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Becoming a programmer is an appealing prospect, regardless of whether you’re considering a new career or just starting out. Obviously, learning how to code is the first step.
Programmers use specific computer languages to write code for computer software. They contribute to application development by testing, coding, and maintaining programs.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs in IT will increase by 13% in the next seven years, compared to 8% for all other occupations on average.
The world is over-reliant on technology, so demand for programmers will continue to increase. Employers are always looking for qualified people who can code well.
Programming is also very well-paid. Programmers who work with Python, JavaScript, and Java earn around $90,000 a year on average. If you have experience, that figure goes into six digits.
Start by choosing a language
Wannabe coders are tempted to learn several programming languages, but that’s a bad idea. It’s better to choose one and get good at it. The teams at most computer firms code in a fixed tool stack, so employers are looking for people who know that language very well. You shouldn’t start learning a second language before you become proficient in the first one.
Sign up for a coding program
The best programs for learning to code are not only at universities and high schools. Competition in this field has been so strong in recent years that you can pick from tens of free programs.
It’s still an option to pay for more detailed, private lessons, but many online programming courses are more than sufficient for beginners, so there’s no need to. BitDegree, Khan Academy, and Free Code Camp offer free programs that experts recommend.
BitDegree
BitDegree issues free certificates of completion and offers a large number of programming languages. If you take a program and complete it successfully, any potential employer will see that you put in considerable effort and are willing to keep learning. You can study one of the following programming languages here:
- CSS
- HTML
- PHP
- SQL
- JavaScript
Khan Academy
Almost everyone has heard about Khan Academy. This NPO is dedicated to providing free education to people across the globe, which includes education in coding. The languages below are available:
- HTML
- Java
- CSS
- jQuery
- C#
- C++
- Python
- SQL
You could sign up for a free course in mobile app development too.
Free Code Camp
Free Code Camp also issues certificates for its quality coding programs. It is also an NPO. The website features a community forum, online publications, chat rooms, and links to relevant local organizations.
Free Code Camp offers the following programming language tutorials:
- CSS3
- HTML5
- JavaScript
- React.js
- Node.js
- D3.js
- Git and GitHub
- Databases
Write your own code
Most aspiring coders err in watching too many tutorials. They watch tutorials on YouTube and copy other people’s codes, which teaches them practically nothing. You must write code yourself to become really good at programming and get a job. You can solve problems with your own code. Websites like Leetcode and HackerRank feature programming challenges you can try to solve. They’re a great way to apply what you’ve learned in the coding program.
These websites have coding problems with varying complexity levels. The problems get harder and harder as you go along. If you get stuck, you can check other programmers’ solutions posted on the site.
Build a personal project
No need to lie – you need to complete dozens of challenges to gain experience and confidence in your skills. The next stage is to create a personal project. What you build is up to you. Personal projects are a way to show you have coding skills because they let you use code to solve an end-to-end problem. Recruiters will be impressed. Plus, you can’t demonstrate any formal training or prior experience anyway.
You should create a project from the ground up. It shouldn’t be overly simple, either – tens of thousands of coders have built calculator applications.
