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Software Engineer: Career Path

Unlock a world of endless possibilities and sky-high earning potential by becoming a Software Engineer. In today's digitally-driven landscape, software engineers are the architects behind the applications and systems that power our lives.

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What does the Software Engineer career path entail?

Software Engineer

The allure of becoming a software engineer lies in more than just the attractive salary and job security—although those are certainly enticing benefits. As a software engineer, you become a problem solver, a digital artist of sorts, who has the tools to build or improve software systems that people rely on every day. Whether it's a life-saving medical application, a groundbreaking environmental monitoring system, or even the social media platforms that connect us all, software engineers have the ability to make a meaningful impact on society. The work is intellectually challenging and continually evolving, offering a career that is as rewarding as it is dynamic.

One of the most appealing aspects of a career in software engineering is its incredible flexibility. The skills you acquire are highly transferable, meaning you can work in virtually any industry—from tech giants in Silicon Valley, to small startups aiming to be the next big thing, to non-profits looking for impactful solutions. Geographic boundaries also become less of a concern, with many companies offering remote working arrangements, freeing you to work from anywhere in the world. As automation and digitization continue to transform the modern workplace, the skills of a software engineer only grow in demand, making it a future-proof career that offers both stability and the opportunity for continuous learning and growth.

Table of Contents

Best books to explore the Software Engineering career path.

A well-written and thorough book can be an amazing path to build deeper understanding and also act as a handbook as you discover the internet's vast resources.

These are our and our experts top picks to get started building career-relevant skills.

Pragmatic Programmer

Pragmatic Programmer

At least today, code is our door to building algorithms and complex Machine Learning systems. If you want to invest in becoming a more proficient Machine Learning professional faster, investing in code skills is the way to do so.

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JavaScript: The Definitive Guide

JavaScript: The Definitive Guide

For nearly 25 years this best seller has been the go-to guide for JavaScript programmers. The seventh edition is fully updated to cover the 2020 version of JavaScript, and new chapters cover classes, modules, iterators, generators, Promises, async/await, and metaprogramming. You’ll find illuminating and engaging example code throughout.

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Effective JavaScript

Effective JavaScript

In order to truly master JavaScript, you need to learn how to work effectively with the language’s flexible, expressive features and how to avoid its pitfalls. No matter how long you’ve been writing JavaScript code, Effective JavaScript will help deepen your understanding of this powerful language, so you can build more predictable, reliable, and maintainable programs.

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Automate the Boring Stuff with Python

Automate the Boring Stuff with Python

If you've ever spent hours renaming files or updating hundreds of spreadsheet cells, you know how tedious tasks like these can be. But what if you could have your computer do them for you?

In Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, you'll learn how to use Python to write programs that do in minutes what would take you hours to do by hand-no prior programming experience required.

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High Performance Python

High Performance Python

Your Python code may run correctly, but you need it to run faster. Updated for Python 3, this expanded edition shows you how to locate performance bottlenecks and significantly speed up your code in high-data-volume programs. By exploring the fundamental theory behind design choices, High Performance Python helps you gain a deeper understanding of Python's implementation.

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Courses to deepen your Software Engineering skills.

These days, courses are no longer a sequence of videos. They are usually accompanied by projects and a learning community, keeping you accountable and on the path.

Our experts recommend these courses, from free selections to paid programs.

The Complete JavaScript Course 2020

The Complete JavaScript Course 2020

Become an advanced, confident, and modern JavaScript developer from scratch. Build 6 beautiful real-world projects for your portfolio (not boring toy apps). Complex concepts like the 'this' keyword, higher-order functions, closures, etc. This best-selling course can truly take you from zero to one at a reasonable rate!

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JavaScript: The Advanced Concepts

JavaScript: The Advanced Concepts

Learn modern advanced JavaScript practices and be amongst the top of JavaScript developers. Functional Programming, Inheritance + Prototype Chain, Asynchronous JavaScript + Event Loop and much more is included in this advanced best-selling JS course on Udemy by instructor Andrei Neagoie, who himself used to be a senior software developer

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Python Bootcamp: From Zero to Hero

Python Bootcamp: From Zero to Hero

Learn Python like a Professional Start from the basics and go all the way to creating your own applications and games.

Create games with Python, like Tic Tac Toe and Blackjack! Learn advanced Python features, like the collections module and how to work with timestamps & Build a complete understanding of Python from the ground up!

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LearnPython.org

LearnPython.org

Whether you are an experienced programmer or not, this website is intended for everyone who wishes to learn the Python programming language.

Just click on the chapter you wish to begin from, and follow the instructions. Good luck!

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Advanced Python

Advanced Python

Over time, Python has exploded in popularity, from being an obscure scripting language to becoming one of the most popular, and widely used languages in the world.

In this Advanced Python tutorial, you'll learn advanced topics, a knowledge of which will set you apart from the greater number of Python developers.

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Get the guidance you need on the Software Engineer career path

There is no better source of accountability and motivation than having a personal mentor. What used to be impossible to find is now just two clicks away! All mentors are vetted & hands-on!

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Benjamin Kaiser 🇦🇺

Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft
5.0 (28)

Hello, I'm Ben! I've spent the majority of my career as a Software Engineer at Microsoft. I'm passionate about open source, crypto and the future of the web. My day job is spent working on a range of client-side javascript/typescript, mostly related to service workers and react.js. I also have …
Engineering & Data JavaScript React NodeJS Frontend Web Development Typescript
$240 / month
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Donovan Lowkeen 🇺🇸

Lead Software Engineer at Booz Allen Hamilton
5.0 (24)

I am a full-stack software engineering manager/lead. I started my career as a frontend leaning full-stack engineer, then transitioned into a solely backend role before transitioning to the infrastructure and DevOps side of things. I have helped a number of self taught or recent bootcamp grads land their first job …
Engineering & Data Typescript JavaScript React NodeJS Kubernetes Web Development
$200 / month
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Roger Chen 🇺🇸

Software Engineer at Meta
5.0 (32)

I am currently a tech lead at Meta. My area is platform infrastructure that integrates ML models and serves products including Facebook, Instagram and Oculus. My daily role is to support engineers and managers in the organization with planning, hiring, design review, and XFN collaboration. I have 10 years of …
Engineering & Data Full Stack Backend Machine Learning Career System Design Mock Interviews
$290 / month
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Rahul Bagai 🇺🇸

Senior Software Engineer
5.0 (1)

As an engineering leader with over a decade of experience, I specialize in software, ML Platform and Devops engineering. I excel in leading and mentoring global teams, driving continuous improvement in software development processes, and ensuring the highest code quality standards. My technical skills span Python, Web Development, cloud computing, …
Engineering & Data Distributed Systems Microservices API Python Cloud Computing Web Services
$90 / month
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Manish Gharat 🇳🇱

Senior Software Engineer - Frontend at Miro
5.0 (17)

Are you a junior developer eager to accelerate your career in web development? Do you seek expert guidance on learning the most relevant and up-to-date content, building real-world projects, and excelling in job interviews? Together, let's unlock your full potential by overcoming challenges, addressing your queries, and charting a roadmap …
Engineering & Data JavaScript Typescript React Angular Web Development CSS
$210 / month
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Abhishek Koserwal 🇮🇳

Principal Software Engineer at Red Hat
4.8 (5)

Hello, I'm Abhishek Koserwal, a Principal Software Engineer at Red Hat and a dedicated mentor ready to guide you on your career journey. Whether you're just starting as a software engineer or trying to identify your best career path, I'm here to help you succeed. Designing your career: Together, we'll …
Engineering & Data Career Devops System Design Backend Software Engineering Architecture
$120 / month
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The Software Engineering must-reads you shouldn't miss.

Key articles and posts of industry experts can help you get a better picture of what you are getting into.

In our opinion, these are some must-reads you really shouldn't miss.

70 JavaScript Interview Questions

A collection of 70 real-world JS interview questions, as collected by a full-stack developer in the space. Crucial to go through these as a job hunter and make sure you pass the next interview with flying colors!

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Popular Python Interview Questions

Scheduling your first Python Interview or the first one after a while? Preparing for a Python Coding test? This collection of Python Interview questions should help you getting up to speed.

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Most Essential Coding Interview Questions

On the way to your first coding interview? This is a collection of some of the most common coding, algorithm and engineering questions. Your perfect preparation for your interview!

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Growing into a Senior Software Engineer role pays off – $20,000 up to per year.

Not only is the progression from individual Software Engineer to a Senior role a natural progression, it also makes all the difference in your average salary.

On a global average, Senior Software Engineer receive a $20,000 salary hike over entry-level Software Engineers when they go from individual contributor to senior personnel.

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Related career paths

If you like Software Engineering careers, you might also be interested in these other career paths.

Get the help you need & advance your career

Are you ready to embark on a career that combines innovation, impact, and a virtually limitless horizon of opportunities? A career as a software engineer is not just a job; it's a platform for you to shape the future, create meaningful solutions, and achieve both personal and professional fulfillment.

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