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What Does a Software Trainee Do?

Donna Tinus
Donna Tinus

A software trainee can do various jobs, depending on the company he works for. His new employer may have him attend a conference to learn the basics of the software development process. He will then start to participate in computer programming, or design. He will usually begin his career by performing small programming jobs, working under the close supervision of a software developer or lead programmer.

After attending whatever classes or seminars his employer offers, the software trainee will begin working by contributing to an assigned project on the application level. At this point, the software development trainee's responsibilities are more on the level with a computer programmer trainee. Later, as he gains more experience, he will move to the component level. Once he has shown proficiency in computer programming, he will be assigned small programming tasks.

Software trainees usually start by learning the basics of programming code.
Software trainees usually start by learning the basics of programming code.

After the software trainee works with all aspects of software development, including design and coding, he is then a software developer. In some companies, the term “software engineer” is used interchangeably with software developer. A software engineer may be required to obtain additional education from an accredited school.

The software trainee's job responsibilities may include maintenance of existing software products, designing new software, and installation and customization of software. He may be asked to contribute to reports outlining the feasibility and cost-benefit analysis of new software. He will be taught how to budget and schedule a new software design. He will most likely be asked to participate in the testing of the software. This may include interfacing with the release testers to get their feedback.

In some companies, the term “software engineer” is used interchangeably with software developer.
In some companies, the term “software engineer” is used interchangeably with software developer.

Once a software program is complete, the software trainee will be trained in the release and post-release responsibilities of a software developer. This includes providing support for the users, and analyzing the success of the program. He may be asked to provide reports to his supervisor describing how to change future release cycles to improve the software.

A software trainee may be trained in all aspects of developing software.
A software trainee may be trained in all aspects of developing software.

In some larger companies, the software developer may be assigned to one job, such as the testing phase. His job description will be to test the various software programs that other designers have written. In smaller companies, one software developer, or a few together, may work on a single project from start to finish. The software trainee may be trained in all aspects of developing software, or he may only learn one aspect of it, depending on what his job responsibilities will be, once he graduates from software trainee to software developer.

Discussion Comments

flotillaiot

Fleet Management software have become inevitable in this day and age. If you want to run smooth fleet operations with a guarantee to achieve efficiency and profitability, opting for a good management solution is the way to go.

Ana1234

I would definitely think carefully about what kind of schooling you want, or need if you're going after this kind of position. I would even call up a few companies and ask them what they look for. Because it won't always be what you think.

In a lot of places it's becoming impossible to get a job without a degree, in others it might be considered a waste of time. It's just worth checking before you take the plunge.

umbra21

@Mor - That sounds like it was more of a contract job and they aren't going to hire someone as a trainee really. They just want someone who can do something specific in the right amount of time and that's it.

If you're going in with a company, they will probably start you off slow just so that they can teach you their particular way of doing things. It's a kind of investment on their part, in the hope that later you'll take all that training and benefit their company with it.

But, yeah, it does depend on the company and your skill level. If you've got a Masters in Computer Science they are going to expect different things from you than if you've got a Diploma in Computing.

Mor

I think it really depends on what level of ability you enter the company with as well as what level of company it is.

One of my friends was lucky enough to be offered a job with a small company over the summer one year, setting up a program and he was just thrown into the deep end and expected to keep up with experienced programmers.

He managed it, but the first few weeks were a steep learning curve. I just wouldn't take it for granted they are going to start you off slow.

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    • Software trainees usually start by learning the basics of programming code.
      By: Artur Marciniec
      Software trainees usually start by learning the basics of programming code.
    • In some companies, the term “software engineer” is used interchangeably with software developer.
      By: Gandolfo Cannatella
      In some companies, the term “software engineer” is used interchangeably with software developer.
    • A software trainee may be trained in all aspects of developing software.
      By: silver-john
      A software trainee may be trained in all aspects of developing software.
    • A software trainee may be responsible for maintaining existing software products.
      By: auremar
      A software trainee may be responsible for maintaining existing software products.