How to become a Software Engineer in South Africa
How to become a Software Engineer in South Africa
February 10, 2023 Comments Off on How to become a Software Engineer in South AfricaHow to become a Software Engineer in South Africa.
Software Development at the moment is 1 of the 10 scarce skills needed in South Africa according to SA’s Youth Portal. Furthermore 4 of the 10 scarce skills mentioned are in IT. Also read our blog: How to become a freelance Software Engineer
This is rapidly becoming the trend in South Africa, driven by the fact that software developers in the country are actually the highest paid in the world. According to Offerzen they found that junior developers earned more in Cape Town than they did in Johannesburg.
In 2020, it seems that the trend remained the same. At R27.5K, junior developers with 0-2 years of experience in Cape Town earned 10% more than developers in Johannesburg. Offerzen also found out that with 2-4 years of experience in Pretoria earned on average R33.5K which is less than developers in Cape Town, but more than developers in Johannesburg who earned R31.4K per month on average.
According to stackoverflow’s developers report 2020, About 55% of respondents identify as full-stack developers, and about 20% consider themselves mobile developers.
But how can I become a software developer or software engineer?
Firstly to be a Software engineer, typically you need a combination of education, training, certifications and skills to earn a position as a software engineer.
The IT industry is quite different to most, in the sense they do look at education, but more so can you actually do the job and pass the test! Tech startups or even corporates hire a software developer with some knowledge of a programming language they need – that’s how high in demand the workplace is for programmers. Most of our graduates land a good junior developer job based on practical portfolio of work and that they get internationally accredited and recognized. I.e PCEP™ – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer
What do Software Engineers Do?
According to Indeed Software engineers develop systems and software for businesses. These products range from business applications and games to network control systems and operating systems. Overall a software engineer’s responsibilities may also include:
- Working with users to determine their software needs.
- Designing, developing and testing a system application. In turn according to the users’ specifications.
- Drawing diagrams and models that help developers create the appropriate code for the system.
- Document the system or application.
- All in all Maintain the system or application with updates and fixes as necessary.
- Give recommendations of software upgrades for existing systems or applications.
- Collaborate with developers and other engineers to create software.
In turn what are the options for education?
University route (Traditional) – All in all this is where you study for 3-4 years to get a degree or diploma. In turn this is a good route, if you got time, money and resources. But it’s not really needed, as many graduates get good paying jobs with ‘just’ an international short course certificate (less than 1 year). Don’t get us wrong, Degrees in Computer Science are great, but often just focus on the theoretical.
Modern trend – In turn this is short courses or coding bootcamps. Overall with just 3-6 months of full or part-time education. Thus that’s how long it takes to become a software developer in South Africa. In turn you learn practical skills in software development. Thus you cover practical examples of the the fundamentals of Computer Science. All in all IT, Software Development is one of the few fields where you don’t need a formal qualification (degree or diploma) to get a job. Overall most software developers are self-taught, nearly 90%. the Great thing is at School of IT, you can become a internationally recognized and accredited as a Software Engineer or Software Developer in under 6 months! Furthermore we assist you in getting a developer job in the industry.
Best programming language for a Software Engineer to know?
All in all every software developer in this day and age needs to know python! Why? Overall Python is a high-level programming language used for general-purpose programming. In turn with a simple syntax, Python has automatic memory management and dynamic features that make it suitable to be used in a variety of applications in the software development companies such as gaming, web applications, language development, prototyping, etc. All in all its considered an easy language to learn, Learn python with School of IT
Conclusion of How to become a Software Engineer in South Africa
Overall if you solving problems, using logic, then a career in software engineering or software development is for you! Thus with School of IT, you can become a internationally recognized and accredited Software Engineer in under 6 months!
Keamogetswe Mekgwe26 March 2024Extremely helpful, I highly recommend it.
francisca devasconcellos22 March 2024Am so grateful to my Lecturer Hudson for his patience & knowledge in my short course. Thank you so much for everything I’ve learnt & will always be grateful for the opportunity🙏 Highly recommended 🌸🙏
Keacha Kearns13 March 2024excellent service.one on one lecturer .they fit into your scedule. great for starting a new career and great for part time studying
Zander5379029 February 2024I had a blast doing my A+ course through School of IT. My tutor Joshua is an awesome guy who made it easy and simple to understand. I recommend anyone to use School of IT.
Nicolene Page16 February 2024I learned everything required and found the course very informative and educational. The tutor was attentive and adapts to your needs. They also go out of their way to make sure you have what you need to qualify. I would recommend School of IT to anyone who wants to better their skills.
James David25 January 2024Course Title: Advanced Python Duration: 2 weeks Instructor: Knowledgeable and Effective Review: I recently completed the Advanced Python course, and I must say it was a highly enriching experience. Over the span of two weeks, the course delved into a broad spectrum of advanced Python concepts, providing a comprehensive understanding of the language's intricacies and applications. One of the standout aspects of the course was the quality of instruction. The instructor demonstrated a deep understanding of the subject matter and was adept at explaining complex concepts in a clear and concise manner. Their approachability and willingness to address questions and concerns contributed significantly to the overall learning experience. The curriculum covered a wide range of topics, including but not limited to advanced data structures, object-oriented programming principles, functional programming techniques, and best practices for Python development. Each topic was explored thoroughly, with ample opportunities for hands-on practice and reinforcement of key concepts. The course structure struck a good balance between theory and practical application, allowing students to not only grasp theoretical concepts but also apply them in real-world scenarios through coding exercises and projects. This hands-on approach was instrumental in solidifying my understanding of Python and its advanced features. While the pace of the course was brisk due to its condensed timeline, the instructor's clarity and guidance helped ensure that all topics were covered comprehensively without feeling rushed. Additionally, the course materials provided were well-organized and supplemented the instruction effectively. Overall, I found the Advanced Python course to be immensely valuable in expanding my proficiency in the language. Whether you're looking to deepen your understanding of Python or enhance your programming skills for professional growth, I highly recommend this course.
Haadiyah Bica15 January 2024I thoroughly enjoyed the IT course! The content was well-structured, covering a broad range of relevant topics. The instructors were knowledgeable and approachable, always willing to assist with questions. Overall, a fantastic learning experience that exceeded my expectations!
molepa seabela10 January 2024I would give the Business Intelligence short course I did with the School of IT a 10 out of 10. The course is personalised to meet one's schedule, meaning you are able to do it whilst working. The tutor is patient and explains in detail using real life examples and he went beyond the call of his duties to ensure that what I learned can be applied to my work.
