Steps Toward a Coding Career

Computer and information technology careers are growing faster than average and have twice the median annual wage as other occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Coding is considered a crucial skill in many computer and information technology careers.

According to the BLS, most careers in coding start with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a similar field, but there is another pathway available for you to start a career in coding. With the growing movement to do away with degree requirements in the hiring process, more employers are hiring graduates from coding and programming bootcamps, which are a fraction of the time and cost of a typical bachelor’s degree.

Read on to learn more about how to get your coding career started.

To begin your career in coding, you should first research what careers are available to you that align with your skills and interests. You’ll then need to figure out what coding languages you’ll need to master those languages.

Read on to learn how you can develop and demonstrate these skills for future employers.

You can use the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook to determine what coding careers pay and what education it takes to pursue them. Some coding careers include web development, software engineering, computer programming, mobile app development, and video game development.

Once you have decided what coding career to pursue, you should research what the most popular coding language is for that career. There are six types of coding languages, including scripting, object-oriented programming, and procedural programming. Some popular programming languages are Python, SQL, JavaScript, and R.

Employers require a degree or certificate to show you have the skills necessary to do the job. Additionally, coding can be complex, so it is important to get thorough training before jumping into your career. Most coding careers require a bachelor’s degree.

Online programs give you the distinction of a degree while giving you the flexibility to fit it into your work and family schedule. If you want to start a coding career faster than the four years it can take to get a degree, you can also teach yourself to code online through coding bootcamps and online coding courses.

Some technical skills you will need to learn include an understanding of coding languages, debugging, and data structures and algorithms. These should be taught in both bootcamps and college programs.

Creating a support system will help you immensely in your coding studies. Online communities can offer guidance and even technical support, which can help you study, work on your projects, and prepare for your career. Many resources online — from social media groups to YouTube channels — offer additional tips to help you learn to code.

Employers will look for proof of your knowledge and skills. One of the best ways to demonstrate your abilities is through an online technical portfolio. If you don’t have rigorous coding experience, you can use your portfolio to show off coding projects you completed in your own time.

You can build your portfolio from scratch or use a template. You should update your portfolio whenever you achieve a new skill since a potential employer may be accessing it at any time.

Your personal brand is also crucial in showing potential employers who you are and why they would want to work with you. This includes making your public social media accounts professional and keeping your LinkedIn profile current.

Networking involves meeting and building relationships with people in your field and related fields. Every career can benefit from networking: it gets your name and mission out to industry leaders, potential employers, and future coworkers.

One great way for coders to network is through hackathons. A hackathon is a short, defined window of time where teams of coders and programmers work together with a common focus to achieve a specified goal. There are both online and in-person hackathons that are open to beginners.

Now that you have the education and have built your network, it’s time to get some practical experience. Most employers prefer candidates with practical experience.

An internship is one possible solution. To land a coding internship, leverage your professional network and make sure your resume and portfolio are up-to-date.

Some soft skills coding employers look for include problem-solving, effective communication, attention to detail, and analytical skills. You should highlight and demonstrate these skills in your resume, cover letter, and interviews.

Now, it’s time to search for entry-level coding jobs. This is an exciting part of the journey, and there are a few best practices that can make your job search go smoother.

Before you start job hunting, be sure to define what job you want to land and what your career goals are. Once you do that, take time to update your references, clean up your online presence, prepare your application materials, and leverage your professional network.

The tech industry is constantly evolving, and coding jobs are no different. As your career evolves, you will want to continue to practice your skills and learn new skills to ensure you are always at the top of your game and ready for any career development or hurdle.

It usually takes 2-5 years to start a coding career. This includes formal training, such as a bootcamp or degree program; building experience, such as an internship; and the job search.

The timeline for when your career in coding begins depends on your path. A four-year degree takes longer to complete but is generally more recognized by employers than a bootcamp. A typical degree takes four years and 120 credits to complete, whereas a bootcamp can take under six months.

You’ll also need to give yourself some time to network with career professionals and apply for jobs. The job application process can be time-consuming, so it is vital to be proactive in this step. You can research which coding jobs are growing the fastest to determine which roles to look into.

According to BLS, you can make a median annual wage between $98,710 and $116,050 as a computer programmer. BLS data shows that as a computer network architect, you can make an annual median salary of $129,840, and as a software developer, you can make an annual median salary of $130,160.

As with any career, you should spend time researching what a coding career entails to know if you would actually be interested in pursuing it. Consider the pros and cons of coding careers and whether the career is right for you.