Is Software Engineering Hard?
Yes, Software Engineering is hard and challenging by many standards. Not only is studying Software Engineering hard, it is also a hard job to work as a Software Engineer in the real world. There are always bugs to fix, deadlines to meet, divs to center 😂😂, updates, and upgrades.
Software Engineers develop systems that help to make the lives of many people better, but this is not an easy thing to do. It takes years of research and dedication. It involves a lot of calculations, testing, debugging, and more to come up with a great system.
This is why Software Engineers are trained to be problem solvers. Their training is not kind either, if you have an aptitude for math and you can easily pay attention to detail, then you will love most aspects of software engineering. If you are the opposite, you will have to work much harder.
The Software Engineering training includes classes in Programming, Computer Systems, Operating Systems, Computer Architecture, Algorithms and Data Structures, Networks & Communications, Artificial Intelligence, Electronics, Object Oriented Analysis & Design, Advanced Distributed Systems, and more.
You will also take math classes such as Analytic Geometry, Discrete Math, and Numerical Analysis. These classes involve a combination of calculus, proofs, and approximations. You will also have weekly or biweekly labs coupled with a quarter or semester-long project.
If you have challenges working with Math, you will have difficulties with some of the fundamentals of Software Engineering. However, if you have an aptitude for Math, you are going to find some Software Engineering concepts easy to understand and work with.
HOW HARD IS SOFTWARE ENGINEERING?
Software Engineering is among some of the challenging engineering disciplines by many standards. There is a lot of Discrete Math and Numeric approximations involved which has to do with a lot of proofs. This means there is a lot of abstract thinking involved.
When you are tackling software engineering problems, you need to think outside the box. It is no surprise that most software engineering whiteboard interviews are hard even for seasoned software engineers.
The Software Engineering coursework is so demanding, you will have to put in a lot of work of study and practice to be a successful Software Engineer, add to that laboratory experiments and reports and you will begin to see how much time you will have to spend on your books.
When you choose Software Engineering, you have chosen a lifetime of learning. You need to keep learning to stay relevant in Software Engineering, you need to embrace new ideas and stay abreast with recent developments.
Software Engineering jobs are also challenging, Software Engineers design, develop, test, analyze, and maintain computer systems, these can range from operating systems, computer applications, social media platforms, e-commerce platforms, compilers, device drivers, EV Software, and more.
A lot of calculations and testing are done to make sure that these systems function properly and remain secure, none of this is easy, it takes a lot of discipline, study, and hard work.
IS SOFTWARE ENGINEERING WORTH IT?
If Software Engineering is hard, is it even worth it to become one?
Yes, Software Engineering is worth it because of the many benefits that come with it. Software Engineering has many applications in business, communication, transportation, computing, socialization, healthcare, banking systems, consumer electronics, and many other fields too numerous to mention.
Here are some of the benefits of software engineering.
- HIGH INCOME
When you study Software Engineering, you will have an opportunity to earn some of the highest salaries in the industry. According to Indeed.com, some top companies in the United States pay up to $194 204 per year.
And according to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for a Software Engineer is $151,978 per year in the United States. It is worth noting that salaries are going to vary depending on the country, experience, and the company you are working for.
Ultimately, salaries for Software Engineers are generally high in many countries.
- SOLVING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS
Software Engineers are trained to solve problems in many different fields. When you think of the scale and magnitude of the applications of Software Engineering, it will become vividly clear why software engineering is worth it.
Software Engineers solve real word problems in business, communication, transport, computing, healthcare, and many others. Think of the software that powers smartphones, healthcare systems, modern logistic systems, education, entertainment, etc.
Software Engineers are also working on machine learning algorithms and models that can help us quickly diagnose diseases, find new medicines, and live more healthily. This alone makes software engineering worthwhile.
- STARTUPS
Software Engineers can also use their software engineering skills and knowledge to build a software startup. This startup if successful can provide employment and change the way we do business, access entertainment, and more.
There are numerous software stories that have taken the world by storm and forever changed the way we go about our everyday activities. From Software as a Services (SaaS) to social media platforms, video platforms, e-commerce platforms, etc. all born from the skills of software engineers.
- WORKING FOR BIG TECH COMPANIES
When you study Software Engineering, you open up opportunities to work for big technology companies around the world. These are Companies such as Google, Apple, Samsung, ByteDance, Netflix, IBM, Intel, Tesla, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and many others.
These companies provide amazing perks to keep their talented engineers. Working for these companies is a dream that every engineer would cherish. These opportunities make becoming a software engineer worth it.
Working with these big companies helps you to take part in some of the biggest, life-changing projects. You will be working on a great range of projects from EV software, big data technologies, machine learning projects, cloud computing tech, developer tools & platforms, etc.
DEMAND FOR SOFTWARE ENGINEERS
There are many people who are interested in Software Engineering and the question they always ask is: IS THERE DEMAND FOR SOFTWARE ENGINEERS?
Yes, there is a huge demand for talented Software Engineers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Overall employment of software engineers is projected to grow 25 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 162,900 openings for software engineers, quality assurance analysts, and testers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. This shows that Software Engineers are in demand and there is a future for Software Engineers.
CONCLUSION
Software Engineering is hard and challenging, it requires great attention to detail, critical thinking, and well-developed problem-solving skills. If you have an aptitude for math, you will find some aspects of software engineering much easier.
Although Software Engineering may be challenging and hard, it promises a rewarding career with many opportunities and high-paying jobs. Software Engineers can work in many different industries such as Artificial Intelligence, Education, Aerospace, Healthcare, Automobile, Banking, and many others.
