With the rise of the tech industry, more and more people ask if they should learn to code. While the answer from us would be a resounding, ‘YES,’ it’s a little more complicated than that. There are many different types of coding, and everybody has a different set of skills and goals for their career. When deciding if you should learn to code, it’s essential to consider what you intend to do with your new ability. It’s still good to know the different types of coding, even if you’re only learning for personal projects. In this article, we’ll go over the five most common coding jobs, best coding languages, and why you should learn to code.
Why Learn to Code?
Coding is an enriching problem-solving activity. Programmers boast remarkably high job satisfaction rates, and the professionals earn some of the highest average salaries in the country. It can start as a hobby, but few hobbies have the potential to turn highly lucrative as quickly (and as often) as coding. If you’re not enjoying your career, or want to break into the booming tech industry, there’s no better way to start. Before we get into how to learn to code, we’ll go over some common coding career paths to give you an idea of what to expect.
Types of Coding
- App Coding
Application coding is the most obvious development job to cover. App building requires coding skills in several languages, which depends on the platform you intend to use for the app. There are over a billion IOS and Android users on this planet, so app development is a logical choice for a new coder. You can either work for a company or develop your own app, and the process is pretty simple once you get rolling. If you’re an entrepreneurial person with a great idea, app coding is a great career path for you.
- Web Development
The term ‘web development’ actually refers to many subcategories of programming jobs, all of which are necessary for building and maintaining a website. UX/UI designers create user interfaces and enhance the user experience, making a site attractive, useable, and functional. Full-stack developers work on the data-heavy end of a website, managing all the databases and information necessary for the site to work correctly. If you’re keen on aesthetic appeal, you’d likely be a fantastic web designer. If you’re a detail-oriented person who loves making things work, full-stack development would be an excellent career path to pursue after learning to code.
- Software Engineering
Software engineers are the ‘jack-of-all-trades’ in the coding world. While many software engineers specialize in a particular field, many do not choose a subfield until a few years into their career. If you want to work as a coder in the tech industry but don’t know exactly what to do, software engineering is an excellent choice. You’ll learn multiple coding languages along with other general skills that you’ll need in any programming career.
- Data Science
Data science is one of the most lucrative entry-level coding careers. These professionals manage databases and analyze large volumes of information. They’re in charge of data mining programs, domain research, statistical analysis, and design. Data scientists are detail-oriented individuals with the ability to sift through information and solve problems. If you love organizing information, you’ll likely be a great data scientist.
How to Learn Coding Fast
If you’re ready to pursue a lucrative career in the tech industry, it’s time to learn how to code. There are a few ways to go about it, but only one can provide a real coding education in a year or less. Coding bootcamps are fast-track programs that sprung up to help meet the massive demand for new coders, and they can help you become one in just months. These intensive coding schools are known to churn out well-rounded developers with at least 74% of them landing a high-paying programming job within a year of graduating! Unlike college, a coding bootcamp doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Scholarships and income sharing agreements can reduce your costs to zero up-front because coding bootcamps are incredibly confident that their training will help you land a job. With the help of a coding bootcamp and a good bit of effort, you’ll be on the right track to a real programming job in no time.
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.
