How to Become a Career Coder

Are you just now entering the job market or considering another career? If so, then getting into software development is one of the best things you can get into.

If you’re planning to become a coder, you aren’t alone. The number of programmers is expected to grow significantly over the next few years.

But the world of software development is huge. It’s hard to know where to start if you’re new to the field. This post will help put you on the right path.

Follow the four steps below to jump-start your programming career.

1. Decide What You Want to Do

Before you start your coding career, it’s essential to learn what types of programming are out there and how each one of them works. What you want to do will dictate your next steps.

If you want to go into an area that is easier to get into, web development is a great choice. Some of your other options are data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, mobile app development, and database administration.

Think carefully about this because you could be committing to a field for a long time during the learning process.

2. Find Learning Resources

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to have a computer science degree to start developing software. This is truer if you are looking at web development. A lot of smaller shops will give more weight to your Github profile than your resume.

If you want to get started for free, YouTube is a great choice. There is content out there to teach you any programming concept you need.

If you want to try paid resources, websites like Udemy and Skillshare have courses available that will teach you as well. If you need a class setting and don’t want to head to college, you should start looking into joining a coding bootcamp.

3. Build Sample Projects

It isn’t enough to know programming syntax. There are a lot of junior devs out there. Having a project to show recruiters will help you stand out from the crowd.

It’s cheap and easy to host your project online. Set up a space for yourself and put your source code online.

4. Start Applying for Jobs

Once you have your projects up, it’s time to start applying for jobs. The first place to start is LinkedIn and job search websites. Create profiles on each of them and highlight the skills you have.

If you aren’t getting any responses from job sites, then you may need to network with the developers in your area. Look for local developer meetups to attend. You can meet with other developers in your area there.

You never know. One of them may know of the perfect position for you.

Start Your Coder Career Today

One thing seems certain about the future: tech jobs aren’t going to disappear anytime soon. When you decide to become a coder, you’re setting yourself up for a great career that will keep you employed well into the future. Make sure to start learning today so you can get your first coding job.

If you’re interested in what else is out there in the tech world, our blog has everything you need. Make sure to read more of our posts.