The accelerating technological developments characterize the 21st century. It is all around us, from the alarm clock on our phones that wakes us up in the morning, to the coffee machines that can brew our coffee with just a push of a button.
Behind most everything we see on the internet—every word, picture, chart, layout, etc.—there is someone who programmed it to look as such to us. So why should you become a programmer? Here’s a list of some of the reasons.
Learn everything about computer science and its impact on the world, why you should pursue a career in it, and how you can do that, including the opportunities here at UOTP.
In today’s increasingly digital world, learning programming skills can open up many exciting opportunities Whether you’re looking to start a new career, improve your current job prospects, unlock more creativity or just understand how technology works, learning to code has many compelling benefits
Below are some of the top reasons why learning programming is such a great investment in 2022 and beyond
1.Programming Jobs Have High Earning Potential
One of the primary motives for learning to code is the potential to earn a good living. The median pay for software developers in the United States is over $110,000 a year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Certain roles and companies pay significantly more than that median. Even entry-level coding jobs tend to pay decently compared to other fields that require similar education.
As technology expands into more areas, companies in practically every industry need to hire developers Job growth is projected to be 22% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than average according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While predictions can’t fully capture future needs, it’s clear that programming skills will be in high demand for many years to come
With abundant opportunities and competitive income potential, it’s easy to see why learning to code appeals to those seeking a lucrative career path. The growing options for working remotely or as a freelancer only increase the earning possibilities.
2. Technical Skills Lead to More Career Opportunities
Beyond just programmer roles, having coding knowledge can open doors and provide advantages in many related positions.
For example, digital marketing experts who understand HTML and CSS can create and optimize online content more effectively. Data scientists who know Python or R can work more fluently with company data. Even project managers are more effective when they understand the work developers do.
Knowing programming principles allows you to better understand the technologies you use daily. You’ll work faster, make better decisions and identify more opportunities. While not every job requires you to code, having coding skills makes you better at roles that interact closely with technology.
3. Programming is a Highly Valued Skill
Not only is programming lucrative; it’s a skill valued by society. We live in a digital era where code powers our devices, apps, websites and more. Professionals who can program essentially have the superpower to create useful things from scratch.
Programmers enjoy opportunities to work creatively and bring ideas to life. Their skills contribute meaningful value to businesses and customers. With the rise of digital transformation, companies need technical talent to strategically leverage software and automation. Professionals with coding skills actively shape the experiences and capabilities technology provides.
Most importantly, programming skills allow you to build your own apps and products. You don’t have to rely on anyone else to bring your digital business ideas to fruition.
4. Flexible Career Options
One of the great perks of programming is the range of career options it provides. For example, you can:
- Work for an established tech company like Google, Apple, or Microsoft
- Join a startup or found your own startup
- Freelance as an independent contractor
- Be fully remote or a digital nomad
- Work in corporate IT maintaining systems and websites
- Build consumer apps or websites as a product company
- Focus on data science and machine learning
- Develop software for clients as a consultant
- Teach coding skills to others
…And much more. Some programmers even use their technical abilities in fields like medical research, animation, engineering, and others.
With the abundance of programming careers available, you’re sure to find options aligned with your interests and aspirations. The flexibility empowers you to shape your ideal work environment and change paths as your passions evolve over time.
5. Coding Promotes Logical Thinking & Problem Solving
Programming involves more than just memorizing code syntax. At its core, it teaches you how to think logically and break down complex problems.
This computational thinking approach emphasizes:
- Analyzing issues methodically
- Dividing problems into smaller tasks
- Identifying patterns and relationships
- Automating solutions through algorithms
- Testing and refining solutions iteratively
This mental model for problem solving is valuable well beyond coding. It helps you become a more systematic thinker in daily life. You can apply these logical reasoning skills to everything from optimizing workflows to making financial decisions.
Programming develops your mental muscles for structured thinking and problem solving – abilities that boost effectiveness in any domain.
6. Gain a Competitive Edge Over Your Peers
While coding skills are becoming more common, relatively few professionals can program compared to other expertise like social media or public speaking.
Knowing how to code makes you stand out compared to your peers. It’s an in-demand skill most managers respect. Having programming knowledge signals that you’re dedicated, technically capable and forward-thinking.
Recruiters and managers will recognize your programming skills as a sign of strong problem-solving abilities. Being conversant in multiple languages indicates even greater technical breadth.
Understanding code gives you an edge over the many professionals who only know how to use software, not build it. Whether applying for jobs or seeking promotions, programming expertise helps you shine as a high-value contributor.
7. Automate Tasks & Processes
One of the true superpowers of code is the ability to automate repetitive or complex tasks. Programmers can write code to have computers automatically handle work they would otherwise have to do manually.
Some examples of what you can automate with code:
- Analyze data sets to pull key insights
- Assemble reports from various source files
- Scrape websites to gather public data
- Process high volumes of forms or transactions
- Generate personalized outreach emails
- Resize batches of image files
- Pull data from APIs for analysis
Automating these types of activities saves massive amounts of time. It allows you to focus energy on high-value aspects of your work. The efficiency gains from automating tasks through programming are immense.
8. Bring Ideas to Life Digitally
Have an idea for a new website, app or other digital product? With programming knowledge, you have the skills to build it yourself.
Programming lets you manifest creative ideas and add direct value through software. Instead of relying on others for technical execution, you can develop products exactly how you envision them.
Even basic languages like HTML and CSS give you the tools to build highly functional websites and mobile apps. Whether crafting digital experiences for yourself or commercial products for paying customers, coding skills unlock tremendous creative possibilities.
Knowing how to program places the power to develop digital products firmly in your hands. You can channel creativity quickly through code rather than just imagining what could be.
9. Gain Deeper Insights from Data
Vast amounts of data exist in the world, but it takes programming skills to maximize its value. Code enables you to analyze datasets, uncover patterns within data, and extract actionable insights from information.
Whether for academic research, customer analytics, financial modeling or any other area, programming allows more rigorous data analysis. You can process numbers, text and images on a large scale to spot revealing trends and metrics.
Data scientists use Python and R specifically for data preparation, visualization, modeling and more. But even learning SQL gives you powerful capabilities to organize and query databases efficiently.
Unlocking insights from today’s data-rich landscape requires coding knowledge. Programming positions you to take advantage of data rather than being overwhelmed by it.
10. Make Your Own Games, Apps & Websites
One of the most fulfilling uses of programming is to create your own digital products just for fun. The rise of app stores and digital distribution means you can share almost anything you build.
For example, frameworks like:
- Unity and Unreal Engine empower you to make 2D/3D games
- React Native lets you build cross-platform mobile apps
- WordPress allows you to create versatile websites
Exploring beginner programming builds interaction design, UI, and UX skills too. You gain hands-on appreciation for how a platform or tool is put together.
Don’t underestimate how satisfying it is to program an app or game from scratch – then see friends and family use what you created.
11. Express Your Creativity Through Code
Most think of programming as technical and rigorous. But coding can also be a creative outlet similar to painting or music.
The logic and structure of programming languages doesn’t limit creativity. Rather, code gives the building blocks to bring imaginative ideas to life digitally.
Whether you want to generate psychedelic visuals, program music algorithms, or build an immersive virtual world, programming provides the canvas. Open-ended languages like Python let you explore and experiment freely.
If you already have artistic hobbies, learning to code unlocks new dimensions for your creativity. Blend your visual, musical or writing talents with programming to produce something truly original.
12. Programming Teaches Patience & Persistence
Coding requires meticulous syntax with little room for errors. You must repeatedly test solutions and debug issues to achieve the right program output. At times, progress can seem agonizingly slow while wrestling with baffling errors.
Yet programming ultimately strengthens patience and perseverance. You become accustomed to methodical workflows, trying multiple approaches, and keeping composure under frustration.
Debugging code gradually instills mental resilience. You develop the diligence to slowly but surely work through problems to reach quality solutions. These traits extend beyon
No Need for a Four-Year Degree
However, there are other options other than a degree, that could potentially help you land a job. For instance, if you were to get a software development or cybersecurity diploma, it would certainly look good in the eyes of the hiring manager. The same goes for a certificate too; if your CV has relevant certificate programs in it, such as network security management for example, that along with your skills will leave a good impression.
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Why you should learn to code | Matthew Reynolds | TEDxBasel
Why should you learn coding?
Coding relies fundamentally on problem-solving. Because there are multiple approaches to writing code for a given situation, learning programming can help you develop your problem-solving skills as you think and work through different solutions.
Why should you learn computer programming?
Programming will get you familiar with the software, programs, devices, and websites and will help you understand them. Due to this familiarization, you will grasp and adopt new technology tools much more quickly. 7. It Teaches You Persistence Learning computer programming teaches you to see the problems in the light of solutions.
Why is programming a valuable skill?
Writing computer code requires the understanding and use of a programming language, that computers can understand. Programming can also include testing and debugging code, which helps remove errors. Related: The 7 Best Programming Languages To Learn in 2021 Here are 17 reasons that programming is a valuable skill: 1. Grow in your current job
Why is learning programming important?
Learning programming can help you develop problem-solving skills, open up career opportunities, foster creativity, automate tasks, and promote personal development. How do I start learning programming?
