How can you become a professional software engineer in 6 months?

According to the 2017 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, less than a quarter of professional developers have majors other than computer science – but what’s it really like to be one of them? So – how to become a software engineer after doing mechanical engineering?

“Coding is one of the skills that can be self-taught,” says Xi Li, Agoda Singapore’s first and only female software engineer who taught herself Java and Scala. “However, it is not for everyone, just as not everyone can be a doctor or a lawyer.” Xi, a former mechanical engineer, discusses how she landed her first software engineer job in Singapore after 6 months of self-learning, and what it means for her to join Agoda’s Technology team as the next chapter in her developer career.

Start with the right motivation

While media coverage of xx-turned-developers is almost always motivated, it should not be the only reason for changing careers. As a key success factor for self-taught, career-changing engineers, Xi emphasizes the importance of having valid motivation. “The beginning, like everything else, is the most difficult. You won’t make it through the steep learning curve if you don’t have enough drive.”

“I majored in Mechanical Engineering at university, so it’s no surprise that my first job after graduation was as a mechanical engineer.” However, the mechanical industry began to decline halfway through my second year as a result of the oil price collapse. That’s when I became interested in growing industries like technology and began learning Java after work.”

Read, Practice, and get a job

Xi spent the first few weeks reading books like Java Basics to get a handle on the syntax. “There is no magic elixir for learning because everyone begins at a different point.” I already had a foundation in computer programming from undergraduate courses such as “Basic Knowledge of C++” and “Computer Organization,” so my first and foremost priority before diving into actual code writing was to refresh the knowledge I had learned many years ago.”

Xi also claims that joining a digital agency as their first job after six months of self-learning was critical in turning her passion into a career. “On-the-job learning accounts for 70% of all learning.” When you’re looking for your first job but have no experience. It’s a good starting point to take coding tests and attend technical interviews to gain real-world experience and eventually refine your skills.”

Staying competitive as a software engineer

Despite the fact that Xi has over a year of professional experience and is now comfortable working as a software engineer, she wishes to continue developing her skills. “With the tech industry growing faster than ever, new frameworks and technologies emerge almost daily.” It’s critical to keep up with new techniques and approaches.”

Apart from news, books, and communities, Xi considers her colleagues to be the best source of learning and inspiration. “I joined Agoda primarily because of its advanced technology, both the stack and the team.” Everyone on my team is self-taught in some way, which is what keeps me challenging myself and learning new things.”

This is how one can pursue their passion for software engineering in just 6 months. To know more about online certification courses for mechanical engineers click here.