Commemorating the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, one of India's most excellent engineers, September 15th is celebrated as Engineers Day every year in India. It was only 50 years ago that software engineering was recognised as a distinct field of Science and Technology, joining the pantheon of professions devoted to engineering.

As a discipline, software engineering has evolved from a small group of experts in 1968 to a mass industry. As technology has continued to boom in recent years, creating exciting jobs that often come with lucrative salaries, it is no surprise that more and more people are making career changes to get in on the action. Of course, some of those transitioning to the tech workforce already have a background in software engineering or hold relevant college degrees. Still, many are starting from scratch, enrolling in specific training programs and upskilling themselves.

However, software engineering still surrounds itself with some myths and stigmas. As a result, many assume that coding, or tech in general, isn't for them. Here we are debunking some myths that might be holding aspirants back from starting their careers in tech.

Debunking Myth 1: It takes months to perfect programming

It no longer matters what discipline one has graduated in; whether it is electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or even a non-engineering background, one could always land in the tech world. Gone are the days when a four-year degree was required to land a job in the tech industry. Instead, people can now learn to code from the comfort of their own homes in just a few months. Not only that, but workplaces nowadays have become so conscious of their employees' growth that employees now have the opportunity to keep upskilling themselves while working.

Harish Kumar, a software engineer at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, stated, "I studied electrical engineering and then completed my B. Tech in CSE at a government college in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. I observed one of my seniors learning to code online through Newton School, an EdTech platform that enables people to upskill and become high-quality software developers. This was when I decided to try it and learn basic coding from scratch. I gained skills by working on side projects and learned how to code online with the help of astounding mentors. There is a common belief that if you do not learn tech skills early in your academic years, you will never be able to successfully learn to programme or build software. Although I did not have a transitional CS route and thinking about a 7-digit CTC back then was just a dream if you are an average student belonging to a tier-3 college, nevertheless upskilling myself helped me land my first gig as a Software Developer with 15 LPA."

Debunking Myth 2: Non-programmers cannot learn to code

Talent is the only virtue that cannot be discriminated against because of caste, creed, religion, or financial status. Unfortunately, people are most likely to avoid learning coding or computer science because they are intimidated, either because they believe it will be too difficult, because of stereotypes that suggest coding is not for them, or that non-programmers cannot learn to code. This is not true. One can learn to programme at any time, even if they were not exposed to it in their early years.

The tech field is constantly changing and in high demand. As a result, regardless of age and academic background, people can learn to code anytime they want to. The only prerequisite is the determination and curiosity to learn the skills. Alok Prasad's story is similar in that he took a leap of faith to change his career path from Electrical Engineering to Computer Science. Alok Prasad, the son of a farmer, reaped the benefits of hard work when he was hired as a Full Stack Developer by Headstrait Software.

"It is true that some tech jobs require strong math skills, so those with a love for numbers will have an advantage," Alok says. "However, if you have a good attitude and a learning mindset, you can get into tech even if you come from a commerce or arts background."

Debunking Myth 3: It's too late to learn to code

How often have people thought about giving up their dreams of becoming a web developer because they heard it was too late to learn code? However, it is never too late to learn something new. This thought persuaded Kishan Kumar Adyai that coding could be a worthwhile endeavor. Kishan, who earned a degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering, was always fascinated by computers and technology.

He became interested in a black screen dotted with fleeting numbers and unknown symbols, and he saw that Computer Science was in high demand, which prompted him to enroll for online courses in coding and change his career path. "If you are willing to put in the time, effort, and dedication it takes to learn to code as a viable, marketable skill for yourself in the future, you are never too old," he says. Kishan was placed through Newton School and currently works as a Front-end developer at Logichive Solutions Pvt Ltd.

As technology progresses, software engineering is becoming more vital than ever. Every piece of technology we use necessitates the ability to write, design, develop, and maintain code using software engineering techniques. Engineers have always come up with innovative solutions to the world's ever-growing problems, and the world would have come to a halt without their extraordinary contributions—Happy Engineers Day to all you techies out there.

Author:

Siddharth Maheshwari, Co-Founder, Newton School