Are your eyes set on the green field of tech, but you lack directions to get there? You’ve searched the Internet, seeking the perfect formula to break into tech—yet, there’s just little reward for your effort.
You’re on the right page. The tech industry offers rewarding career perks like six-figure salaries and lifelong opportunities to learn new tools and be in touch with disruptive innovations. To help you get there, Codecademy has designed industry-aligned programs, along with robust support services to guide you every step of the way.
Read on to find out how this interactive online learning platform works to solve the common challenges of a job switch, thus simplifying the process for career-changers like yourself.
Codecademy can help you make a smooth transition to tech with its self-paced and low-cost coding courses and its job search tips and support.
Check out what Codecademy has in store for you.5 Common Challenges of a Career Change into Tech
People who seek a tech career often lack the resources and support for launching a new career. This can make a career switch seemingly impossible. Here are five common challenges career changers face when transitioning to tech:
- Need to reskill. Oftentimes, the first hurdle is knowing the tools of the trade. Reskilling in tech helps career switchers with no prior industry experience hone the relevant skills. Finding the right platform to learn how to code can be difficult for tech newbies.
- Time. Reskilling takes time. Some people have to keep their current job, which means they have to find a way to incorporate learning into their already packed schedule. Time constraints may dissuade them from attempting a career change.
- Money. The average cost of a bachelor’s degree in the US is $35,331. Expensive tuition can easily ward off career starters, career switchers, and other tech enthusiasts from pursuing their chosen field in tech.
- Portfolio. A robust project portfolio can tell a lot about your expertise and experience. This is especially true as more companies are shifting their focus from candidates with college degrees to those with the right skills. Career-changers may struggle to build a portfolio from scratch due to a lack of thorough training and career support.
- Job search support. Having the skills to get a job and actually getting a job are two different things. Although there are so many short-term courses that people can use to learn to code, not all of them provide job-oriented support. This leaves a disconnect between learners and employment opportunities.
How Codecademy Simplifies a Career Change into Tech
Codecademy is an interactive online learning platform to help people learn relevant coding skills and access opportunities for breaking into the 21st-century tech industry.
With Codecademy, you get in-depth training, learn on a flexible learning schedule, and build an impressive tech portfolio. Here’s how Codecademy can help you build a tech career:
1. Hands-On Courses
Codecademy’s hands-on coding lessons are available in three formats: Career Path, Skill Path, and compact courses. A Career Path can help you plan your course depending on a job that you are interested in. Similarly, a Skill Path forms your training based on specific tech skills.
If you would like to focus on a niche area of interest, you can check out Codecademy’s huge repository of shorter courses. Don’t know where to start? Take advantage of this fun sorting quiz.
2. Flexible Programs
No matter which Codecademy program you choose, you’ll have the flexibility to learn at your pace. Take the time to build an understanding of each technical concept as you work on coding challenges, projects, and quizzes.
Take the Front End Career Path, for example, which has 350 hours worth of coursework. Don’t let this overwhelm you. You can conveniently break down learning into 10 hours per week and complete the program in about eight months.
3. Affordable Training
Over 50 million learners across the world use Codecademy. Its popularity partly stems from its free and affordable coding programs. The basic plan, which costs $0, gives you access to a host of beginner-friendly courses like Learn JavaScript or Learn Python 2. If you’re looking for a more immersive learning experience via Career Path or Skill Path and additional support, you can upgrade to the Pro plan, which starts at $19.99 a month.
4. Portfolio Projects
Hiring has moved from being credentials-based to skills-based. This is especially true in tech as evident in the number of companies that have chosen to remove the degree requirement. And what better way to demonstrate your skills than to present a solid portfolio consisting of coding projects you’ve worked on—this is what Codecademy’s Portfolio Projects was built for.
5. Job Search Support
Many career seekers struggle in the job search process due to a lack of interview preparation strategies. Codecademy’s interview prep courses help you to effectively communicate with and pitch your skills to interviewers. Additionally, you can learn vital tips for win-win salary negotiation.
Codecademy Review: Is It Worth It?
Flipping to a new chapter in your career story sometimes comes with fear and uncertainty. Nonetheless, you can find your place in tech with the right community and platform to foster career growth. Here’s the story, alongside some career advice, of a pianist who became a software engineer with Codecademy.
Regina Gerbeaux, a former piano teacher, was good with the chords but wanted more than melodies. So, she switched to coding—a new adventure that was both challenging and interesting. For Regina, a supportive online coding community played an important role in her journey.
Codecademy has a dedicated forum for learners to discuss coding problems, provide solutions, and exchange ideas. Its Facebook community is also a good platform for learners to find inspiration as they power through their journey.
On top of her Codecademy training, Regina was actively involved in online coding challenges to keep her skills sharp. For aspiring developers and coding enthusiasts, she had this to say: “Hold yourself accountable. Do the 15 minutes a day, participate in those forums and those exchanges, because you’ll find that the more involved you are in it, the more excited you become.”
Join Codecademy and Switch to Tech with More Ease
Codecademy can help you make a smooth transition to tech with its self-paced and low-cost courses as well as its job search tips and support. Switch career to tech with Codecademy and join the interactive online learning platform today.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
