technologies to focus on. Plus, get the latest details on job prospects and industry trends.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Why Choose a Career in Software Development?
- Exploring Career Paths in Software Development
- Mastering the Tools of the Trade
- Navigating the Software Development Job Market
- Leveraging Software Development Training Opportunities
WHY CHOOSE A CAREER IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT?
A career in software development can be an excellent choice for those with a passion for innovation and problem solving. The field provides both intellectual challenges and creative opportunities as you design, code, and optimize software solutions. And the dynamic nature of the industry means you will always be learning and adding to your skillset. You’ll certainly never be bored.
It also doesn’t hurt that software developers tend to make pretty good money. According to the Government of Canada Job Bank, the median salary for developers is roughly $93,000, with the top earners making over $130,000. And if you market your skills as a contractor or consultant, you could potentially earn even more.
EXPLORING CAREER PATHS IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
If you pursue this field, what exactly will you end up doing? Below are details on some of the main career paths available in software development.
Software Developer
Software developers design, code, test, and maintain software solutions that meet user needs. They might focus on applications, like programs, browsers, or games. Or they might focus on the underlying operating systems that keep computers, cars, phones, and other consumer electronics working.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Gathering and analyzing business or user requirements
- Mapping out the design of an application or system
- Writing and testing code
- Analyzing error logs and debugging code
- Updating existing software or recommending upgrades
Software developers design and build programs that meet specific requirements
Front-End Developer
Front-end developers design and maintain the parts of websites or web applications that users see (i.e., the client side). They focus on user interfaces and experiences. Fundamentally, front-end development is about ensuring that the site has a clean, attractive layout, is easy to navigate, and is quick and responsive.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Translating design mockups into code
- Creating interactive features
- Implementing responsive layouts that adapt to different devices
- Ensuring that the user interface looks and works correctly across different browsers
- Optimizing images and using caching mechanisms to speed up load times
Back-End Developer
Back-end development is all about what happens behind the scenes. These developers build the code that allows the application, server, and database to talk to each other. While front-end developers deal with the client side, back-end developers focus on server-side functions like storing data, making calculations, and delivering data to the front end.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Controlling the behaviour and functionality of the server
- Designing and maintaining databases
- Creating application programming interfaces (APIs) that connect the front-end and back-end components
- Encrypting sensitive data
- Improving response times and reducing latency
Full-Stack Developer
As the name suggests, full-stack development encompasses both the front and back ends. These developers can handle all aspects of application development, from user interface design to server-side logic.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Creating responsive and visually appealing front-end components
- Ensuring seamless integration between user interfaces and server-side functions
- Creating database schemas, writing queries, and facilitating the efficient storage and retrieval of data
- Developing and maintaining APIs
- Troubleshooting software and fixing bugs
Mobile App Developer
Mobile app development involves creating programs for phones, tablets, and other portable devices. These developers typically work in iOS or Android, creating native or cross-platform applications.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Writing code optimized for each operating system
- Designing and implementing user interfaces
- Leveraging device-specific features like cameras, GPS, and push notifications
- Optimizing code and other assets to minimize load times
- Ensuring the app functions correctly and meets quality standards
DevOps Engineer
DevOps engineers bridge the gap between development and operations, focusing on automating and improving the software delivery and deployment processes. Their role is to get siloed teams working better together and streamline and speed up the release of quality products. It’s about promoting collaboration and removing barriers.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Maintaining continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines
- Automating repetitive development tasks
- Tracking the performance of applications and infrastructure
- Facilitating communication between development and operations teams
- Looking for ways to reduce the time needed for projects and updates
Software Architect
Software architects design the overall structure and framework of a piece of software. They provide a roadmap for development and ensure that the final product is robust, scalable, and aligned with the organization’s goals. This is not an entry-level role; software architecture design requires several years of development experience.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Working with business analysts and other stakeholders to gather requirements and understand constraints
- Defining how different system components will interact
- Choosing the appropriate technologies and frameworks for the project
- Providing guidance and leadership to the development team
- Establishing coding standards and conducting code reviews
Software architects are senior-level developers who are in charge of the overall design
MASTERING THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE
There are literally thousands of tools that software developers can draw upon. If you’re looking to get started in the field, you need to know which ones you should be familiar with.
Programming Languages
Coding is the basis for any software development career, but which specific languages should you focus on? Here are the top five most-used programming, scripting, and markup languages, as noted in Stack Overflow’s survey of professional developers:
- JavaScript: Used for creating dynamic and interactive elements within web browsers
- HTML/CSS: Used for creating the structure, style, and layout of web pages
- SQL: Used for accessing, managing, and manipulating relational databases
- Python: Used for web development, data analysis, task automation, and other applications
- TypeScript: A superset of JavaScript that allows developers to define types for variables and integrate type safety
Herzing software development instructor Naresh Nagandla has more than 15 years of experience in the field. He says the key thing is to have a solid grasp of object-oriented programming concepts. “That’s the core of any programming language, whether you’re dealing with .NET or C# or TypeScript,” he explains.
“If Amazon is interviewing you for a junior developer position, they don’t really look for which programming language you know. Instead, they give you an algorithm and see what kind of output you can write. So that’s all about object-oriented programming concepts and analytical thinking.”
Programming languages are the foundation of any career in software development
Other Software Development Tools and Platforms
The Stack Overflow survey also sheds light on other tools and platforms professional developers work with. For instance, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is by far the most-used cloud platform, receiving almost twice as many votes as runner-up Microsoft Azure.
Other popular frameworks and technologies include:
- React: A JavaScript library for building user interfaces; it allows developers to create reusable UI components
- js: A runtime environment that allows developers to execute code on the server side (that is, run web applications outside a browser)
- jQuery: A JavaScript library that provides cross-platform compatibility and simplified syntax; while it’s not needed much anymore, it’s still widespread in legacy web applications
- .NET: A framework developed by Microsoft that provides a comprehensive environment for building and running various types of applications; it’s the basis for C# programming
Soft Skills
Keep in mind that in addition to technical skills, most employers value software developers with soft skills like communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and adaptability.
“Communication skills are key. Companies want developers who can explain technical concepts,” says Naresh.
“If you create a program, you need to be able to explain how it’s going to work. What are the input parameters that we need to give? What are the output parameters that are coming out of the program you’ve written?”
NAVIGATING THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT JOB MARKET
Canada’s tech workforce grew by almost 16 per cent between 2020 and 2022, says the Scoring Tech Talent 2023 report from CBRE. And though layoffs and instability have recently impacted the tech industry, trends are currently looking more positive, with many organizations expected to boost hiring in 2024.
According to the Job Bank, Canada is grappling with a shortage of software developers that is expected to last until 2031. This occupation gets four out of five stars for outlook and growth in most provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta.
LEVERAGING SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
So how can you gain the knowledge and skills you need to improve your job prospects in software development?
Formal Training vs. Learning On Your Own
You can choose to go the self-taught route. However, many people appreciate the structure that a formal program provides. You get to learn from experienced and knowledgeable developers who can break the concepts down in a way that is understandable. Plus, when learning on your own, you could become complacent and only use the languages or tools you find easy or are already familiar with—in school, you’ll be pushed to learn a wider variety of technologies and methodologies.
Another major benefit to formal training is the opportunity to make industry contacts and complete an internship. Remember: in software development, practical experience is key to success. By completing a program that includes a work placement, you can get that real-world experience and make yourself more appealing to employers.
Software Developer Qualifications: Do You Need a Degree?
In many cases, no. While some companies will only hire developers with university degrees, many will accept candidates without one. In fact, according to the Stack Overflow survey, more than 1 in 5 professional developers do not have a bachelor’s degree. A college diploma is often enough to get your foot in the door.
READY TO KICK-START YOUR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT CAREER?
The accelerated software development diploma from Herzing College takes just 12 months to complete. Training is delivered online and includes a six-week internship for real work experience.
Click below to get complete program details and chat live with a friendly admissions advisor. We’re here to help!
