As more and more people are looking for ways to work from home permanently, tech jobs are on the rise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 11 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.” This includes general coding, software development, and data analysts. Even non-coding jobs are now recommending that applicants have at least a basic knowledge of HTML or JavaScript.
In short, now is a great time to start your career in coding! There are any number of resources available to you online, but first, you need to pick a discipline.
Step One: Choose Your Discipline
There are four major disciplines when it comes to coding: web technologies (HTML5, CSS, JavaScript), mobile apps (Android,iOS,Windows Mobile), server development (PHP, Node.js, ASP.NET), and desktop applications (.NET, WinForms, C++, C, WPF). Your specialty will depend on your personal preference, so pick what sounds interesting to you!
Step Two: Study the Language
The next step is to learn the language. Depending on where your focus will be, you can get a head start by studying the language. For example, if you want to write websites, it’s a pretty safe bet to begin learning HTML.
Step Three: Find Your Resources
If you’re lucky enough to still be in school or going back to school, this step is already done for you. You can choose classes for basic skills, specific disciplines, or advanced code writing. Your path will probably be spelled out for you.
But if you’re looking to shift careers or just interested in learning more about coding, look no further than the World Wide Web. Resources like Microsoft’s Linked In Learning courses offer classes on subjects like “Programming Foundations: Fundamentals”, “JavaScript Code Challenges”, and “Becoming an Agile Software Developer”. Courses range from 45 minutes to 32 hours, and you can start with a free trial!
There are YouTube channels, books, podcasts, forums, and even online games dedicated to teaching coding basics to beginners and experts alike, so no matter where you want to start, there’s a resource for you.
Once you have a working knowledge, you can start playing around with writing your own code for personal projects like apps and website, which can help you offer examples to future employers, class projects, or just for fun.
If coding sounds like something you might be interested in, you can open yourself up to jobs like Computer Programming, Web Development, Computer Systems Analyst, or Back End Development, which can pay anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000 annually! Or maybe you’re looking to build your skills to help you in your current job. Maybe you just miss the good old days of writing your own HTML code for the perfect Myspace layout. Either way, coding can be a valuable tool in your career arsenal.
So if you think coding may be the path for you, do some research, explore some resources, and have some fun with it! Don’t forget to check out the Microsoft Linked In learning courses, and let us know how it goes!