The tech industry is ever-expanding, offering countless opportunities for individuals interested in software engineering. For those interested in the self-taught route, it may be challenging to know where to start. Fortunately, Google offers free resources and courses to help one acquire the skills necessary to secure a software engineering role without a Computer Science degree.
A great starting point for individuals with no prior programming experience is the “Foundations of Programming” course offered by Google. It provides the basics of programming, including variables and operators, strings, and arrays. This course, upon completion, will furnish learners with a high-level overview of programming and form a solid base to take up advanced courses.
A crucial aspect of entering the software engineering field is becoming proficient in at least one programming language. Python, a widely used language by programmers due to its simplicity and suitability for coding interviews, is a good one to start with. Google’s Python course comprises lecture videos, texts, and exercises designed to instill knowledge on Python basics, strings and lists, dictionaries and files, and regular expressions, among others.
Google’s “Data Structures & Algorithms” course is also an essential resource for understanding key coding elements and problem-solving techniques that will come in handy during technical interviews. This course sheds light on hashmaps, trees, stacks, queues, heaps, graphs, and much more.
When it comes to preparing strategically for technical interviews, Google’s “Interview Prep” guide is another useful resource. This guide will enable learners to prepare for coding interviews effectively, communicate during technical interviews and practice interview questions.
Furthermore, Google offers a course on Software Engineering Principles to ensure engineers write clean, easily maintainable, and well-documented codes. The course focuses on testing and debugging, working with open-source tools, and emphasizes the importance of design and documentation.
In order to succeed in these courses, individuals will need to invest ample time and steady effort. Consistent practice is essential to master the various aspects of coding and software development to clear interviews and secure a role in software engineering. Additional resources to help with coding interview preparation, like free university courses, can be found online.
The author, Bala Priya C, is a developer and technical writer who enjoys working at the intersection of math, programming, and data science. She has extensive knowledge in DevOps, data science, and natural language processing. Through sharing her knowledge, she hopes to inspire more individuals to embark on a journey into software engineering.
