Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
Steve Jobs famously claimed that everyone should learn how to write code because learning how to code teaches you how to think. Coding is a way to solve real-world problems with existing technology¨C and it¡¯s a must-have skill for the 21st century.
Curious about how to get into coding? In this guide, we¡¯ll walk you through everything you need to know about coding from what it is from coding basics to jobs that use coding.
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What do the most in-demand 2021 jobs and promising careers of the future have in common? Coding skills. At the same time, new applications of coding are making their way into existing roles, expanding job requirements in traditional fields like banking and marketing. Even for non-tech roles, coding skills are seen as a valuable bonus that can give job candidates an edge.
Our digital world buzzes with software code we use every day, from products and services in the form of websites to mobile applications to games and on and on.
Computer programmer, developer, engineer, analyst ¡ª these are just some of the titles rapidly populating the job boards of Fortune 500 companies, and coding skills are essential requirements in all of them. Arwa Lokhandwala, who teaches our popular Full-Stack Web Development course, breaks down the various titles and what they really mean.
¡°Most of these terms are used synonymously, but there is some slight difference between them. A computer programmer, for instance, includes anyone who uses a programming language to produce some digital output ¡ª this technically includes everyone who codes. A developer uses a wide array of technical abilities, from writing code and creating technical documentation to testing and debugging. An engineer, on the other hand, is a person who has a strong educational background in software engineering, computer science, and mathematics and can apply these concepts to solve or create digital solutions. Finally, the analyst¡¯s main job is to analyze different metrics, understand data captured by these digital solutions, and derive useful insights from them that are beneficial for the business.¡±
Additional jobs for coding professionals include web designer, software engineer, and chief technology officer (CTO); myriad roles in the fields of web development, technical project management, and quality assurance; plus, almost every founder of a successful startup has a background in coding.
So, what does a typical career path look like? ¡°You can either start out as a software engineer, software developer, or quality analyst. As you progress, you can become lead developer then either go towards becoming an engineering manager, solution architect or product manager,¡± Lokhandwala advises.
You don¡¯t always have to make a big move to flex your coding muscles. Often newfound coding skills can help you to advance in your existing job. If you¡¯re curious about how this may pertain to you, Lokhandwala suggests offering to solve a particular problem at your company that you think can be automated with coding and see how that affects your role. The next step would be to take a course in a programming language like Python or fast-track your career with a coding bootcamp like our Software Engineering Immersive. Whether you stay at your job or accept a better offer elsewhere, you¡¯ll gain a distinct advantage in the job market and increase your earning potential.
The practical applications for coding language are vast and growing every day. From medical coding to building websites, freelance to full-time, the jobs that use hard coding skills are varied enough to fit every personality and lifestyle.
Lokhandwala sees many exciting new uses of coding on the horizon, all on the cutting edge of computer science. ¡°Some of the most interesting are in the realms of augmented reality and virtual reality. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify the early onset of diseases has huge implications.¡±
Want to learn more about Arwa?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/arwalokhandwala-b831b/
https://www.instagram.com/code.with.arwa/