Master’s in Software Engineering: How to Get Hired!

Here’s how to be successful with a master’s in software in engineering…

If you want to take your computing degree to the next level, a master’s in software engineering can be a great career investment. In fact, software gurus are considered to be the worlds’ most in-demand profession!

There are great job opportunities out there, and fantastic salaries and perks to boot. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be facing competition when you’re ready to start interviewing. These days, companies are looking for engineers, programmers and developers with outstanding technical and interpersonal skills. So leave no stone unturned when it comes to perfecting your craft.

Here’s how… 

Firstly, get the technical skills right

At the University of Bolton, we’ve been in the Top 10 in the UK for Student Satisfaction in Computing* for the second year running. And we have some of the best software engineering degrees, with exemplary teaching. During your postgraduate training with us, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills in a number of key areas. But remember, practice is key.

Depending on your first degree, some students will have more experience in programming than others. Just some of the key areas you’ll need to make sure you get right are version control systems, HTML and CSS basics, developer toolkit (IDEs, editors, and CLI tools), and regular expressions.

Then build the right habits

To be a great engineer, you also need to get into the right habits. For example, developers and programmers have to write release notes for projects, so get into the habit of clear and effective written communication.

Software engineers need to adhere to the software development lifecycle in order to achieve a high level of management control and documentation. It’s also beneficial to have a defensive programming approach on projects, as even the best programmers are fallible.

Work on your soft skills too

If you want to get hired, do not forget your soft skills! Software engineers are expected to be able to collaborate effectively. Very few software jobs allow you to work entirely on your own, so teamwork skills are a must.

But it’s not just the technical team you’ll need to get friendly with. You’ll also be required to communicate effectively with stakeholders, so make sure your interpersonal skills are up to scratch.

Have the right mindset

Finally, your mindset and approach to work can be just as important as technical and soft skills. Because an engineer’s mindset can be the difference between ‘can’ and ‘can’t’, and the ability to overcome problems.

Here are some ways you can adjust your mindset to be more proactive:

Be open to experimentation and always be willing to learn

Accept that mistakes are part of the journey (they are an opportunity to learn and do better)

Don’t expect software engineering to be fun all of the time (some days can be boring, but you still need to give 100%)

Adopt a problem-solving mentality (be patient and persevere)

Are you interested in doing a master’s in software engineering? As a leading Greater Manchester university that puts students, and their needs first, there’s nowhere better to begin your journey than the University of Bolton. We’re proud to deliver #UniAsItShouldBe, and that means providing a supportive and friendly learning environment to help students reach their potential.

To find out more about applying in 2022/23, see our MSc Software Engineering course page.

*Complete University Guide 2022 & 2021 – North West Region