A Beginner’s Guide To Learning How to Code
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We talk about leveling up, about geting ahead in your career and about excelling where you are right now.
Coding is a popular skill for professionals to learn. From possible career pivots to having fun, to best learn how to code, make sure you have a plan in place. You should choose a specific coding language that suits your personal/professional goals and can be learned through online platforms, boot camps or college education.
In-demand skills are constantly changing, but coding is by far one of the most resilient and valuable skills a professional can know nowadays.
Almost everything we interact with on a daily basis is driven by coding (a subset of programming). For this reason alone, it’s beneficial to be able to code or have some knowledge of the process, especially for those interested in finding tech jobs.?
Traditionally, a person would learn programming skills, such as coding, through college courses. But thankfully that’s no longer the only way to learn.?
Today’s wide-ranging online courses make learning code easier and more accessible. These opportunities provide the necessary skills, knowledge and certifications to land a high-demand position, like? computer programmer, web developer, and software engineer.?
Whether you’re trying to break into tech or just interested in developing a new hobby (which can stand out on some resumes), you must understand how to get the most out of your coding experience.
3 Reasons To Learn to Code
Career Pivot?
The main reason you may want to learn coding is to change careers.?
Build your transferable skills to alleviate some of the stress involved with career pivots, whether it be going into the tech industry or into a more technical position at your current employer. Such actions can set you apart from other candidates and meet specific job requirements.?
Of course, not every tech role requires coding knowledge, but it can never hurt to be versed in programming languages — boosting your versatility and value as an employee.
“[Knowing at least one relevant programming language] doesn’t just apply to developers, though. Web designers should know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Project managers should know the inner workings of the tools they help craft,” writes Hubspot.
Additionally, coding knowledge is an all-around great way to bolster your professional presence during a career change. “Even if you’re not pursuing a strictly technical role, coding experience is an asset. It shows technical know-how, the ability to grasp abstract concepts, and that you can solve complex problems,” adds Hubspot.
Looking for a side hustle? Coding is a useful skill that can be used for in-demand freelance gigs, such as Android app development.?
Get Ahead in Your Current Job
Another reason to learn coding is to advance your current career, without having to switch industries or employers.?
Reskilling and upskilling are becoming increasingly important for companies and organizations across all industries, as the adoption of technology increases. As the working world continues to shift and demand changes, 94% of business leaders expect employees to pick up new, desired skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving, while on the job, according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report. And as an employee, you should already be embracing active learning and skills development — both aspects of career development.
For Eric James Stephens, Ph.D., founder of #TranslateAcademia, #HireHigherEd and Educator.Network, learning a new coding language was something he was able to do on-the-job.
“I learned SQL on the job and got a raise after 5 months for meeting my 12-month learning goals,” he says.?
He agrees that coding knowledge applies to various aspects of our career, regardless of industry or job title, because “we need to recognize that we live in a digital world, and the more digital that we can speak, the more we understand what's happening and why it's happening.”?
In fact, U.S. News reports that learning coding can help if you’re in a position where up-to-date tech skills are needed or looking for a higher-up role within your company.?
“Coding skills can benefit a marketer who needs to better analyze data, sift through databases or work with unwieldy spreadsheets. In journalism, coding can help data reporters dig into databases, build visualizations, and collect and analyze data. In finance, it can help analysts automate tasks and manage large data sets,” writes U.S. News.
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Learning for Fun
Have you always wanted to learn coding languages, just for your own personal development and enjoyment? That is a completely valid reason.
Coding is an engaging activity that helps you bring your ideas to life, from apps to websites. Hubspot shares that after getting the basics down and creating your own projects, you can even “monetize your project, post it on an open-source platform like GitHub, or just make things as a hobby, you’ll have the knowledge and the tools to do so.”
Additionally, learning how to code and building up digital literacy is advantageous for college students who are still figuring out their desired career path. If possible, you should take at least one coding course while in school.
Coding could also be a good way to future-proof your career, as you develop in-demand skills sets.
Creating a Learning Plan
No matter your reason for coding, you should create a plan and focus on your specific career goals.?
One way to conjure up a plan? Seeking out a problem you want (or need) to solve with coding, states Stephens.?
“You can't just go in and learn to code. You need a path of curiosity,” he says. “Coding is a tool, it is a skill set that you have. You need to know how to use a tool and why you're using that tool.”
If you want to learn to code, but are procrastinating or feeling stuck, Stephens recommends pinpointing the exact reason you’re drawn to coding. Focus on that reason … and then make learning to code fun.
“I think to overcome that ‘Oh I don't know how to do this...’ really isolate what it is that you want to do. Then just focus on that thing that you want to do, and make it fun, and make it exciting, and then you'll want to do it.”
Picking a Language and Starting to Code?
Before you start coding, you need to pick a coding language to learn.?
The most popular coding and programming languages include HTML, CSS, Java and Python. You may also be familiar with C or C++.?
The language you learn should be based on your long term goals and possible job requirements, as learning to code can take weeks, months or even years. It’s all dependent on what type of learning you’re pursuing, how much experience you have with coding and what your goals are, says U.S. News. You want to pick the ideal language upfront, saving yourself valuable time, effort and in some cases, money.
After you’ve picked the best suited programming language, you can finally start learning to code. There are numerous free and paid online programming courses, if you decide to take the “self-taught” route into coding — and potentially save yourself from breaking the bank on a college degree. Popular educational platforms include: LinkedIn Learning, Code Academy, Codesmith CSX, Crash Course and YouTube.
Coding boot camps are another option for those looking to learn coding. Boot camps are usually focused on building job-specific skills, all packed into one short-term training program that takes place over a couple of months. Please note that boot camps will cost you money, but many graduates do go on to land jobs.
Finally, you can take the college degree route (online or in-person), eventually obtaining a degree in relevant fields like computer science or software engineering. Learning how to code via a college education can open up more opportunities to learn about computer science theory and really dive deep into the world of programming. Realistically, this isn’t an option for many working professionals, making the previous options good alternatives.
Ultimately, you know best which method suits your personal/professional goals, learning style and lifestyle. Remember, credentials aren’t everything when it comes to coding, but having a good learning environment is.
“What a learning environment does is gives you a structured way to approach something,” says Stephens. “People rely on that credential to say that they're going to get a job. It doesn't matter what credentials you have. What matters is what can you do … what can you showcase?”
Top Takeaways?
Learning how to code is ideal for both personal and professional development.