Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement for Computer Software Engineers

Computer tech schools & IT training programs in:

Alabama - Idaho | Illinois - North Carolina | Ohio - Wisconsin

Alternative Courses of Study:

• Online Computer and Information Technology Programs
• Home Study Programs

Most employers prefer to hire persons who have at least a bachelor's degree and broad knowledge and experience with computer systems and technologies. Usual degree concentrations for applications software engineers are computer science or software engineering; for systems software engineers, usual concentrations are computer science or computer information systems. Graduate degrees are preferred for some of the more complex jobs.

Academic programs in software engineering emphasize software and may be offered as a degree option or in conjunction with computer science degrees. Students seeking software engineering jobs enhance their employment opportunities by participating in internship or co-op programs offered through their schools. These experiences provide students with broad knowledge and experience, making them more attractive candidates to employers. Inexperienced college graduates may be hired by large computer and consulting firms that train new hires in intensive, company-based programs. In many firms, mentoring has become part of the evaluation process for new employees.

For systems software engineering jobs that require workers who have a college degree, a bachelor's in computer science or computer information systems is typical. For systems engineering jobs that place less emphasis on workers having a computer-related degree, computer training programs are offered by systems software vendors, including Microsoft, Novell, and Oracle. These training programs usually last from 1 to 4 weeks but are not required in order to sit for a certification exam; several study guides also are available to help prepare for the exams. However, many training authorities feel that program certification alone is not sufficient for most software engineering jobs.

Professional certification is offered by the Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals. This voluntary certification is available to those who have a college degree and at least 2 years of experience. Candidates must pass an examination covering general knowledge and two specialty areas or one specialty area and two computer programming languages. In addition, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society recently announced plans to certify software engineers who pass an examination.

Persons interested in jobs as computer software engineers must have strong problem-solving and analytical skills. They also must be able to communicate effectively with team members, other staff, and the customers they meet. And because they often deal with a number of tasks simultaneously, they must be able to concentrate and pay close attention to detail.

As is the case with most occupations, advancement opportunities for computer software engineers increase with experience. Entry-level computer software engineers are likely to test and verify ongoing designs. As they become more experienced, computer software engineers may be involved in designing and developing software. They eventually may advance to become a project manager, manager of information systems, or chief information officer. Some computer software engineers with several years of experience or expertise find lucrative opportunities working as systems designers or independent consultants or starting their own computer consulting firms.

As technological advances in the computer field continue, employers demand new skills. Computer software engineers must continually strive to acquire new skills if they wish to remain in this extremely dynamic field. To help them keep up with the changing technology, continuing education and professional development seminars are offered by employers and software vendors, colleges and universities, private training institutions, and professional computing societies.