Software engineer, mechanical engineering degree, no experience
I graduated mechanical engineering with a 2:2 in September 2021. I have had 2 jobs in composite design engineering, but would like a career change as the pay isn’t favourable, especially when compared to software engineering. it possible to become a software engineer without any experience? I have done a bit of coding in my spare time and enjoyed it, but in terms of career/extra courses, and things to offer in an interview, have no experience.
Hey, Coventry University Student Ambassador here! 👋
Mechanical Engineering is a great degree, and a challenging one at that! I understand the desire to pursue other careers for higher salaries, but I suggest looking into companies that prioritize employee growth and offer programs for career advancement. Many employees feel stagnant in their positions, so it's important to seek opportunities that support both professional and personal growth.
Keep applying and researching companies with these values, and don't give up hope! If you're passionate about mechanical engineering, your enthusiasm will shine through and be noticed by potential employers.
Alternatively, you might consider looking at top-up degrees at universities to further your technical skills and open new career doors. For example, Coventry University offers an Informatics Top-Up Degree that could provide the additional technical skills you're looking for and open new doors within your career journey. Best of luck!
Dorna | Coventry University Student Ambassador
Mechanical Engineering is a great degree, and a challenging one at that! I understand the desire to pursue other careers for higher salaries, but I suggest looking into companies that prioritize employee growth and offer programs for career advancement. Many employees feel stagnant in their positions, so it's important to seek opportunities that support both professional and personal growth.
Keep applying and researching companies with these values, and don't give up hope! If you're passionate about mechanical engineering, your enthusiasm will shine through and be noticed by potential employers.
Alternatively, you might consider looking at top-up degrees at universities to further your technical skills and open new career doors. For example, Coventry University offers an Informatics Top-Up Degree that could provide the additional technical skills you're looking for and open new doors within your career journey. Best of luck!
Dorna | Coventry University Student Ambassador
Reply 2
9
Original post by TMuroyiwa24
I graduated mechanical engineering with a 2:2 in September 2021. I have had 2 jobs in composite design engineering, but would like a career change as the pay isn’t favourable, especially when compared to software engineering. it possible to become a software engineer without any experience? I have done a bit of coding in my spare time and enjoyed it, but in terms of career/extra courses, and things to offer in an interview, have no experience.
Hi
yes but its not easy. Employers will want some proof of your ability. In my view, actually having something you developed to demo and talk about trumps certifications although certifications have their place.
I would look to learn a particular language and develop a site/app and host it, then use that as the basis of a junior developer job application . If you have particular interests go with that. Some ideas:
An android app
A web app in node.js/.net or maybe using React, JavaScript etc
I would suggest it needs to be fairly meaty and store data etc
You might look at companies which have a graduate intake. Until recently I was a developer for 27 years and got my first role as a physics grad. At that time maths/physics/ engineering was a viable route in if you could show interest/knowledge/experience in IT.
Being able to show soft skills like talking to customers from any othet employment will help you.
Good luck!
(edited 11 months ago)
Reply 3
3
Original post by Coventry University Student Ambassadors
Hey, Coventry University Student Ambassador here! 👋
Mechanical Engineering is a great degree, and a challenging one at that! I understand the desire to pursue other careers for higher salaries, but I suggest looking into companies that prioritize employee growth and offer programs for career advancement. Many employees feel stagnant in their positions, so it's important to seek opportunities that support both professional and personal growth.
Keep applying and researching companies with these values, and don't give up hope! If you're passionate about mechanical engineering, your enthusiasm will shine through and be noticed by potential employers.
Alternatively, you might consider looking at top-up degrees at universities to further your technical skills and open new career doors. For example, Coventry University offers an Informatics Top-Up Degree that could provide the additional technical skills you're looking for and open new doors within your career journey. Best of luck!
Dorna | Coventry University Student Ambassador
Mechanical Engineering is a great degree, and a challenging one at that! I understand the desire to pursue other careers for higher salaries, but I suggest looking into companies that prioritize employee growth and offer programs for career advancement. Many employees feel stagnant in their positions, so it's important to seek opportunities that support both professional and personal growth.
Keep applying and researching companies with these values, and don't give up hope! If you're passionate about mechanical engineering, your enthusiasm will shine through and be noticed by potential employers.
Alternatively, you might consider looking at top-up degrees at universities to further your technical skills and open new career doors. For example, Coventry University offers an Informatics Top-Up Degree that could provide the additional technical skills you're looking for and open new doors within your career journey. Best of luck!
Dorna | Coventry University Student Ambassador
Hi Thank you for your message.
Yes I really like mechanical engineering as a career and enjoy it and am appreciative of the skills it has given me.
I have looked at companies that offer career growth, including my company, but in Plymouth, but whilst talking to my peers, maybe only two other companies in the area it seems, actually seem to advertise employee growth and actually follow up on it, both financially and as career wise.
I am only willing to do a top up course if it is guaranteed to further my career (depending on what type of course it is and whether it is remote or not as I have a partner and 2 kids) and whilst doing a masters in mechanical engineering would put me in a position to apply for chartered positions, I feel that the benefits of heading towards software engineering have outdone furthering my career in mechanical engineering both long term and short term.
However, I will take a look at the course, with an open mind and see what the future holds
Thank you for your time
Taddy
Reply 4
3
Original post by 99zardoz
Hi
yes but its not easy. Employers will want some proof of your ability. In my view, actually having something you developed to demo and talk about trumps certifications although certifications have their place.
I would look to learn a particular language and develop a site/app and host it, then use that as the basis of a junior developer job application . If you have particular interests go with that. Some ideas:
An android app
A web app in node.js/.net or maybe using React, JavaScript etc
I would suggest it needs to be fairly meaty and store data etc
You might look at companies which have a graduate intake. Until recently I was a developer for 27 years and got my first role as a physics grad. At that time maths/physics/ engineering was a viable route in if you could show interest/knowledge/experience in IT.
Being able to show soft skills like talking to customers from any othet employment will help you.
Good luck!
yes but its not easy. Employers will want some proof of your ability. In my view, actually having something you developed to demo and talk about trumps certifications although certifications have their place.
I would look to learn a particular language and develop a site/app and host it, then use that as the basis of a junior developer job application . If you have particular interests go with that. Some ideas:
An android app
A web app in node.js/.net or maybe using React, JavaScript etc
I would suggest it needs to be fairly meaty and store data etc
You might look at companies which have a graduate intake. Until recently I was a developer for 27 years and got my first role as a physics grad. At that time maths/physics/ engineering was a viable route in if you could show interest/knowledge/experience in IT.
Being able to show soft skills like talking to customers from any othet employment will help you.
Good luck!
Hi
Thank you very much. I know you put emphasis on the fact that certifications aren’t as important as practical work, but is it more ideal to do a course to help me create a project and then showcase and go into detail on that and sort of have my certification as sort of, an extra bit of proof that I have the skills?
And if there are certifications which ones do you recommend? I am currently on codecademy but am yet to start any course
Thanks for your time
Taddy
Reply 5
9
Original post by TMuroyiwa24
Hi
Thank you very much. I know you put emphasis on the fact that certifications aren’t as important as practical work, but is it more ideal to do a course to help me create a project and then showcase and go into detail on that and sort of have my certification as sort of, an extra bit of proof that I have the skills?
And if there are certifications which ones do you recommend? I am currently on codecademy but am yet to start any course
Thanks for your time
Taddy
Thank you very much. I know you put emphasis on the fact that certifications aren’t as important as practical work, but is it more ideal to do a course to help me create a project and then showcase and go into detail on that and sort of have my certification as sort of, an extra bit of proof that I have the skills?
And if there are certifications which ones do you recommend? I am currently on codecademy but am yet to start any course
Thanks for your time
Taddy
I think certifications are a way of demonstrating existing knowledge. They get a bad reputation when they are misused as a way of cramming knowledge for the certificate without getting any practical experience. This leads to a "paper developer".
I especially do not like the Microsoft certifications which are now very "learn every feature, including the ones hardly anyone uses". Its just my view.
You will learn more by building something, getting stuck, figuring it out and then if you must, think about certifications.
There are loads of free or low cost courses on Udemy or Coursera etc which will give you a headstart to build an app. Python or JavaScript require no paid software and are sought after skills. If you can afford it, a subscription to Pluralsight will give you access to high quality courses, including certification prep. Whatever you learn, learn the basics of SQL too. I am surprised by the number of new devs I have met who are not confident with SQL. SQL dbs will be around a while ...it's not a universe of MongoDB and Redis just yet.
Its what I'd do in your shoes. Talking about a working piece of software unique to you will grab recruiters attention.
If you have other non-IT work experience also emphasise the soft skills you learned. Half of working in IT is the technical side and the rest is people/business.
Reply 6
+1 to 99zardoz. Build your own mini projects (using online resources to learn what you need to build the project). Throw those on Github with some documentation of what it is and links to the resources you used. This above all else demonstrates that you can independently learn some new technical skill and independently apply that knowledge to your own problem which is the main competency teams look for in junior devs.
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