Is Computer Programming the Right Career Path for Me?

Ever considered learning to code? If you’re bored at work, consider yourself creative, or love learning, this post is for you!

I’ve always enjoyed learning, even when I didn’t necessarily enjoy my schooling. I liked the feeling of approaching a brand new topic, having no idea where to start, and slowly feeling my way through the confusion until I began to see improvements. In new jobs, I would always be most excited about the opportunities to learn something new or be sent away to a workshop, even if the skill being learnt didn’t really excite me.

Programming is wonderful if you enjoy learning, because even once you’ve learnt how to do it well enough to get a job, the landscape’s always changing and you’ll always need to (and be presented opportunities to) continue learning whilst you work. Getting paid to learn — what could be better?!

With technology transforming industries, computer programming skills are in high demand. However, coding isn’t for everyone. Assessing your interests, skills, and work style can help determine if a job as a programmer or software developer suits you.

Consider the following key factors when deciding if a career in computer programming aligns with your personality and professional goals

Do You Enjoy Problem Solving?

At its core, computer programming involves identifying problems and creating step-by-step solutions. Code tells a computer how to operate to produce desired outputs.

Programming requires

Logical thinking to break down complex tasks
Creativity to approach problems from new angles
Tenacity to persist when puzzles seem unsolvable

If you find satisfaction in investigating issues methodically and testing different solutions, you’ll thrive on the constant problem solving involved in coding.

Does Technical Challenge Motivate You?

Programming is an ever-evolving field requiring continuous learning. New languages, frameworks, devices, and methodologies emerge constantly.

To excel, you must:

Actively keep your skills sharp and current
Adapt quickly when projects require new tech stacks
Dive into complex technical documentation and puzzles

Those energized by technical challenge will stay driven to keep their knowledge and capabilities progressing. Passion for learning is crucial.

Do You Pay Attention to Detail?

Computer programs require meticulous precision. A misplaced character or errant comma can derail code.

Successful programmers are:

Extremely detail-oriented to catch errors
Meticulous in testing to identify edge cases
Skilled at debugging to pinpoint why code fails

If you pride yourself on accuracy and thoroughness, you’ll excel at creating flawless, robust software.

Can You Work Independently?

While collaboration happens, much programming work involves extended periods of deep focus solo.

To thrive in this environment, you must:

Feel motivated working autonomously
Stay disciplined managing your own time
Avoid procrastination or distraction creeping in

Being driven and self-directed is vital for productivity and progress when heads-down writing code.

Do You Enjoy Abstract Thinking?

Computer programming involves navigating layers of abstraction. You must distill real-world needs into logical variables, data structures, algorithms, and operating instructions.

Success requires:

Comfort thinking conceptually about capabilities vs. implementation
Visualizing how distinct components interconnect
Switching between big picture and minute details

Abstract thinking skills allow you to architect software systems effectively.

Are You Comfortable With Math?

While advanced math isn’t mandatory, comfort with fundamental concepts like algebra, logic, statistics helps.

Programming regularly applies:

Mathematical and Boolean logic
Probability and random number generation
Calculations and data transformations

Aptitude with math principles can unlock your ability to code certain applications involving numerical analysis or complex logic.

Do You Have Patience and Persistence?

Debugging code and resolving flaws demands tenacity. Issues rarely have quick fixes.

Thriving programmers:

Persist through many incremental attempts and failures
Avoid frustration from frequent setbacks
Meticulously isolate defects until code operates properly

Patience and grit to power through roadblocks without losing motivation is essential.

Do You Enjoy Design and Creativity?

Programming intersects equal parts science and art. While engineering functioning software is crucial, visual design and user experience matter too.

Great programmers:

Craft intuitive, aesthetic interfaces
Enhance utility through creative problem solving
Build accessible, inclusive experiences

If you want to blend technical rigor with design innovation, programming can be highly rewarding.

Do Tight Deadlines Energize You?

Many programming jobs come with tight launch cycles and project deadlines. Requirements evolve quickly.

To thrive, you must:

Perform under pressure as priorities shift
Juggle multiple urgent tasks efficiently
Work extended hours when necessary pre-launch

Thriving on the adrenaline rush of pressing deadlines helps meet the often intense delivery pace.

Are You Curious About How Technology Works?

Programmers should fundamentally appreciate and be fascinated by technology. Curiosity about how systems function under the hood aids debugging and enhancement.

Those new to coding should:

Explore how websites, apps, and software operate
Tinker with code samples to demystify basics
Research topics like algorithms, cryptography, AI

Core interest in technology provides the engagement needed for ongoing skill development.

Do You Enjoy Helping Others?

Programmers build solutions that make people’s lives easier. Coding skills can even change the world through revolutionary applications.

Ideal programmers:

Gain satisfaction from simplifying tasks through automation
Feel motivated knowing their work improves efficiency and quality of life
See themselves as problem solvers focused on user needs

Passion for using technology to aid people fuels coding careers with purpose.

Are You Comfortable Working on Teams?

While capable of deep independent work, most programming happens collaboratively. You must communicate and coordinate across roles like designers, QA testers, product managers, and executives.

Programmers should:

Coordinate priorities and delivery timelines across parties
Give and receive constructive feedback on code quality
Resolve conflicts through active listening and compromise

Interpersonal skills ensure you help teams build robust, high-quality software together.

Do You Enjoy Constant Variety?

Few fields offer the project diversity of programming. You may build public websites one month and embedded electronics systems the next.

Programming exposes you to:

Web, mobile, desktop, game, and device software
Dozens of languages, frameworks, and toolchains
Industries from aerospace to medicine and beyond

If you crave exposure to new challenges regularly, programming can provide engaging variety.

Are You Excited By Ongoing Career Growth?

From entry-level programmer to systems architect, creative opportunities for advancement abound in technology.

Possible promotion paths include:

Team lead ➜ Engineering manager ➜ Director
Software engineer ➜ Principal engineer ➜ Fellow
Developer ➜ Full stack developer ➜ Architect

The learning curve is endless for those who seek to continuously expand their skills and responsibilities over time.

Next Steps if Coding Excites You

If assessing your skills and interests gets you energized about a career in computer programming:

Learn fundamentals through online courses, tutorials, and books on popular languages like Python, JavaScript, and Java. Many quality resources are free.
Practice constantly by taking on programming challenges, building personal projects that interest you, and joining open source collaborations.
Earn a degree in computer science or software engineering if you want to work at top tech companies. Aim for internships.
Build a portfolio of code samples from classes, volunteering, and side projects to showcase your abilities.
Network by attending local tech meetups and conferences. Make connections and learn about job opportunities.

With passion for coding and dedication to continuous skill-building, an exciting programming career awaits.

Alternative Technology Careers

If programming proves not the right fit after giving it an honest try, don’t abandon tech. With your computer science foundation, consider careers like:

Business analyst – Help companies identify technical solutions to business problems.
Project manager – Coordinate software development processes and timelines.
Solutions architect – Design and plan software systems infrastructure.
Technical writer – Document products for users and translate complex topics.
Quality assurance – Systematically test software for errors before launch.
Product manager – Strategize and oversee a software application’s design and features.
User experience designer – optimize software interfaces and workflows for end users.

Technology offers abundant options at the intersection of business, design, engineering, and problem solving. Explore roles matching your strengths.

Evaluate Your Programming Fit

Determining if computer programming fits your abilities and interests requires honest self-assessment. Analyze your work style, motivations, skills, and personality traits against those needed to succeed.

While coding isn’t easy, those with core aptitudes stand to find it intellectually stimulating and fulfilling. For technologists passionate about creating software solutions, programming can be an ideal professional path.

is computer programming for me

You love problem solving

When you start coding you usually begin to practice by using code to solve little problems, such as finding the maximum number in a list or calculating the tip to add to a bill. These sorts of challenges are pretty satisfying and if you enjoy them, then that’s a good sign because even building large scale applications is essentially solving lots of smaller problems. The feeling you get from solving each one, as you compose your small solutions into a bigger solution, is the same. The problems get harder, but you also get better, which works out well.

How do you know if you like problem solving? Well, think about how you feel when you play a strategy game, solve a crossword, or try and solve a logic puzzle, such as the classic ‘River Crossing’ one where you must figure out the shortest number of crossings required to move X number of people across a river with certain constraints. If you enjoy using your brain in that way then you might enjoy programming.

You like doing things for yourself

It’s surprising (or maybe not) how many people make their way into the world of programming because they wanted to make something and they wanted to do it for themselves. This was true for me, too. When I was a teenager and the internet was still relatively young (marquees and blinking text were very much a thing) I wanted to make a fanpage for the TV show Casualty and I had seen similar pages out there on the internet and really wanted to build something for myself. To do this, I decided to learn how to use HTML and CSS and how to host my website. I probably could have just used a page builder but I didn’t just want the end product — I wanted to know how that I had created it myself. In the end, learning coding became the real goal and I the fanpage was of secondary importance.

If you have an idea and you want to bring it to life, you have three choices. You can use a tool to build it for you (if such a tool exists that meets your requirements) you can pay somebody else to do it, or you can learn to do it yourself. Of course, there are times when one option will be most appropriate but if the third option makes you feel excited, then perhaps you should give coding a go!

Is Coding For Me? Is Programming For Me? Here’s Some Things To Consider

Is coding the same as programming?

What is Coding? “Coding” is a commonly used term for computer programming. Some people use it interchangeably with programming, while others would argue they are not entirely the same. By definition, “code” refers to a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do.

What is a computer program?

A computer program translates those instructions into a language that computers can understand. Computer programmers use many different languages to command computers. Popular programming languages include Python, JavaScript, Java, and the C-languages. The tech industry relies on computer programming to create innovative new uses for computers.

What is the difference between a computer and a program?

A computer is a hardware machine that can store and process information. The language of a computer is Binary, a complex set of ones and zeroes. Programming is essentially the larger-scale process of developing a complex machine program that acts according to our wishes. Programming is the basic communication between human input and machine output.

What is the language of a computer?

The language of a computer is Binary, a complex set of ones and zeroes. Programming is essentially the larger-scale process of developing a complex machine program that acts according to our wishes. Programming is the basic communication between human input and machine output. It is the way that a computer knows how and when to process data.