# How to Become a Software Engineer: 7 Steps to Your First Job (With or Without a Degree)

> To become a software engineer, learn one language and the basics well, build two or three projects real people use, then apply early for entry-level titles like Software Engineer I, junior and associate. A degree helps but isn't required; without one, your projects and work history have to do the convincing.

Canonical: https://jobunlocked.com/blog/how-to-become-a-software-engineer
Last updated: 2026-11-05

Published: 2026-11-05
Author: JobUnlocked Team

## Key takeaways

- Learn one language and the basics well, build two or three real projects, then apply early for junior roles.
- A degree helps but isn't required. Without one, projects and work history have to prove you can do the job.
- Entry-level jobs are scarce, so search the right titles: Software Engineer I, junior, associate, new grad.
- A retail manager in Raleigh learning Python at night can get there, but should plan for months, not weeks.

You can become a software engineer without a computer science degree, but you can't skip the proof. Employers hiring juniors want to see that you can build and ship working software, and entry-level openings are a small slice of software jobs. So the plan is simple to say and hard to do: learn one language well, build a few real projects, and apply early for the right job titles.

This guide is for anyone starting out: a retail manager in Raleigh learning Python at night, a student choosing a path, or someone in IT or QA who wants to move into development. It covers the ways in, what employers check, the titles to search for and the mistakes that slow people down.

## The routes into software engineering

| Route                                               | How long                                   | Best for                                | Hardest part                            |
| --------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| [Computer science degree](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/how-to-become-a-software-engineer#computer-science-degree) | About four years                           | Students, and anyone aiming at big tech | Time and cost                           |
| [Self-taught](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/how-to-become-a-software-engineer#self-taught)                         | Many months of steady practice             | Disciplined career changers             | Structure and proof                     |
| [Coding bootcamp](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/how-to-become-a-software-engineer#coding-bootcamp)                 | A few months of study, then the job search | People who need a schedule and a cohort | Cost, and standing out among graduates  |
| [From a nearby job](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/how-to-become-a-software-engineer#from-a-nearby-job)             | Varies                                     | People in QA, IT support or data roles  | Getting your employer to let you switch |
| [Apprenticeship](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/how-to-become-a-software-engineer#apprenticeship)                   | Varies by program, and it's paid           | People who want to earn while learning  | Few openings, lots of applicants        |

## Is it still worth becoming a software engineer?

**Yes, for most people who enjoy it, but the first job is harder to get than it was a few years ago.** The pay and long-term demand are strong. Software developers earned a median of $135,980 in May 2025, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects jobs to grow 10% from 2025 to 2035, with about 106,100 openings a year ([BLS, 2026](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm)).

The squeeze is at the bottom. In Indeed Hiring Lab's latest study of job postings, only 4.5% of software development postings were entry-level, the lowest share of any field it looked at ([Indeed Hiring Lab, 2026](https://hiringlab.indeed.com/2026/07/23/the-labor-market-is-tilting-toward-seniority/)). That doesn't mean there are no junior jobs. It means each one draws a crowd, so where and when you apply matters as much as what you know.

AI changes the work, too. The BLS expects computer programmer jobs, which mostly turn specifications into code, to shrink 7% over the same decade, partly because AI automates routine programming ([BLS, 2026](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm)). The growth is in engineers who design, build and own software end to end.

## Do you need a degree to be a software engineer?

**No, but without one you need more proof.** The BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical way in. Among professional developers in Stack Overflow's 2025 survey, 45.9% had a bachelor's and 28% a master's. About 1 in 5 had no bachelor's degree or higher ([Stack Overflow, 2025](https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/developers)).

Many employers now write "degree or equivalent experience". Hiring hasn't moved as fast as the wording, though. A Burning Glass Institute and Harvard Business School study found that when large companies dropped degree requirements, the number of people they hired without degrees barely changed ([Burning Glass Institute, 2024](https://www.burningglassinstitute.org/research/skills-based-hiring-2024)). If you don't have a degree, assume your projects and work history have to answer the question the degree would have.

## Computer science degree

**This is still the most common route.** You get theory, internships through campus recruiting and a credential nobody questions.

**What's different:** internships matter as much as grades. An internship is often the most direct path to a new grad offer at the same company.

**Example:** a student who interns the summer before their final year can come back to school with a full-time offer already in hand.

**Common mistake:** graduating with coursework and no projects of your own. Employers still ask what you built.

## Self-taught

**This is the cheapest route, and the one that needs the most discipline.** You learn from free courses and documentation and build projects on your own schedule.

**What's different:** you have to create your own structure. Free, well-known options include freeCodeCamp, The Odin Project and Harvard's CS50.

**Example:** the retail manager in Raleigh might work through CS50, then build a stock-tracking app for their own store and keep improving it.

**Common mistake:** finishing course after course without building anything original. Tutorials teach; projects prove.

## Coding bootcamp

**Bootcamps trade money for structure and speed.** You get a set curriculum, deadlines and classmates over a few intensive months.

**What's different:** the bootcamp ends where the hardest part begins, which is the job search. Bootcamp graduates compete with each other and with computer science graduates for the same junior roles. Bootcamps are also a smaller route than their marketing suggests: only 5.2% of developers in Stack Overflow's 2025 survey said they learned to code through one in the past year ([Stack Overflow, 2025](https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/developers)).

**Example:** a bootcamp makes most sense for someone who has tried free courses, knows they like coding, and keeps stalling without deadlines.

**Common mistake:** trusting placement rates without reading how they're counted. Ask what share of graduates got software engineering jobs, not any job, within six months.

## From a nearby job

**Moving over from a job next to engineering is often the quietest way in.** QA testers, IT support staff, data analysts and implementation specialists already work with engineers and code.

**What's different:** your employer already trusts you, so an internal move can skip the crowded application pile. QA and test automation roles are a common bridge, because you write code to test software every day.

**Example:** a QA tester who writes automated tests in Python can ask to fix small bugs, then apply internally when a junior developer role opens.

**Common mistake:** waiting to be noticed. Tell your manager you want to move into development and ask what you'd need to show.

## Apprenticeship

**Apprenticeships pay you while you learn on the job.** A few large companies and some state programs run software apprenticeships for people without degrees.

**What's different:** openings are few and competitive, and many are only advertised on the company's own careers site for a short window.

**Example:** search for "software engineer apprentice" and "apprenticeship" alongside the company names you'd like to work for.

**Common mistake:** applying to only one program. Apply to every apprenticeship you qualify for in the same season.

## How to become a software engineer, step by step

1. **Pick a direction.** Web frontend, backend, mobile and data engineering all start in different places. Choose one to start; you can switch later.
2. **Learn one language and the basics properly.** Python or JavaScript is a good first language. Learn Git, the command line, basic SQL, testing and how the web works.
3. **Build two or three real projects.** Something people use beats a long list of tutorials. Put the code on GitHub with a clear README.
4. **Use AI tools, but understand every line.** 84% of developers in Stack Overflow's 2025 survey use or plan to use AI tools, and 66% said the biggest frustration was answers that are "almost right, but not quite" ([Stack Overflow, 2025](https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/ai)). Interviewers will ask you to explain your own code.
5. **Get some experience on your resume.** Contribute to open source, build something for a local business or automate a task at your current job.
6. **Write a one-page resume that leads with projects.** Our [resume builder](https://jobunlocked.com/resume) has developer templates such as Jake, Parker, Stack and Compact, and can tailor your resume to a specific job ad. It checks every rewritten line against your original resume and reverts any line that adds a tool, skill, number or duty you didn't list.
7. **Search the right titles and apply early.** See the table below.

## Which entry-level titles should you search for?

Junior roles hide under many names. Search for all of them, not just "junior software engineer".

| Title                          | What it usually means                                            |
| ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Software Engineering Intern    | Summer or semester role, often for students                      |
| Junior Software Engineer       | A first full-time engineering job                                |
| Software Engineer I            | The same as junior at many larger companies                      |
| Associate Software Engineer    | An entry-level title at banks, consultancies and large companies |
| New Grad Software Engineer     | Full-time roles for recent graduates, often hired in the autumn  |
| Software Engineer Apprentice   | Paid training, often open to people without a degree             |
| QA or Test Automation Engineer | A common bridge into development                                 |

In our listings, internships are the most common entry-level software title, followed by junior, Software Engineer I and associate.

## How long does it take to become a software engineer?

**It depends on the route, and the job search is part of the time.** A computer science degree takes about four years. Self-taught learners and bootcamp graduates usually need many months of steady practice before they're ready, then a job search that can take months more.

Separate the two in your plan. Learning time is in your control. Job search time depends on the market, so start applying once you have two solid projects instead of waiting until you feel ready.

## Common mistakes to avoid

| Do                                     | Don't                                       |
| -------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| Learn one language well                | Jump between five languages                 |
| Build projects real people use         | Fill GitHub with tutorial copies            |
| Explain every line of code you show    | Submit AI code you can't explain            |
| Search all entry-level titles          | Search only "junior software engineer"      |
| Apply within a day or two of a posting | Wait weeks and apply with the crowd         |
| Look beyond big tech                   | Apply only to the five best-known companies |

## What fits your situation

| Your situation                             | Best route                               | Why                                             |
| ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| Student choosing a degree                  | Computer science degree with internships | The most direct route into new grad roles       |
| Career changer with savings and discipline | Self-taught                              | The cheapest route, if you can keep going alone |
| Career changer who needs structure         | Coding bootcamp                          | Deadlines and a cohort, if you choose carefully |
| Already in QA, IT or data                  | Move over internally                     | Your employer already trusts you                |
| No degree and need income while learning   | Apprenticeship                           | Paid training, but apply widely                 |

## How to actually do it

1. **Pick one direction and one language** this week, and stick with them for three months.
2. **Build your first real project** before you take another course.
3. **Search entry-level roles** on JobUnlocked: [entry level software engineer jobs](https://jobunlocked.com/jobs/entry-level-software-engineer), or all [software engineer jobs](https://jobunlocked.com/jobs/software-engineer) on company websites. Every job links to the company's own posting.
4. **Check new postings daily.** Junior roles fill fast, so look at [entry-level software jobs posted today](https://jobunlocked.com/jobs?category=software_engineering,backend,frontend,fullstack,mobile&seniority=intern,junior&posted=1d) and save the search for a daily email.
5. **Consider a bridge role** such as [QA engineer jobs](https://jobunlocked.com/jobs/qa-engineer) if you're struggling to land a developer job directly.
6. **Tailor your resume to each job** and keep it readable by hiring software. The [ATS-friendly resume guide](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/ats-friendly-resume) covers formatting, and [the best job sites for software engineers](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/best-job-sites-for-software-engineers) covers where else to look.

**Bottom line:** You can become a software engineer with or without a degree, but you need proof: a language learned well, real projects and a resume that leads with them. For the retail manager in Raleigh, that means one language, one project people use, and early applications to [entry level software engineer jobs](https://jobunlocked.com/jobs/entry-level-software-engineer) on JobUnlocked.

## Frequently asked questions

### How long does it take to become a software engineer?

A computer science degree takes about four years. Self-taught learners and bootcamp graduates usually need many months of steady practice, plus a job search that can take months more. Plan for the job search as well as the learning.

### Do you need a degree to be a software engineer?

No, but it helps. The BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry route, and most working developers have one. About 1 in 5 professional developers in Stack Overflow's 2025 survey had no bachelor's or higher, so it can be done with strong projects.

### Is software engineering still worth it?

For many people, yes. Software developers earned a median $135,980 in May 2025, and the BLS expects 10% job growth from 2025 to 2035. The hard part is the first job, because few postings are entry-level.

### Will AI replace software engineers?

Not the job as a whole, so far. The BLS expects software developer jobs to grow while computer programmer jobs shrink, as AI automates routine coding. Most developers already use AI tools, but they still have to check and fix what the tools write.

### Is it hard to become a software engineer?

Learning to code is hard but doable. Getting the first job is the harder part right now, because entry-level postings are a small share of software jobs. Strong projects, a focused resume and applying early make the biggest difference.

### Can you learn software engineering for free?

Yes. freeCodeCamp, The Odin Project and Harvard's CS50 course are free and well known. Free courses teach the skills; you still need to build your own projects to show employers what you can do.

## Sources

- [Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm) - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- [Computer Programmers](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm) - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- [2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey](https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/developers) - Stack Overflow
- [The Labor Market Is Tilting Toward Seniority](https://hiringlab.indeed.com/2026/07/23/the-labor-market-is-tilting-toward-seniority/) - Indeed Hiring Lab
- [2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey: AI](https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/ai) - Stack Overflow
- [Skills-Based Hiring: The Long Road from Pronouncements to Practice](https://www.burningglassinstitute.org/research/skills-based-hiring-2024) - Burning Glass Institute and Harvard Business School