How to become a software developer: Hannah's story

Meet Hannah, 22, and find out about her job as a graduate software developer at Deutsche Bank in London. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.

How would you describe your job?

I'm a software developer on a graduate scheme. You can apply for graduate schemes if you have an undergraduate university degree. My scheme is organised into two six-month rotations (placements) so I get to see what it's like to be in different teams and learn about different projects and technologies.

Day-to-day, I mostly do coding, which I really enjoy. This means I'm helping to create online applications and learning how they work.

How did you get this job?

At GCSE, I studied IT which is when I knew I wanted to do something technical as job. I didn't get to do much coding in my GCSEs but I knew I was interested in it so I learnt it in my free time. I studied Computer Science at university which was also really helpful for my job.

Internships have been key to my career development. These are placements at an organisation where you learn a bit more about what it's like to work there. The last one I did was at the company I work for now. The internship went well and they offered me a job for when I graduated from university.

Was it a smooth ride?

It wasn’t the smoothest of rides, because my university course was very maths-heavy and I'm not naturally great at maths. To tackle that problem, I developed my skills in my spare time. This helped me enjoy the course much more and, without it, I couldn't have the job I have now.

Top tips

• Don’t be afraid to try something new
• You will find that when you step out of your comfort zone, you'll probably be a lot better than you think
• Keep trying. I used to hate public speaking, but now I do it as part of building my start-up company alongside my main job. The more I do it, the easier it gets!

What to expect if you want to be a software developer

• Software developer average salary: £20,000 to £70,000 per year
• Software developer typical working hours: 37 to 40 hours per week. You could work evenings and weekends.

What qualifications do you need to be a software developer?

You could get into this role via a university course, a college course (such as an A-level in Computing, a Level 3 Diploma, or a T-level (England only) which may lead onto more advanced qualifications or a higher apprenticeship, or help you get a trainee position), an apprenticeship or a graduate training scheme. Check with your course provider which alternative qualifications they accept.

Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service, GOV.UK

This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed and the GOV.UK website for more on T-levels.

For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).

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