Should I become software engineer? This is the question in mind of many students who are in engineering colleges or studying in high school. If you just became software engineer (less than 2-3 years experience), you may want to understand these points.
1. Life long learning
Technology is changing everyday. What was there last year, may not be relevant this year. You just learned and it is now obsolete. This is unique thing about this profession. Learning is continuous and yes, it requires focused study just like what you had in college. May be more as now it is matter of your life, earnings and life style need. If you want to be relevant in this profession, you must keep on learning new technologies. I started my career with IBM Mainframes (OS/390), moved to Unix, Oracle D2K, then to Java, PHP etc. Not sure how many programming languages I learned. Even programming methodologies changed from procedural to object oriented. Architecture changed from desktop application to n-tier to micro services. Every single aspect of technology has changed, and that too rapid and extreme. Question to ask, are you ready for this type of learning. If no, avoid getting into this profession.
2. Long Working Hours & On Call
You are working with systems which are supposed to run 24X7. If systems are running 24X7, you are also required to resolve in case there is any issue. Users expects site and applications running every single day and every single second with good performance.
Also most of the businesses are going for digitisation and automation at very rapid pace. What it means is that projects are stretched and requires professional who are working on those projects to work long hours. This is the need of the business!!!
3. Low barrier to entry in business and Starting own business
It is knowledge based industry and does not require huge Capital Investment. Because of that it is easy for others to enter into this business. People are resources. If you have people with technical, language and soft skills, you can enter into this business. We have been seeing other countries like China, Philippines, Romania, and many other countries are investing on people to grab global market share of this industry. Good thing about this low barrier to entry is that you can also start your consulting, support or similar business.
4. Sedentary Life
Most of the time you will be working at your desk. Yes, it means 8-10 hours. Obviously physical exercise will be negligible unless you plan physical exercise in your daily routine. And we all understand issues with sedentary life.
5. Difficult to Differentiate
Software Professionals work together to work on projects. Projects are big and require many people to work together. It also means you may be part of big team with similar profile people and it may be difficult to differentiate yourself from herd. That’s why we see everywhere software engineers.
6. Location of Opportunities
This industry is talent driven and hence located in a particular area/cities in a country where talent pool is created by industry. Example, In India, you will get opportunities in Bangalore, Noida, Gurugram, Pune, Hyderabad etc. In case your family is staying in some other area of country, you will have to relocate for better opportunity.
7. Working with similar profile people
You are working with similar profile people. You will not have subordinates like clerks etc. Positive side is that you are working with people who have similar thought process like yours. Downsize is that you may not have hierarchy as many organisations are flat.
8. Decent Salary
You will earn decent money. Don’t expect that you will become millionaire in short duration. In beginning, salary is much higher compare to other engineering professions or to other professional careers. Later gap is much less as you grow in age. Pyramid is much more flat and hence pressure on salaries at senior level. You also need to keep in mind that this industry works based on global labor arbitrage . It means opportunities may become lesser and lesser as new economy start providing better arbitrage. Similar phenomenon happened with Readymade Clothing and BPO industry.
9. Immigration Opportunities
Since this profession has opportunities world wide, very good chances that you might get immigration opportunities to other country like USA, UK, Singapore, Dubai, Australia etc
10. Job Satisfaction – Continuous Creation
This is beauty of this profession. You work on new things and new challenges everyday. You are learning and applying your learning on daily basis. Each successful project gives you feeling of accomplishment.
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