7 answers
Felix
Student
Laurel, Maryland
1
Question
Updated
2627 views
Just graduating into the IT field. Software or Hardware? I dont mind electricity
Just recently graduating into the it field, which should I go for in career choice? Should it be writing with c for hardware or should it be software?
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7 answers
Donald Goucher
District Manager
2
Answers
Frisco, Texas
Updated
Donald’s Answer
Congratulations Felix!
The IT industry has a few sides to it and understanding what excites you more will determine which direction you should go.
Consider what drives you. If you enjoy logical puzzles, creative problem-solving, and working with abstract concepts, you might lean towards software. If you prefer hands-on work, building and understanding physical systems, and working with tangible components, hardware might be a better fit.
The IT industry has a few sides to it and understanding what excites you more will determine which direction you should go.
Consider what drives you. If you enjoy logical puzzles, creative problem-solving, and working with abstract concepts, you might lean towards software. If you prefer hands-on work, building and understanding physical systems, and working with tangible components, hardware might be a better fit.
Teklemuz Ayenew Tesfay
Electrical Engineer, Software Developer, and Career Mentor
520
Answers
Ethiopia
Updated
Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer
The IT field is full of exciting career opportunities, from hardware and software development to networking, cybersecurity, and data science. It's one of the most in-demand industries globally, with technology constantly advancing and transforming every sector. Skilled IT professionals are needed more than ever, and this demand is only growing. Before you choose a specific path, think about what you enjoy, what you're good at, and your long-term goals. Knowing what excites you will naturally guide you to the right IT field, whether it's embedded systems, full-stack development, cloud computing, AI, or cybersecurity.
No matter which area you choose, building a strong foundation of knowledge and practical skills is key. Employers look for people who not only understand the theory but also have hands-on experience and problem-solving skills. Get involved in real projects, internships, or volunteer work to apply what you’ve learned. Learn relevant programming languages and tools, like C for embedded systems or JavaScript and cloud platforms for software development. Along with technical skills, focus on soft skills like communication, teamwork, and adaptability, as these can set you apart as a great IT professional. Gain practical experience by contributing to open-source projects or joining hackathons, which also help you build a portfolio. Tailor your CV to highlight both technical and interpersonal skills, and optimize your LinkedIn profile to feature your projects, coursework, and career goals. Networking is crucial, so connect with industry professionals through LinkedIn, GitHub, Stack Overflow, Discord, and Slack, and join local IT clubs or coding meetups to stay motivated and informed.
As you grow your skills and experience, consider further education or certifications in areas like cloud computing, AI, cybersecurity, or data analytics. Specializing can open more doors and give you a competitive edge in this fast-evolving field. The IT industry offers more than just jobs; it's a dynamic world full of innovation and opportunity. By focusing on building your skills, staying curious and proactive, and engaging with the community, you're preparing for a rewarding, long-term career in a bright and promising field.
No matter which area you choose, building a strong foundation of knowledge and practical skills is key. Employers look for people who not only understand the theory but also have hands-on experience and problem-solving skills. Get involved in real projects, internships, or volunteer work to apply what you’ve learned. Learn relevant programming languages and tools, like C for embedded systems or JavaScript and cloud platforms for software development. Along with technical skills, focus on soft skills like communication, teamwork, and adaptability, as these can set you apart as a great IT professional. Gain practical experience by contributing to open-source projects or joining hackathons, which also help you build a portfolio. Tailor your CV to highlight both technical and interpersonal skills, and optimize your LinkedIn profile to feature your projects, coursework, and career goals. Networking is crucial, so connect with industry professionals through LinkedIn, GitHub, Stack Overflow, Discord, and Slack, and join local IT clubs or coding meetups to stay motivated and informed.
As you grow your skills and experience, consider further education or certifications in areas like cloud computing, AI, cybersecurity, or data analytics. Specializing can open more doors and give you a competitive edge in this fast-evolving field. The IT industry offers more than just jobs; it's a dynamic world full of innovation and opportunity. By focusing on building your skills, staying curious and proactive, and engaging with the community, you're preparing for a rewarding, long-term career in a bright and promising field.
Johnny Tran
Software Engineer
6
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Johnny’s Answer
Congrats on finishing your degree! Both software and hardware can be viable and rewarding career options, and it might down to what you find most interesting to work on. Think back on your coursework. What areas do you find most interesting to learn about? What classes or projects most excited you? What subjects do you feel you did most well in? Answering some of these might point you to where your passion lies.
It's okay if you don't yet know, and I would encourage you to find hands-on opportunities to see what it is like to work in either field. Perhaps you can join a robotics club to get direct experience with hardware, or work on an open-source project for a piece of software that you use regularly. If you are still in school, consider research projects and internships as well. These are low-risk ways to get a feel for what you enjoy doing and might want to pursue as a career, plus they will help in building your resume at the same time.
I personally went the software route, and another piece of advice I can give if you do the same is to not focus too hard on the choice of programming language like C/C++. While it is good to be proficient in a few programming languages, the best software engineers are flexible and will use whatever tools are the best suited for the job, and that will sometimes involve learning a new programming language. Don't neglect the fundamentals like data structures and algorithms.
Use your school experiences to determine what you enjoy doing and learning about.
Research opportunities like clubs, open source projects, or internships to get hands-on experience.
For software, don't focus too much on programming languages, focus on fundamentals like data structures and algorithms.
It's okay if you don't yet know, and I would encourage you to find hands-on opportunities to see what it is like to work in either field. Perhaps you can join a robotics club to get direct experience with hardware, or work on an open-source project for a piece of software that you use regularly. If you are still in school, consider research projects and internships as well. These are low-risk ways to get a feel for what you enjoy doing and might want to pursue as a career, plus they will help in building your resume at the same time.
I personally went the software route, and another piece of advice I can give if you do the same is to not focus too hard on the choice of programming language like C/C++. While it is good to be proficient in a few programming languages, the best software engineers are flexible and will use whatever tools are the best suited for the job, and that will sometimes involve learning a new programming language. Don't neglect the fundamentals like data structures and algorithms.
Johnny recommends the following next steps:
Gavin Brown
Account Executive
1
Answer
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Updated
Gavin’s Answer
There are many exciting areas in IT, like hardware, software, cloud, cybersecurity, support, consulting, business analytics, data analytics, AI, and more. With hundreds of potential roles, there's something for everyone.
Starting in a helpdesk or support role is a fantastic way to explore the IT field. You'll learn about various products and services and see how they're used in real business situations.
These roles are often easy to find and are a great way to kick off your IT career. You can do it!
Starting in a helpdesk or support role is a fantastic way to explore the IT field. You'll learn about various products and services and see how they're used in real business situations.
These roles are often easy to find and are a great way to kick off your IT career. You can do it!
Aaron Cabral
Recruiter
4
Answers
Folsom, California
Updated
Aaron’s Answer
Choosing a career in technology is a smart move, as it's a growing field with many opportunities. Focus on what interests you the most. It's a good idea to look into artificial intelligence, as it's a key skill for the future and is highly sought after. When selecting a company to work for, consider those that support internal mobility and career growth. This will allow you to explore various roles within the company and help you decide on your long-term career goals.
Alex Simand
Hardware Engineer, ASIC Design
2
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
Alex’s Answer
Congrats on graduating! That's a big accomplishment and you should take a minute to savor it. :)
As to your question: ask yourself what you enjoy most. Do you love big abstract problems? Then maybe software engineering is for you. Do you love to get into the nitty gritty of a hardware problem, tinkering with circuits and understanding the low-level flow of data? Then maybe hardware engineering is for you.
In either case, having a good foundation of knowledge for the full stack will always make you a better engineer, so learn a little bit of everything! Embedded C is ultimately the baseline for everything that happens at higher abstraction levels, so it would serve a Software Engineer to understand what's happening under the hood. On the flipside, Hardware Engineers can always benefit from understanding what the purpose of their hardware is and how software will be run. Above all, stay curious, stay active. And we're humans--our interests will change over time. It's never too late to change tracks, and there's no such thing as bad life experience. So don't worry too much about choosing the right thing for forever--just think about what interests you right now and go down that rabbit hole.
Good look! And remember--learning is lifelong. :)
As to your question: ask yourself what you enjoy most. Do you love big abstract problems? Then maybe software engineering is for you. Do you love to get into the nitty gritty of a hardware problem, tinkering with circuits and understanding the low-level flow of data? Then maybe hardware engineering is for you.
In either case, having a good foundation of knowledge for the full stack will always make you a better engineer, so learn a little bit of everything! Embedded C is ultimately the baseline for everything that happens at higher abstraction levels, so it would serve a Software Engineer to understand what's happening under the hood. On the flipside, Hardware Engineers can always benefit from understanding what the purpose of their hardware is and how software will be run. Above all, stay curious, stay active. And we're humans--our interests will change over time. It's never too late to change tracks, and there's no such thing as bad life experience. So don't worry too much about choosing the right thing for forever--just think about what interests you right now and go down that rabbit hole.
Good look! And remember--learning is lifelong. :)
Vanam Srilakshmi
6
Answers
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Updated
Vanam’s Answer
Congratulations for your IT graduation. While you are contemplating on a software or hardware career, we need to understand that there are many emerging technologies that can be implemented on either as you go along the journey. A great addition would be to get a thorough insight into open source automation tools, such as Python, Ansible etc., and engage in Artificial Intelligence learning. You can incorporate AI into almost any field that you work on with sound knowledge and attention to this emerging field. Based upon your interest hardware or software either can be chosen but to sustain, they will need to be complemented with infusion of the latest on Automation, AI, ML, RPA etc.,
Best Wishes,
Vanam Srilakshmi.
Best Wishes,
Vanam Srilakshmi.