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Careers in
Software Development
The phenomenal growth
of computers in all fields has opened jobs at different
levels, including software. Since computers need software,
there is a great demand for people who can write error-free
software. Indian software engineers have made a mark and it
is for this reason that the software industry has been
registering a growth of 40% a year. Software professionals
are in great demand abroad too and many Indians are employed
in the world's biggest software companies.
Software exports were valued at Rs 6375 crore in 1995-96 and
with companies like Motorola, IBM, Texas Instruments, Siemens
and Sun Microsystems setting up facilities in Bangalore, the
demand for software professionals has increased manifold. It
is estimated that 2 lakh new jobs will be created in the
country in the next 5 years, while India produces about
20,000 computer science graduates every year. The high demand
and limited supply has caused salaries to riseearnings
increase by 20% every year in the industry. A software
professional, thus, can bargain and has a high mobility.
A good person is often tracked by recruiters who persuade him
to give up his job and work with someone else. Staff turnover
in companies is, therefore, high. Since salaries are higher
abroad, people prefer to leave the country. Others prefer to
set up their own software unit after working with a company
for some years.
Jobs have also multiplied by better communication systems.
Satellite links enable much of the work to be done in India
itself: clients in America may e-mail their requirements to
Bangalore while leaving their office in the evening. As they
sleep, engineers in India work on their problems and e-mail
back the solutions as the offices open in America the next
day. An Indian software engineer is cheaper than an American
one so the country is preferred for software development
jobs. Bangalore has become the centre for such operations.
How to get in: One needs to be a M.Tech, BE or an MCA to get
into the software industry. Engineers are sought after, but
if you are a science or commerce graduate, a career in
software could still be pursued. There is an entrance test
for MCA but it is important to do it from a good institute.
Many universities have opened MCA courses without adequate
facilities or trained teachersgood software professionals
prefer to join the industry rather than teach. Similar is the
case with private institutes which offer software courses.
One also has to be wary of the high pressure marketing
gimmicks employed by private institutes. While all of them
claim that wonderful jobs can be found after doing their
course, the claims are often not true. It is important,
therefore, to look at the kind of jobs that ex-students have
got before committing oneself to an expensive course.
Software courses are offered by engineering colleges and
universities. Among the private institutes that offer
software courses are: NIIT, Aptech, Tata Unisys and First
Computers. A host of smaller institutes have mushroomed in
neighbourhoods. One indication that can be used is the
accreditation of the Department of Electronics (DOE-ACC)
through which 'O' and 'A' level courses can be done. The
government has not publicised the scheme or its benefits very
well and even courses without the accreditation also
reportedly do well.
Aptitude: Before joining, it is important to assess one's
aptitude. For, if the salaries are high, the industry does
expect a very high quality of work. The sky is the limit for
a good programmer, but an average one or someone who makes
frequent mistakes will be thrown out. One must, therefore,
make sure that one understands the machine and the nature of
programs. A client will not pay for a program that encounters
frequent glitches. In exports, the need for programs that do
not create problems is all the more essential.
Usually, people get drawn in by the promise of high salaries
without recognising their own limitations. The ability to
think logically is absolutely essential. A quick way to
assess one's aptitude is to see whether one can make flow
charts and write small computer programs. Many people simply
do not have this knack. For them, a career in computer
software would not be a perfect choice. Software requires
patience too and the ability to sit for long hours at a
computer terminal. Unless it is a job of selling, a software
job is not for the extrovert.
Choosing a course: If software be your calling, start
thinking about it in school itself. Appear in the B.E. or
B.Tech entrance exams after Class 12 and specialise in
software. If you are a graduate in any stream, start
preparing for the MCA entrance exam. Maths upto class 12,
logical reasoning questions and a bit of English is asked in
these exams. Some correspondence courses are available which
will help you prepare for the entrance test.
Alternately, one can join a private institute while one is
doing graduation and learn programming. Crash courses must be
avoided as they merely teach basics of computers.
Unfortunately, many institutes churn out semi-literates and
the only jobs that can be found after such courses are those
of data entry operators, which is nothing but a typist.
It is also important to do the course when you absolutely
require it. This is because one becomes outdated and out of
touch in no time at all, since technology is changing so
fast. Many students take courses as a time-pass or as
something to be done in summer holidays, which is an utter
waste. It is, therefore, important to have one's career
objectives clear before joining a course and the course
should also be chosen with care.
Finally, it may be said that software has grown tremendously
and is poised to grow still further. The quality of Indian
software engineers is being recognised the world over. With
multinational companies showing an interest in India, the
field is growing as never before. Shortage of personnel is
also likely to exist for some years to come. Software is,
thus, a viable career option for those who have the talent
and the aptitude.
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