Why Learn Coding?

Coding has become commonplace in most industries over the last two decades, and it will only become more critical in the future. In addition to its possible applications to your career, it’ll make you more marketable for other high-earning positions, including roles as a Full Stack Developer, Software Engineer, or Software Project Manager. People who learn to code improved attention to detail, enhanced problem-solving skills, and increased value in companies' eyes.

In this article, you’ll learn more about the careers that benefit from learning to code and how it can enhance your professional life. Regardless of your goals, learning to code is a valuable and impressive skill to add to your resume.

What is Coding?

Coding is one of the most in-demand skills dominating today’s job market. In simple terms, coding is the language that tech professionals use to tell devices how they should operate. There are several coding languages that are used for different purposes; some of the more common languages include Java, Python, and JavaScript.

Coding skills are required in many positions, including Software Engineer, Full Stack Developer, Cybersecurity Analyst, Machine Learning Engineer, and many others. The main upside of coding is that it’s also adaptable to nearly any industry, including education, fashion, finance, medicine, entertainment, and marketing. While it may seem complicated to break into a coding career, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Nowadays, anyone can become a coder and obtain an entry-level position after taking a coding bootcamp or two.

Read more about what coding is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Coding?

Coding is an incredibly versatile field that covers a wide selection of topics. You’ll be able to create websites, algorithms, and programs that have uses in every industry on the market. Even if your chosen career operates primarily in-person, you’ll be able to take creative approaches to coding that will make everyone’s lives easier.

You can make your own video game, build an online presence for your small business, or code simple programs that automate your mundane tasks. There’s no limit to what you can do with coding. This impressive skill will always serve you well if you have an imaginative mind and a willingness to learn more.

Common Professional Uses for Coding

Every industry can use programmers and coders, and the demand for these positions will only rise. Check out some of the careers that people with coding backgrounds traditionally enter:

Software Engineers know many coding languages, such as Java, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and C#. Ideal candidates for this position are teachable individuals who are always eager to learn something new. Their average salary is around $127,500 per year.

For those who are interested in coding websites, you might find that Full Stack Developer is a good fit. These developers are skilled in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, the three most basic programming languages to learn. Despite their simplicity compared to other programming languages, this position earns about $112,000 annually. Full Stack Developer roles take on the responsibilities of two other positions: Front End Developers and Back End Developer. Both positions use skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Front End Developers focus on the client-side of websites (known as the “front end”), while Back End Developers focus on the server-side (the “back end”).

If you become deeply interested in JavaScript, you can specialize as a JavaScript Developer. JavaScript is known for its libraries, databases, and frameworks and is one of the most commonly used languages. JavaScript Developers can expect to work with resources such as React, Node.js, Vue.js, and jQuery. They’re commonly expected to learn Git, GitHub, and search engine optimization (SEO), but this expectation depends on the industry and company. At a bare minimum, JavaScript Developers should all know HTML and CSS in addition to JavaScript.

For those interested in back end roles but want to incorporate another programming language into their everyday work, you can learn Python and become a Python Developer. People in this position should know how to use Python’s frameworks, such as MongoDB. They usually make around $119,000 per year.

The best part about all these positions is that they enjoy job security even in highly competitive environments because our world is becoming increasingly dependent on the internet. Perhaps more importantly, they all involve skills that are easily transferable between different coding positions. That means you can move between different positions relatively quickly once you build your skill set effectively.

Flex Your Mental Muscles

While coding has diverse applications in many careers, some people may say that specific offline careers can’t use coding skills. They’re overlooking the problem-solving skills that develop through continuous coding practice. It’s one of the many skills that are picked up along the way as you continue to write programs and work through the kinks.

Even if a task doesn’t need to be online, it certainly will require problem-solving skills in one way or another. Most employers look for people who can manage difficult choices and achieve positive results. It can be one of the traits that decide whether or not someone can handle the job.

Problem-solving skills don’t need to apply only to your work. If your family is facing a financial obstacle or your kids are arguing about sharing their favorite toy, you can use your enhanced problem-solving abilities to sort out compromises, set up priorities, and smooth out any rough patches before they occur. As a result, you may find that your overall life is happier due to this skill acquired through learning to code.

Develop an Attention to Detail

Similar to problem-solving, another positive side effect of learning to code is that you’ll develop augmented attention to detail. Suppose you’re drafting a book, organizing an event, or writing your shopping list. In that case, you’ll need to be able to spot errors quickly and ensure that you have all your materials readily available before moving forward with your plans.

Coding naturally helps you develop this skill because it teaches you how to comb through dozens of lines and spot irregularities. Over time, you’ll figure out how to do this task quickly. Once you can gain attention to detail for one subject, it becomes easier to transfer that skill into other areas.

Increase Your Marketability

Most industries need coders to create and maintain websites and develop apps for mobile devices. Offering to help with that aspect of their business can increase your chances of getting hired by itself. If you have another skill—which you do!—you can complement it with coding to create a unique resume that will make you stand out from competitors.

Coding can give you an edge in your current career, even if it’s not directly related to programming. If you’re applying for a promotion, having coding skills on your resume can boost your chance of landing that new role. You may even be able to negotiate a higher salary by offering to contribute to your team’s digital presence.

Coding can get your foot in the door if you're planning to switch careers. You can work on their website as you learn the industry skills needed to shift into your ideal position. Everyone can use a coder on their team, and it’s hard to refuse a qualified candidate with coding knowledge and many other skills. Coding is the perfect bridge between roles because it can connect you from your current position to any other job you desire.

Secure your Career

Once you know how to code, you’ll cement your place in any career you choose. Every career can use coding in some capacity, and having this skill will increase your job security. In the unfortunate scenario that your company needs to lay off employees, having an extra valuable skill such as coding will ensure that you remain an asset to your superiors. They’ll be more likely to keep you on the team because they know you bring more to the table than the average person.

How to Start Learning Coding

Coding can seem overwhelming to a new learner. There are many avenues and categories to choose from, and picking a topic can seem to be a tremendous feat. The most important task is simply to begin and take those first few steps.

First, remember to be patient with yourself. Look through the coding courses and the live online options and bookmark some that appeal to you. Take note of the topics and recurring themes in each course, program, and bootcamp you find. That will help direct your focus when you narrow them down.

Once you’ve settled into your chosen topic, you can check out some self-paced courses to see if your topic is a good fit for you. Start small—stick with one topic or language at a time, especially if you’re a beginner. Make a list of the ones you enjoyed, and then prioritize them based on your goals until you have a sequence of topics to learn. Once you’re satisfied with your choices, you can can feel more confident about commiting to a more intensive course.

You might want to learn a little bit more about your topic before signing up for a class, which is understandable. Free, pre-recorded classes are a good reference point even if you’re already established in the field. You’ll be able to rewatch them as often as you want, which is perfect if you’re taking notes. That way, you can learn as you go before, during, and after you sign up for coding courses.

Read more in the full guide on how to learn coding.

Key Insights

• Coding is an incredibly marketable skill.
• People who learn to code have strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities.
• Coding has applications in any career path.
• Employers value anyone who can help them develop their digital presence in addition to their core responsibilities.

Learn Coding with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop has a robust collection of coding classes and bootcamps that fit various learning needs. They offer in-person classes in Manhattan as well as live online classes internationally. All classes have relatively small class sizes and are taught by coding experts who have practical knowledge in the field. After completing your classes, you’ll have the option to retake those courses at no cost for up to one year, allowing you to practice, review subjects, and receive insights from instructors for free.

If you’re eager to learn a collection of coding languages and applications, the Software Engineering Certificate will give you a taste of three notable ones. You’ll start with Front End Web Development, allowing you to create websites through HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Once you understand these subjects, you’ll shift focus to JavaScript’s various frameworks and databases, including React, Node.js, and Express.js. Finally, you’ll learn Python Development with Django, which is helpful for server-side programming, among other topics.

The Full-Stack Web Development Certificate provides a comprehensive education in coding designed to take you from coding novice to career-ready. You’ll first learn to develop the front ends of websites with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress. After that, you’ll dive into a JavaScript back end stack known as MERN: MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js.

Anyone interested in algorithms and data collection should look into the Python for Data Science Bootcamp. It’ll show you the fundamentals of Python and everything that it entails. The possibilities of uses with Python are vast. Companies such as Netflix and Amazon use Python, and this bootcamp will teach you how to start writing your own Python programs.