If you really like it, JUST DO IT. Do not even take a look on a job that is not software engineering of some kind. Keep getting hands on experience on the subject, either by working on it, or by hobbying on it. Both? Best! ... Actually that is the advice I'd give any person no matter what kind of a career they 're looking for and it goes for anything in life - keep trying until you get there. What's the best advice for a software engineer... Hmm... a friend of mine once said: "Write your code as if the one who will have to maintain it is a blood thirsty killer, who knows where you live in." I'll have to stick with that one.