SOFTWARE DEVELOPER By Joey Rodriguez

Background  I have always been interested in computers and how they work. I think it would be very interesting to go deeper and design computer programs from the ground up, and create something that people would actually use. I eventually want to design programs that will be used in commercial aircraft.

Outline  Career Definition  Advantages and Disadvantages  What does it take to become a software developer?  Why should I become a software developer?  My post –secondary plan  Where am I going?  What will it take to be successful?  My final thoughts  Works Cited

Career Definition  Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs.  Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or other device. Others develop the underlying systems that run the devices or control networks. ("Software Developers")

 Many software developers work for computer systems design and related services firms or software publishers. ("Software Developers")

Advantages  The biggest advantage of being a software developer is job security. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is an expected growth of jobs in this field by 22% by 2022  Another advantage is that, because the job is mostly computer based, telecommuting is possible. This means that if someone doesn’t feel like going to work, they can work from home without losing a day’s pay or getting fired. ("Software Developers")

Disadvantages  One disadvantage of this job is that it is common to have long working hours.  Another disadvantage is working in a cubicle and not really interacting with other people. ("Software Developers")

Education Necessary  It is required to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or software engineering  Strong math skills are needed and you should be good at analyzing data and solving problems.  Strong programming skills are also required ("Software Developers")

Salary/Benefits  Starting salary is around $55,190 for applications software designers, and $62,800 for systems software designers  The median annual wage in 2012 was $99,000  Senior developers can earn up to $148,850 a year and sometimes more ("Software Developers")

Opportunity for Advancement  Many software designers start with a Bachelor’s in computer science and get an entry-level software design job  Depending on the company, dedicated workers may be promoted to a senior office of some sort within 3-5 years. ("Software Engineer Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook.")

Interesting Tidbits and Facts  Developers usually work with a programmer  The designer creates a flowchart to help the programmer to write the code to get the program to work  Sometimes the developer does both jobs (“Software Developer: Reviews & Advice”)

My Post Secondary Plan  The University of Texas at Arlington  Arlington, TX  33,300 students (“About Us”)

Tuition and Expenses  In-State Undergraduate$9,152 per semester  Books $908 per semester  Housing $500 – 1100 per month (“What Will it Cost?”)

Courses That Relate To My Field  Computer Science  Software Engineering  Mathematics ("Software Developers")

Required Courses at UT Arlington  Computer Science 145, 245, 345, 445  Introduction to Programming 150  Java Programming 250, 350, 450A  C++ Programming 315, 415  Visual Basic 325, 425 ("Software Developers")

My Thoughts on College  I want to start a career as a software developer and make a lot of money  I plan to do this by going to the University of Texas at Arlington and getting a bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science

 I know it will take a lot of studying to be successful, so I’m going to have a study plan before I go there.  I’m going to talk to my teachers, ask questions and get into study groups with other students.

My Plan For After College  Graduate in 4 years with a degree in Computer Science from UT Arlington  Get a job as an entry level programmer for Boeing developing software that will help control commercial jets  After 3 years, get my Master’s Degree in Computer Development and Management

 After 5 years and several promotions, be named Department Leader of the Boeing 757 programming team  Find a nice girl, get married, buy a big house and start a family.  After 10 years at Boeing, move over to the government side of the field and work there until I retire at age 50.

Works Cited  "About Us." University of Texas at Arlington. UT Arlington, Web. 7 Apr  Hellman, Nathan. "Software Developer: Reviews & Advice." Software Developer Job Reviews. MSNC,Inc., 05 May Web. 01 Apr  "Software Developers, Systems Software." My Next Move. Software.com, 2012 Web. 01 Apr  "Software Developers." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8 Jan Web. 01 Apr  "Software Engineer Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook." Software Engineer Employment Outlook, Software Engineer Career & Advancement Possibilities. Time, 11 Dec Web. 03 Apr  “What Will it Cost?” University of Texas at Arlington. UT Arlington, Web. 7 Apr. 2014