Career advice, Software Developer

[themba990]

Hi
I'm helping my sister out with a career choice school assignment. They idea is to get someone in the field they'd like to work in to complete a questionnaire with the aim of getting some insight that will help in making a decision. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Replies can be posted in this thread or pm'd to me i guess, whichever works best for you. Thanks!


1. What type of software programs/system do you mainly design?
2. How long does it take to design a software system?
3. Do big companies hire you or is it just local businesses?
4. What degree did you study in university?
5. Was getting your degree difficult?
6. Which university did you go to?
7. Did you take IT in high school?
8. Was mathematics more difficult in varsity than high school?
9. What was your biggest challenge during your varsity years?
10. Was it easy finding a job after varsity?
11. What university would you recommend some who wants to be a software engineer?
12. Do you think it’s necessary for someone to take physical science in high school to become a software engineer?
13. Did you ever think of changing your career?
14. Do you enjoy what you do?
15. Do you have any regrets about the path you chose?
16. Do you have any tips you could give someone who is interested in software engineering?

 

[nakedpeanut]

1. What type of software programs/system do you mainly design?

Financial. Transaction routing and back office reporting.

2. How long does it take to design a software system?

Individual components usual about a week or two. Entire system can take up to two years if you include the initial requirements, planning, architecture, client signing off, coding, testing and implementation.

3. Do big companies hire you or is it just local businesses?

Big.. International Banks and retailers.

4. What degree did you study in university?

BSc IT and Enterprise (basically dual IT and business management) then Honors in CompSci.

5. Was getting your degree difficult?

Allot easier than the accounting degree my sister is doing

6. Which university did you go to?

Tuks

7. Did you take IT in high school?

Yes. Java programming from Gr10.

8. Was mathematics more difficult in varsity than high school?

Most definitely! What you do in Gr10-12 you do in 3 months at uni

9. What was your biggest challenge during your varsity years?

Waking up for the 7:30am classes!

10. Was it easy finding a job after varsity?

Found one before I even finished my degree.

11. What university would you recommend some who wants to be a software engineer?

tuks, UCT or stellies.

12. Do you think it’s necessary for someone to take physical science in high school to become a software engineer?

It definitely helps.

13. Did you ever think of changing your career?

Some times because I wanted to be a pilot.

14. Do you enjoy what you do?

Yes. Especially when you know how many millions of people are using the software you wrote

15. Do you have any regrets about the path you chose?

Nope.

16. Do you have any tips you could give someone who is interested in software engineering?

Start early. Make sure you have a solid maths foundation and the logical thinking process that goes with it.

 

[Hamster]

1. What type of software programs/system do you mainly design?

Enterprise systems for government departments. Currently working on the modernization project for SARS. Was also part of the team that developed the new passport scanning system at the borders.

2. How long does it take to design a software system?

It is a continuous thing with no end in sight. The systems are so large that you can divide them into sub-systems. These can take anything from 2 to 6 months to develop, get QA tested and regression tested before they are released.

3. Do big companies hire you or is it just local businesses?

Our company's clients are mostly large national and international companies.

4. What degree did you study in university?

National Diploma in Software Development

5. Was getting your degree difficult?

Not really. The theory work (read boring work) took a bit more effort but the practical stuff I found easy.

6. Which university did you go to?

NMMU

7. Did you take IT in high school?

Yes.

8. Was mathematics more difficult in varsity than high school?

Never did mathematics in university... so no

9. What was your biggest challenge during your varsity years?

Definitely the database theory.

10. Was it easy finding a job after varsity?

Yes. My first interview was over an IRC channel and got a job at a small web development company in Port Elizabeth.

11. What university would you recommend some who wants to be a software engineer?

I am biased so I would recommend NMMU (they've been doing very well at Imagine Cup the last couple of years). Stay away from CTI or similar 1-year-promise-the-world programs.

12. Do you think it’s necessary for someone to take physical science in high school to become a software engineer?

Yes. In university you start from scratch and no previous knowledge is required. I work with some very good devs that have no formal training (they are far an few though..the exception to the rule)

13. Did you ever think of changing your career?

Not really.

14. Do you enjoy what you do?

Most of the time. There are elements of this job that are not ideal (working hours, crazy clients, ever changing specs).

15. Do you have any regrets about the path you chose?

Not at all. This is what I am good at and I get paid for doing it

16. Do you have any tips you could give someone who is interested in software engineering?

Never pledge allegiance to a single vendor or a single piece of tech. Stay agnostic and choose the right tool for the job.