The software industry is at the centre of modern life, and is used almost everywhere. Because of this, software engineer jobs are in constant demand, and by getting a career in software engineering, you’ll be at the centre of that demand. Want to know more? Here are the questions you might be asking, and the answers you want to hear.
Why is a career in software engineering important?
If you stop and think about it, most of your daily life revolves around computers, or the internet. Shopping, healthcare, banking, anything to do with your money, even watching television and movies, they’re all on computers, which means they run on some kind of software. And every bit of software had a team of software engineers behind it. In fact, they have a team, present tense, because maintaining that software is a job unto itself. If you’re looking for a career that every business needs, one that’ll always have a place in the world, software engineering’s what you need.
What does a software engineer do?
Software engineers combine their computer know-how with engineering skills to design new software, as well as test and maintain the software we already use. And, like I said earlier, software’s in almost everything we do in our daily life, so you could be working on some really essential services. There’s a lot you can do in the Software Engineering field. For example, you might work in design or analysis, software coding or testing, or you might maintain an existing software or even write a manual on how to use it.
Since tech evolves quickly these days, you’ll need to stay up to date with the latest software innovations, which means you need to be able to perpetually learn new things, and be open to new challenges. Beyond that, problem-solving skills are a must, and no engineer is an island, so teamwork skills are also a must.
Are there job prospects, though?
The Government of Canada's Job Bank says so, and also says that because so much of modern life relies on software, Computer Software Engineers will be needed in the future, with the outlook being either between “good” and “very good” in each Canadian province it’s tracked in. Also, they’re forecasting a labor shortage, meaning there’s going to be job opportunities. And not only would you be in demand, you would be well-paid. When it comes to software engineer salaries, the Job Bank lists the median hourly wage for a Computer Software Engineer in Ontario as $50, with the highest earners making more than $72 per hour, and even entry-level jobs make $28.85 per hour.
What’s the difference between Technician and Technology?
Centennial College offers multiple ways into the career field, through our Software Engineering Technician and Software Engineering Technology programs. The main difference between the two is program length, and the type of credential you’re getting. The standard Software Engineering Technician program runs for two years, and gets you an Ontario College Diploma. The standard Software Engineering Technology program, meanwhile, is a bit more in-depth, runs for three years, and sees you receiving an Ontario College Advanced Diploma. But those are only two versions of the program, which brings us to our next question:
Is there flexibility in how I can take these programs?
Luckily, Centennial College’s Software Engineering Technician and Software Engineering Technology offerings give you multiple ways to take them, depending on your needs. Besides the standard in-person versions, there are online versions of both Software Engineering Technician and Technology, and fast-track Technician and Technology programs that let you shave a year off each program’s length, if you’ve got the previous experience to skip the introductory parts of the program.
How do these Centennial College programs help me get ready?
Whichever one of our Software Engineering programs you take, you’ll be instructed by faculty who are industry professionals. They’ll teach you about software design, testing, maintenance and programming. But more importantly, that learning comes with hands-on experience with the software development tools of the trade. A big part of the program is the software development project you’ll take part in during the program’s run (two projects if you’re taking the Technology version), which tasks you with real software development, using the knowledge you’ve picked up during the program. You work through this project from beginning to end, and walk away with something you can show employers.
And beyond the classroom, each program features strong industry connections, which means you can start networking (in the real-life social way, not the software way) before school is over, creating valuable professional connections. And if you’re taking a co-op version of the program, you’ll literally venture out of the classroom and into the real world, to practice what you know in the places you’ll need to be using them. One way or another, you’ll get the perfect setup to become one of the engineers that makes modern life run.
By Anthony Geremia