The Ultimate Coding Career Guide

The one-stop-shop, from free training to learning a programming language

You may well have arrived here when researching whether coding is still a good career option. And to put your mind at rest, both the long and short answers are yes!

The reason for this lies in the increasingly technological outlook that most industries are taking. New jobs for coders are emerging in the most unlikely of places such as agriculture and manufacturing, with major opportunities rolling in every day. Basically, as a career, coding is not only viable, but also lucrative.

But hang on a minute, aren’t there rumours flying around that coding will become obsolete? To be honest, this is the eternal story of all careers. It’s not so much about something becoming obsolete – after all, there are still printing machines, but these days they don’t require a hand crank and typesetting, it’s about the evolution of specialist work.

A portrait of tomorrow’s coding

Current predictions point towards a future where traditional coding skills may become less critical. Instead, the nature of coding will evolve so that professionals will need to focus on understanding AI and machine learning concepts, possess strong analytical abilities, and be able to work successfully in tandem with intelligent systems.

The tech industry may well witness a decline in traditional coding, while it starts to focus on creating solutions and strategies to harness the power of AI in complex situations.

And while newspapers scare the public with the World Economic Forum’s estimates that 85 million jobs are at risk of being automated over the next five years, the real story is much more optimistic – because in place of these jobs will come 97 million new roles to be filled by humans working side-by-side with machines and algorithms.

What are the career options for coders?

A coding career is so much more than a “job in the tech industry”, because these days just about every industry involves tech. We’re talking about the banking, automotive, manufacturing, finance and healthcare sectors, to name but a few. In short, all areas of industry have digitised operations and require coders to a greater or lesser extent.

It’s right now that you should start thinking about what you’d like to specialise in. Here are a few options to get your brain buzzing:

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine learning engineers are the current heroes behind all those AI headlines. They build software and develop algorithms that can learn in meaningful ways from training datasets. Yep, if you want to do this, you’ll be responsible for the heart and soul of tomorrow’s machines that can learn, so it’s fair to say, you’ll have a lot on your shoulders. You’ll also need to be a whizz at linear algebra, calculus, statistics, and have a vice-like grip on data science.

Software Engineer

Basically, software engineers build software. If computer programming is your thing, and the thought of developing software keeps you awake at night, then this is the role for you.

Game Developer

It should come as no surprise that game developers write code and run tests for games. This really is a dream job where you get to work with gaming engines and implement narrative plots. Game developers have a great understanding of in-game physics so they can conjure up greater thrills and frills than ever before.

Full-Stack Developer

Full-stack developers are involved in front- and back-end development. In other words, it’s the face of a website as well as its substance that makes them tick. Full-stack developers  kickstart their training at either the front- or back-end, then switch places when the time is right.

Cybersecurity Engineer

Cybersecurity covers all the aspects involved in the protection of digital assets. Cybersecurity engineers develop programs and regulatory frameworks for organisations, in an industry where there’s huge demand for talent.

So, what next?

1. Complete A Prep Course

If you live in the UK, the great news is that you can do a free online coding course which is government funded. Follow this link to Free Courses in England, and sign up pronto!

Whatever way you look at it, this is probably the best way to sample if coding is right for you, and to take a big foundation step towards your future career.

2. Follow Your Interests

We already ran through some of the different job opportunities, and at this point it’s important for you to focus on an area you feel passionate about. Think about what you like doing best, as you’ll make better choices about courses and jobs if you do.

3. Fine-Tune Your Education

Although a lot of companies will hire coders on the back of the online courses they’ve passed, or personal projects they’ve completed, there are some industry areas that demand serious credentials. A data scientist, for example, will ideally have a degree in computer science or a branch of mathematics. The best way to find out any specific skills you need is to scour job listings to see what employers are asking for.

A university degree is the most rigorous and intensive way to get a software education. Undergraduate courses, foundational courses, and Higher National Diplomas you should explore include Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Development, Financial Technology, Software Engineering for Business, and, of course, Maths.

The other option is a top-tier bootcamp. These stellar offerings from Imperial College London are about as good and impressive as they get, but they’ll set you back a cool £7,495 each. However, they’re only six months long, and much cheaper than a degree.

Alternatively, the Department of Education funds free Skills Bootcamps, which are flexible courses of up to 14 weeks. Skills Bootcamps are open to all adults aged 19 or over, as of 31 August 2023, who are either in work, self-employed, recently unemployed or returning to work after a break. You must have lived in England for at least the last three consecutive years, and have the right to work in the UK. Bootcamp courses range from IT Infrastructure to Software Development. Here’s the complete lowdown, but basically at this price, you can’t afford not to!

Alternatively, the following courses are also free, making it so, so easy

Coming in at number one is freeCodeCamp. It’s a charitable organisation, and has dedicated itself to changing the lives of people around the world by training them for coding careers.

Next up, we’d like to introduce you to codefirstgirls.com. They’ve helped more than 200,000 women learn to code, and interact with employers around the globe to empower change.

Last, but not least, is CodeYourFuture. This brilliant charity supports refugees and disadvantaged individuals to become developers. At present, CodeYourFuture runs classes in a host of UK cities, including Manchester, London, Glasgow and Birmingham.

What’s your programming language?

Next on your to-do list is to learn a programming language. Here’s a brief rundown of the most popular ones around, so see what takes your fancy.

Python

Python possesses both intuitive syntax and versatility and allows you to build anything from a simple website to a powerful deep learning model.

HTML/CSS

You need to get to know these guys to build basic web pages. HTML defines page structure, while CSS is all about the design elements.

Java

Java, AKA the “write once, run anywhere” programming language, allows you to write code which will work across platforms and operating systems. From mobile games to server-side applications, Java is the star of the show.

JavaScript

JavaScript, a well-known programming language for the web, is used to build front- and back-end applications, as well as IoT applications.

C++

C++ is the adaptable and flexible high-level programming language often used to create a huge variety of different programs and applications. Whether you’re a wannabe systems analyst, software or embedded systems engineer, you’re going to want C++ as part of your skillset.

R

If statistical programming is your thing, then R is the language for you. It can handle data, and lots of it, so it’s the darling of statisticians and data scientists everywhere. With R at your side, you’ll be able to build the statistical models and data analysis algorithms of your dreams.

Swift

Are you an Apple devotee? If so, you need to know that Swift is the programming language of the Apple ecosystem. With it, you can build applications for all of the Apple platforms, plus when you become a Swift-speaking developer, Apple gives you access to all of its software infrastructure and libraries.

Big Helpful Hint

Another name drop for FreeCodeCamp, where you can learn all those languages, and more.

More? What else do you need to know? Don’t worry, we’re nearly there, but you need to be aware of acquiring algorithm skills. In a nutshell, algorithms are the building blocks of programs. As a budding software developer, you’ll need to be able to quickly translate a problem statement into a solution in the form of an algorithm.

Other skills you need to develop are the personal characteristics you’re going to bring to the coding table. Are you a logical, critical thinker, who pays attention to the tiniest, most seemingly insignificant details? You are? Great, then we can almost guarantee you’re going to be the hottest programmer on the block. But like any trainee superhero, it’s going to take time, patience and a lot of practice.

Time to test out your skillset

If you’ve got this far, then it’s time to go public by building your own projects. This can either be something you work on independently, or alternatively, if you’re feeling social, why not contribute to open-source projects?

Whichever road you take will give you invaluable practical experience in a real-world setting, as well as provide something other than fresh air for your portfolio.

Talking of which, your portfolio is your calling card. It should, at a minimum, list the projects you’ve sweated over, giving juicy details about the programming languages, frameworks, and problem-solving approaches you used to build that incredible piece of software.

And our final hot tip – your portfolio should always be uniquely tailored for each individual job application, and should only include the websites and UX projects that you’ve been involved with.

That’s it – you’re ready to fly. At this stage, specialist agencies are worth their weight in gold for the excellent reason that they have a formidable network of contacts in the industry, and hear about the best jobs before you’ve even got out of bed in the morning.

So, have you got a portfolio to impress us with?

Brilliant! Then give us a call. The magnificent team at mustardTD is waiting to hear from you, so dial this number now: 0117 929 6060