How to Become a Software Developer in Canada

Have you been thinking of starting an exciting IT career as a software developer? Professional software development programs can teach you the requisite skills to land a decent entry-level software developer job and start earning well.

Various colleges and universities offer online courses on software development. 

According to Job Bank Canada, the prospects for this role are currently high and are expected to remain so in the future. Software developers build intuitive software and maintain the best software practices to address company concerns and exceed client expectations. They design and test innovative solutions to give the end-user a ‘wow’ experience. If you think creatively and possess problem-solving skills, then becoming a software developer can be a good career fit. 

In this blog, we’ll talk about the responsibilities of a software developer and the top five tips for becoming a successful Software Developer in Canada. 

What Do You Do As a Software Developer?

Software Developers, through innovative strategies, help businesses score an edge over their competitors. They offer a unique user experience, enhanced features, and dynamic web platforms to improve sales and services. The tasks of a software developer can vary from designing new software and applications to assessing the risk of existing software to providing solutions to mitigate those threats. 

Tasks of a Software Developer

• Create, amend, consolidate, and test software codes for various purposes including applications and e-commerce.
• Develop software for film and video special effects.
• Program interactive CDs, DVDs, video game cartridges, and Internet-based applications using animation software written to predefined specifications.
• Analyze a wide range of software products.
• Help develop logical and physical specifications.
• Collect and document user requirements.
• Compile reports, guides, and other documentation relating to status, operation, and software maintenance. 
• Map technical problems, processes, and solutions.
• Modify existing computer programs as necessary.

You will be an integral part of the software development process at all stages, be it determining the users’ requirements, guiding them on how to use the software, or deploying a finished application. Although you may occasionally align yourself with computer programmers, sometimes software developers create all codes themselves. 

Wondering what’s the difference between web development and software development? While you’ll be developing software in both, the domain in each is unique. You have to make an informed decision to study in the best program that will help you advance your career.  

Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to acquire industry-relevant skills through an online software development diploma program. 

Top Five Tips On How To Pursue a Career as a Software Developer

We have distilled the best five tips to help you advance your career in IT as a software developer. 

1. Get an Education That Gets You Hired

This is the first step in the journey to becoming a software developer, i.e. to get yourself an education that gets you job-ready. The software development course should have elements of fundamentals, principles, and theories of that particular field that are essential to master it. 

A diploma program in software development offered by a recognized college can get you a confident entry into the software development industry. Just make sure that you do your research about the school that you’d like to enroll in, such as its reputation, and if they offer any scholarships. 

Also, check out the financing options available with the college. The curriculum should be up-to-date, covering the trends and teaching you how to work on the latest software. Coding languages are important to learn too such as C++, Java, Scala, and Python. 

2. Set Your Ultimate Goal 

Be aware of what you want to achieve with the software development course that you’ll be taking up. Where would you like to get a job? Have you envisioned yourself in a software developer’s role? You need to firm up these goals so you can choose the right company and apply for the ideal job that would suit your needs. You can choose to work in a wide variety of industries including finance, insurance, software publishing, banking, or organizations specializing in computer systems design. 

The sector that you choose to work in can also vary. You may get a role in manufacturing, IT, healthcare, services, engineering, or any other field. You can also get opportunities to work remotely or in an office setting. 

It helps if you know what you want to achieve by enrolling in an online software development program. You can excel in the chosen field when you have a clear vision to follow. 

3. Hone Your Skills  

These days software developers not only work on computers, they interact with other teams and also communicate with external stakeholders. It is important for you to possess both technical and non-technical skills to be a successful software developer. 

The technical skills would include: 

• Knowledge about SQL – the language that is used for running database processes efficiently.

• Software developers often use tools like Git and Mercurial SCM to control code.

• The use of integrated development environments to write, modify, run, and debug development code.

The non-technical skills would include: 

• Instructing others and collaborating with teams while working on a project. 
• Communicating with clients, clearing their doubts, and resolving any issues they may have. Excellent communication skills come in handy here. 
• Software Developers need to think creatively and be detail-oriented. 
• Ability to solve problems and provide innovative solutions. 

Certify your skills

To make your skills authentic and add validation, you must attain relevant certifications. It helps in showcasing your proficiency levels and expertise in that particular field. You can explore certifications like CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ and ascertain whether you’d like to pursue a career in IT. Going further, you can have certifications in cloud computing, data security, data management, and so on. Another way to know which certifications are high in demand is to look through the job postings on different job portals. 

4. Get an Internship and Practice 

Once you start studying software development, it’s important to gain practical experience to implement the knowledge that you gain during the program. A practicum or internship helps you build expertise in your field by giving you opportunities to work in a real office environment. 

While you take up projects, you can apply your learnings and practice programming and developing software on your own. You get in-depth insights into the languages and a better understanding of the entire development process. You can utilize this experience to become a more efficient, productive, and smart professional.

The Online Software Development Diploma Program offered by ABM college ends with a 4-week practicum where students apply their in-class learning to a real-world work environment in the software development industry. The purpose of the Software Development Certification Program is to provide students with the foundational knowledge, innovative problem-solving skills, experience, and immersive training to fearlessly enter into one of the quickest-growing career paths in Canada.

5. Create a Portfolio Showcasing Your Work 

As you work on various projects, you should keep updating your portfolio to showcase your creativity whenever required. It’s a strong asset to portray what you know when you apply for a job as a software developer. 

An impressive portfolio helps increase your chances of getting the role that you desire as the employers can see your areas of interest and expertise clearly. You can build your network of people from the same community to stay abreast with the latest trends in the industry. 

Freelancing as a software developer can also help you gain mileage in the field. You get to practice coding, programming, and building unique applications. Add all the work that you’re doing in your portfolio to demonstrate your skills when you reach out to employers.

Here are a few elements that your portfolio should have: 

• Brief biography.
• Contact details.
• Skills you possess.
• Resume link.
• Accomplishments or awards.
• Projects you undertook – professionally and personally.

Initially, you may add all the projects that you worked on. But later when you gain experience, you should only highlight the best projects. It’s important that you curate your portfolio according to the job role that you wish to apply for. 

Take The Leap Toward Your Dream Career

Once you’ve decided that you want to start a career in software development, the best way to get there is to get an education related to the field. You can develop highly in-demand skills with an online Software Development Diploma Program.

ABM College offers a 52-week course designed to prepare its students with the necessary knowledge and innovative training to have a successful career post-graduation. Students learn industry standards and procedures, web development, network and design fundamentals, and scripting languages such as Java, JavaScript, Jquery, and Python. 

Considering a rewarding career as a software developer? Take the college readiness quiz to find the best suitable option. 

‍Contact us now to learn more about how we can help you achieve your education goals. 

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