“We are seeing more and more people find impressive software engineering roles as the position becomes even more in demand,” explains Pathrise co-founder and CEO Kevin Wu. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, software engineer and developer roles are expected to increase by 22% between 2019 and 2029, which is much faster than the average for other types of roles.

With the increased use of software in all fields and industries, including often replacing human workers with machines in manufacturing and retail, the demand for people who are experienced in working with these computer programs is growing as well. Therefore, it is a job-seekers market for people who want to get into software engineering and development positions. We spoke with Kevin Wu from Pathrise, an online program that helps people find jobs in tech, especially as software engineers, to hear what he suggests aspiring developers and engineers do to get one of these in-demand roles.

“To start, it is important for you to have the right background, whether that is from school, a bootcamp, or self-study. Once you have the knowledge, you need to spend time optimizing your resume to make sure your experience comes across to the recruiters and hiring managers who decide if you get an interview or move onto the next round,” Kevin says. Mainly, Kevin explains that a strong software engineering resume highlights the “why” of the work that the candidate did, rather than just what they did. Showcasing the impact by quantifying the results or scale and providing context to the project are important elements to success.

Beyond resumes, aspiring software engineers need to spend a lot of time preparing for their interviews. Unfortunately, the process is not always as straightforward as it would seem. Even though most software engineers studied in school or a bootcamp to learn everything they know, the interview questions for these roles usually do not ask for the same type of knowledge. So, how can they practice to be ready for the interview sessions?

There are a lot of platforms and websites online where software engineers can practice the types of questions they will see in their interviews with top tech companies and startups. Websites like HackerRank, which is often used by these companies for their evaluations, and LeetCode, which has thousands of interview questions, are good places to start. Candidates should mimic the environment they will be tested in. That means they should set a timer, sit in a quiet room, and work until the time is up. They should avoid looking up answers or hints on the Internet while practicing. The more comfortable they get in this situation, the more successful they will be in their interviews and online challenges.

If you are looking to break into software engineering or find a new role within the field, now is the time to do it. The market is in a great place as more and more companies hire software engineers and developers. Plus, it will continue to grow, so if you are not yet ready to get the position, spend the time to develop your skills and experience so you can land a great software engineering job soon.