Software Developer

Hours

You would work between 37 and 40 hours a week. Overtime and weekend work may be necessary to meet deadlines, or to limit disruption to a client's business.
You would be mainly based in an office but may have to travel to meet clients. Some projects may involve overnight stays away from home.

Income

• Starting salaries for graduates can be between £20,000 and £26,000 a year.
• Experienced developers can earn between £28,000 and £40,000.
• Software developers with management responsibilities can earn over £50,000 a year.

Opportunities

You can find work as a software developer across a range of businesses and industries, public services, utilities, defence and research.
With experience, you could become a senior developer with responsibility for project management, planning and research, or move into related areas, such as systems design, IT architecture and business systems analysis.
You could also set up your own business and work on a sub-contract or consultancy basis.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading.

Entry Requirements

You normally need a degree, foundation degree or BTEC HNC/HND to become a software developer. You could choose from a variety of subjects, including:

• computer science/studies
• information technology
• software development
• software engineering
• business information systems.

You may still be able to find a place on a graduate trainee scheme even if you do not have an IT-related degree, as larger employers tend to accept graduates from any discipline. You could study for a postgraduate IT conversion qualification, although this is not essential.
Several universities are now offering the Information Technology Management for Business (ITMB) degree. The degree has been developed by e-skills UK and employers to meet specific industry needs, for example project management skills and business awareness. For more details, visit the e-skills UK website.

The Work

As a software developer, or programmer, you would design and build computer programs that help organisations to work more effectively. Your work could involve:

• designing computer controls for industrial and manufacturing machinery
• building administrative and financial databases
• developing software found inside home entertainment equipment (known as embedded controls).

You would work closely with senior programmers and business analysts, and devise technical plans to meet the needs of the client. A typical project would include the following steps:

• programming a test version of a piece of software
• testing installation and compatibility issues
• checking test results and fixing technical problems (known as bugs)
• installing a full version and carrying out final checks before going ‘live’
• maintaining and supporting systems once they are up and running.

Skills and Knowledge

• a good knowledge of hardware, software and programming languages
• the ability to interpret and follow technical plans
• a creative approach to problem solving
• an understanding of Computer Aided (Assisted) Software Engineering (CASE) tools
• excellent communication and customer care skills
• the ability to work with people at all levels, including non-technical staff
• good project management skills
• the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• good teamworking skills
• an appreciation of the client's business needs
• an understanding of confidentiality and data protection issues.