In this talk the speaker Svetlin Nakov explains the IT professions and their extremely high demand in the latest years, and gives a recipe how to become a software engineer. He recommends to spend 1-2 years in studying and practicing software engineering, following a learning curriculum like this: Basic Coding Course – calculations, data, conditions, loops, IDE Fundamentals of Programming – arrays, lists, maps, nested structures, text processing, error handling, basic language APIs, problem solving Object-Oriented Programming – classes, objects, inheritance, … Databases and ORM – relational DB, SQL, ORM frameworks, XML, JSON Back-End Development – HTTP, MVC, Web apps, REST Front-End Development – HTML, CSS, JS, DOM, AJAX, JS Frameworks Projects – Git, software engineering, teamwork Example: https://softuni.org/learn The talk is from the "The Future of IT" forum in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (October 2022).

1. IT Professions and How to Start with IT?
How to Become a Software Developer?
Svetlin Nakov, PhD
Co-Founder and Innovations
Manager @ SoftUni
https://nakov.com
The Future IT Forum 2022 @
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

2. 2
 Software engineer, tech trainer, entrepreneur,
PhD in computer science, author of 16 books
nakov.com
 4 successful tech education initiatives
 National Academy for Software
Development (NASD)
 Telerik Software Academy
 SoftUni (Software University)
 Private IT High School "SoftUni Svetlina"
About Svetlin Nakov

3. 3
 SoftUni is the biggest tech education provider in SEE
 Zero-to-career programs for software engineers, design and
UX and digital marketing; kids coding; tech high school
 20K graduates in LinkedIn
 https://linkedin.com/school/software-university-softuni/people
 https://linkedin.com/school/softuni-digital/people
 https://linkedin.com/school/softuni-creative/people
 Community of 300K learners
About SoftUni

4. 4
IT Professions
Software developer /
software engineer
QA engineer /
tester / software
quality expert
System
Administrator /
DevOps engineer
IT Consultant / CRM /
ERP / BI expert
Business analyst /
project manager
Data Science /
AI engineer

5. 5
Digital Marketing Professions
Digital
marketing
professional
e-Commerce
expert
Search engine
expert (SEO)
Copywriting
expert
Digital
advertising
expert
Social media
marketing expert
AdWords
expert
Email marketing
expert
Expert video
marketing

6. 6
Design and UX Professionals
Interior
designer
Animator
2D / 3D
Web UI
designer
Graphic
designer
UI / UX
designer
Interaction
designer
Pre-print
expert
Video artist
Brand
designer

7. 7
 The most in-demand IT professions in the USA (Oct 2022)
 Python developer: 732K positions
 Java developer: 700K positions
 JavaScript developer: 664K positions
 QA engineer: 241K positions
 .NET developer: 183K positions
 DevOps engineer: 124K positions
 450 IT jobs in Mongolia: zangia.mn/job/list/b.4
Most In-Demand IT Professions in the USA
 Traditional jobs:
 Physician:
379K positions
 Truck driver:
194K positions
 Advocate:
169K positions

8. 8
What are Companies Looking For?

9. How to Become a
Software Engineer?

10.  First find out if programming is for you!
 Sign up for the SoftUni & MLC free coding
course for beginners: mlctraining.mn
 Or follow a tutorial / book / video course on the Internet
 Does programming excite you?
 Do you really like it and enjoy it?
 Are you good at coding problems?
 Do you want to write code all the time?
How do I Become a Software Engineer?
10

11.  To become a software engineer, you
need to study hard and consistently!
 1-2 years @ part time (15-20 hours / week)
 Or 1 year @ 8-10 hours daily
 Developing practical projects
 Write 100K+ lines of code (LOC)
 100K LOC == 300 days * 350 LOC
Study Hard with a Lot of Practice
11

12.  Coding skills – 20%
 Algorithmic thinking – 30%
 Fundamental concepts of the
software developer profession – 25%
 Programming languages &
software technologies – 25%
Learn the 4 of Fundamental Skills
12

13. 13
 Basic Coding Course – calculations, data, conditions, loops, IDE
 Fundamentals of Programming – arrays, lists, maps, nested structures,
text processing, error handling, basic language APIs, problem solving
 Object-Oriented Programming – classes, objects, inheritance, …
 Databases and ORM – relational DB, SQL, ORM frameworks, XML, JSON
 Back-End Development – HTTP, MVC, Web apps, REST
 Front-End Development – HTML, CSS, JS, DOM, AJAX, JS Frameworks
 Projects – Git, software engineering, teamwork
 Example: https://softuni.org/learn
Typical Curriculum for Developers

14.  You need a portfolio of projects in GitHub!
 Examples: https://github.com/YanaSlavcheva/SoftUni-Work,
github.com/hammer4/SoftUni, github.com/VasAtanasov
 Show the employers your skills
 How do you prove skills?
 With a rich GitHub profile!
 Start a job and gain experience
Build a Portfolio and Start a Job
14
Learn more from my blog
➡ nakov.com/blog/2022/03

15. It Just Takes Time and Persistence
Anyone Can Be a Software Developer!

16. 16
 Why can anyone become a software developer and start a job
in the IT industry?
 It's not complex, it just takes time and persistence
 Already nearly 20K students have studied programming at
SoftUni in Bulgaria) and started a job in the IT industry
 Retraining: hairdressers, musicians, architects, financiers,
journalists, taxi drivers --> all succeed
 Technically it is not complex. You need just logical thinking
 Success stories: Ivaylo, Chriss, Kaloyan, Nakov's blog
Anyone Can Be a Software Developer!

17. 17
 Statistics from Bulgaria (from 17K graduates from SoftUni)
 University degree in not required by the software industry!
 70% are career changers
 Use SoftUni to change their job and enter the IT industry
 They can learn programming only at slow speed (after job)
 30% are school / university students
 Use SoftUni to add practical software development skills
 They study in school / university in parallel with SoftUni
Who Can Become a Developer?

18. 18
 How to know if programming is your passion?
 Sign-up for the free "Programming Basics" courses @ MLC
Business School: http://www.mlctraining.mn
 Start for free, pass through the course, touch coding
 If you enjoy programming, go ahead with the next modules
 Graduate in 16-20 months (at slow speed, 2-3 times / week)
 Learn programming, databases, back-end, front-end, etc.
 Graduate as a software developer and start a tech job
Is Programming Your Passion?

19. 19
http://mlctraining.mn
Start with Programming @ MLC Business School

20. SoftUni – https://softuni.bg