Are you thinking about getting a job in coding? You can work among app developers, coding specialists, software developers, and similar coding professionals in no time. Learning to code offers fantastic career opportunities, a generous salary, and high job security.
This detailed guide has all the information on coding education pathways, senior-level, mid-level and entry-level jobs for coding, and the job outlook for programming jobs. If you want to learn how to get a job in coding, continue reading below.
What Is Coding?
Coding, also known as programming, is the practice and method of communicating with computers. Professionals use programming languages like Python and Java to write code as instructions for computers. Using coding, you can create software applications and develop advanced websites.
The coding field has countless career opportunities, which include data science, software engineering, cyber security, and application development. Many of these careers don’t center specifically on coding, yet programming is pivotal to performing their duties. There is a wide variety of jobs out there for coders.
Coding Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for programmers is on the decline at negative 10 percent. Some companies hire coders from outside of the country because they can pay lower wages. However, the BLS also reports that the outlook for software developers is 22 percent, so other coding jobs are still growing quickly.
What Education Do I Need to Become a Coder?
To become a coder, you can study through a bootcamp program, community college, or a four-year degree. Each one of these options can give you the experience you need. Provided you have the relevant skills, you should be eligible for most job openings.
Can I Get a Coding Job Without a Degree?
Yes, you can get a coding job without a degree. Many coding job interviews require technical assessments, so as long as you can pass those, you can get a job as a coder. One of the best coding bootcamps can help you learn similar skills in a more affordable and efficient program than a degree.
Can a Coding Bootcamp Help Me Get a Job in Coding?
Yes, a coding bootcamp can help you get a coding job. Coding bootcamps are popular among coding professionals and employers. You can study online, attend workshops, network with professionals in your field, and learn soft skills. Some bootcamps are challenging to get into, so check your eligibility with their entry requirements.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Job in Coding?
It should take around six months to one year to get a job in coding. If you have prior experience and qualifications, you may get hired for a coding job quickly. However, if you’re learning to code from scratch, it can take between seven to 12 months to study and get a job.
There are many resources available if you want to learn to code quickly. Some professionals have chosen the self-taught route, while others choose bootcamps or degree programs. You can also learn to code for free with online courses, although these are less favored by employers.
Common Coding Education Paths
To get a job in coding, you can choose from multiple education paths. Some coding specialists choose coding bootcamps, others prefer community college, and many go through degree programs. All these education paths will help you become a coder.
Coding Bootcamps
Coding bootcamps are one of the best methods to break into coding because you can learn programming skills quickly. Bootcamp graduates can progress into a wide range of developer roles while spending less money and time studying. You can attend one of the best coding bootcamps, best JavaScript bootcamps, best Python bootcamps, and more.
Community College
A community college provides associate degree and certificate programs to teach you coding basics. Some community colleges offer online coding classes, and many will enhance your learning experience through career support programs. The programs at community colleges usually take between six months and two years to complete.
Coding Degrees
A Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science will provide formal training to teach you the basics and the most complex coding technical skills. You can complete a bachelor’s degree in four years and a master’s in two. With a degree in coding, your job hunt will be much easier. However, having job experience is better, and degree programs are expensive.
Key Coding Skills to List on Your Resume
When putting together a resume for a coding job, you need to include programming language skills. You should also add vital soft skills like analytical thinking and patience. Below are the top three skills that you should include on a coding resume.
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Programming Languages
To apply for coding positions, you need to add programming languages to your resume. Software developers, app developers, and even senior developers always include the coding languages they’ve mastered in their resumes. If you haven’t already, you should learn Python, JavaScript, Ruby, CSS, C++, or HTML.
Analytical Thinking
For whichever developer job you choose, you must know how to think analytically. Coding specialists work with complex programming tools to solve challenging problems. You must know how to apply analytical thinking to any coding job. If your lack of experience prevents you from thinking analytically, consider working on this before starting a career in tech.
Patience
When you begin your career in programming, you’ll notice how much patience you need. Your employer will want to know how you approach stressful situations and work under tight deadlines. Starting with manageable tasks in entry-level coding jobs will help you gain the patience you need for this profession.
Where to Find Coding Jobs
You can find coding jobs on job boards like GitHub, ITJobPro, and Dice. All these job boards are great resources for programmers to land a career quickly. Read below to learn more about the top three resources to find a coding job.
GitHub
GitHub is a valuable resource to find senior and entry-level coding jobs. The best way to approach this is to create a profile and upload your development projects to your profile. Doing this allows potential employers to browse your work and evaluate your skills before reaching out to you.
ITJobPro
ITJobPro is one of the most popular websites for jobs in full stack web development, software development, front end development, and more. You can find job openings at companies like Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Netflix. When going about your job search process, you can filter listings according to locations and keywords.
Dice
Using Dice, you can find a job at your dream company using various filters. For example, you can filter job listings according to location, employment type, remote options, data published, employer type, and keywords. There are openings to become a Python developer, a software engineer, or almost anything in the coding field with Dice.
How to Prepare for Your Coding Interview
You will need to prepare for your coding interview by practicing your skills and gaining a solid understanding of typical interview questions. Once you prepare your answers, you can feel more confident when speaking to the hiring manager. Below are some common coding interview questions that you might encounter.
Coding Interview Questions
- When using Java, how do you reverse an array in place?
- What are some personal projects you’ve developed? Were there any challenges in each project, and how did you solve this?
- Using Stack, how do you determine the sum of two linked lists?
- How do we print all leaves of a binary tree? Why do we do this?
The Five Highest-Paying Coding Jobs
| Coding Job | Average Salary | Projected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $151,150 | 11% |
| Data Scientist | $126,830 | 22% |
| Computer Network Architect | $116,780 | 5% |
| Software Developer | $110,140 | 22% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $93,730 | 7% |
Computer and Information Systems Manager
Salary: $151,150
This senior-level developer job is perfect for professionals who have more than five years of industry experience. You will work full time and coordinate all computer-related operations while leading the development teams. These managers must have strong multitasking skills to work under strict deadlines.
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Data Scientist
Salary: $126,830
Data scientists work with statistics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to help companies make data-driven decisions. Professionals in this career have complex skillsets and work in stressful environments. As a result, it often takes years of experience and learning to become a data scientist.
Computer Network Architect
Salary: $116,780
A computer network architect must develop the entire infrastructure for a companies communication network, including Intranets, local area networks (LAN), and wide area networks (WAN). Most professionals in this programming job work full time, and they should know how to code to troubleshoot network issues.
Software Developer
Salary: $110,140
Software developers should have a background in coding to design, develop, and implement software solutions. You will understand a company’s requirements and create software accordingly. For this career, learn JavaScript, Python, and PHP, among many other programming languages.
Computer Systems Analyst
Salary: $93,730
Massive businesses employ computer systems analysts to evaluate their current computer systems and optimize these systems. Coding specialists in this career often work full time. Additionally, you will need to stay ahead of industry trends to implement the most efficient solutions.
Coding Career Path
There are ample employment opportunities in a coding career path, whether you have a degree in coding or not. Most coding jobs pay a comfortable average salary and offer job security. Below are the entry-level, mid-level, and senior-level positions in a coding career path.
Entry-Level Coding Jobs
- Junior Software Engineer – Junior software engineers work with programming tools to write new software programs according to a company’s requirements. You will work among a team of developers and engineers and assist senior software engineers.
- Web Developer – Before becoming senior developers, many tech professionals start with web development. You will design and develop website components to deliver a smooth and functional performance.
- UX Designer – UX designers work with design principles to ensure software, websites, or applications engage users. You will use coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to apply visual graphics, interactive designs, and other elements.
Mid-Level Coding Jobs
- Graphic Designer – Like UX designers, graphic designers work with visual elements to create animations and illustrations for companies. A typical project for graphic designers includes logo design or projects for print and digital media.
- Computer Programmer – Computer programmers handle all the programming responsibilities for computers. You can expect to implement the latest technologies, evaluate software, and debug code.
- Data Analyst – These analysts use programming languages like SQL to organize and interpret data. You will conduct data analysis to find patterns and relationships within data and work with data engineers and scientists.
Senior-Level Coding Jobs
- Enterprise Architect – Enterprise architects spend years gaining experience to design technology infrastructure for giant enterprises. These infrastructures house all a company’s technology processes, so you must have expert skills to qualify for this job.
- Cloud Engineer – If you love working with cloud platforms, consider becoming a cloud engineer. You will have to design, develop, and maintain a business’s cloud-based systems. Professionals work with Google Cloud, AWS, and Azure.
- PHP Specialist – As the title entails, PHP specialists are experts in the coding language PHP. Years of experience working with PHP are essential for this job.
Coding Certifications
Whether you have a coding degree or not, coding certifications will maximize your employability chances. These certifications prove you have the required skills for coding, and you can find beginner and expert certifications. These are the top three coding certifications in 2021.
Adobe Certified Professional – Adobe Workfront Core Developer
If you’re a master using the Adobe Suite, consider earning this certification. You have to complete an exam to gain this certification and have hands-on training. Having this certification will verify your technical skills for Adobe and help you with managerial roles like project management.
AWS Certified Developer – Associate
If you want to learn Amazon Web Services (AWS), complete the exam and earn this certification. The exam comprises a multiple answer section and multiple-choice questions. For this certification, you should understand one high-level coding language and basic cloud application coding skills.
Oracle Application Express Developer Certified Expert
This expert certification is designed for senior developers and requires you to pass the exam first. Your exam runs for two hours, and you need 56 percent or higher to gain this certification. Industry experience is ideal for this certification, and you should have mastered app development with Oracle APEX.
Tips on How to Get a Job in Coding
To get a job in coding, consider working on a personal project and having your code reviewed by a professional. Pair programming and coding tests help you master your skills, and you should also research the hiring company. Secure a job in coding with these expert tips.
Develop a Coding Project
To start a programming career, work on a side project to practice your coding skills and demonstrate your expertise. This side project can be a website, an app, or similar software. Most coding specialists have worked on several personal projects to showcase their various strengths in a portfolio.
Have Your Code Reviewed
Network with fellow programmers and ask them to review your code. Although you can also use tools for this, finding other programmers in your industry offers a wider range of benefits. Having your code reviewed helps identify your weaknesses to improve before applying for a job in coding.
Do Pair Programming with an Expert
If you’ve found an expert programmer from networking, engage in some pair programming. Pair programming consists of working with another programmer at a workstation and completing a coding project together. The expert can mentor you and help you avoid common mistakes.
Research the Hiring Company
Knowing the details about the company you’re applying to is fundamental. By understanding the business, you can personalize an engaging cover letter for the hiring manager to prove you’re interested in the company. Doing this will also help you get better prepared for potential answers to the organization’s interview questions.
Complete Coding Challenges
Coding specialists often complete programming challenges to hone their skills and expand their expertise. However, there are many coding challenges for beginners where you can practice beforehand and ramp up the difficulty level as you progress.
Should You Get a Job in Coding in 2021?
Yes, you should get a career in coding in 2021. There are various career routes you can pick from, and many of these jobs have generous salaries. Coding is also easy to learn, and you can gain programming skills through flexible methods. If you want a high-paying career in tech, you should get a job in coding.
Coding FAQ
Can You Become a Coder Without a Degree?
Yes, you can become a coder without a degree. Many coding specialists have learned to code through self-studying, bootcamp programs, or online courses. However, it’s best to seek opportunities that include hands-on experience if you want to become a coder.
Is It Hard to Get Into Coding?
It’s not hard to get into coding. You just need patience and perseverance while learning to code, as it can become tedious. Ultimately, it’s not very difficult to get into coding since you can learn through various education pathways.
What Jobs Can You Get if You’re Skilled at Coding?
With programming skills, you can become a data scientist, a computer programmer, a computer systems analyst, a software engineer, and more. Coding has a wide range of career opportunities, and many of these jobs have high salaries.
Do Coding Jobs Pay Well?
Yes, the vast majority of coding jobs, like data science, do pay well. However, increase your earning potential in coding by honing your skills through coding challenges and professional certifications.
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