Whether you’re looking for a new job or deciding what to study in college, deciding on a career path is one of the most difficult things you’ll do as an adult. Your career can determine everything from how much money you make to where you’ll be living, and changing careers becomes more difficult the older you get. But one career path is guaranteed to continue providing job opportunities and excitement for as long as you’re in it: computer programming.
1. A Wide Range Of Skills
You may think that you need a specific type of personality or set of skills to become a successful programmer, but the truth is that all sorts of people can make programming their career path. Plus, if you’re concerned about changing your mind down the road, programming guarantees that you’ll be learning a wide range of soft skills that can be applied to countless other jobs such as C++, Java, zero trust architecture strategies, and more.
You’ll become a competent problem-solver, learn how to use logic under pressure, and think critically about a number of issues. Working within a team is almost always part of any programming position, so whether you’re a team leader or pulling your weight, you’ll have additional skills to put on your resume. Once you learn how to leverage these skills during job applications and interviews, you’ll be on your way to getting any job you desire.
2. Earning Potential and Job Security
One of the biggest reasons many people cite for going into programming is the economic stability of that career path. Programming positions are in constant demand as the world becomes increasingly computerized, and it’s only just getting started. Anyone who can code competently and keep up with current trends is going to be able to find work, and that’s a huge relief in an ever-changing job market. College students who study computer science often find themselves in a remarkably stable position compared to peers in other disciplines.
For this reason, job security is also a big part of being a programmer. If your skills are always in demand, a less-than-ideal position can usually be changed by leveraging alternative job offers. Your employer will be more likely to fight to keep you on board since it would be much easier for you to walk away than for many people.
3. More Pay For Less Effort
Let’s not pretend like computer programming is an easy career path. It requires years of study and hard work to become a competitive programmer, and many more to make it a six-figure job. But compared to other careers with comparable salaries, programming requires a lot less stress and effort than many.
You aren’t required to get a master’s degree or even a doctorate to begin work, and can simply work your way up to a higher paying level eventually. While doctors and lawyers are still in school and paying off student loans, you’ll have already been gainfully employed for years, with experience and income under your belt. Programming is a great path for those who want to achieve a lot without sacrificing their work-life balance (or their sanity).
4. Growth Within Jobs
There are so many careers that stagnate quickly and require a job change to continue growing. But programming allows many opportunities for growth within a single company. A junior programmer could quickly work their way up to a senior position and become a manager or supervisor someday. It could take decades to ascend every rung of the programming ladder within your first job, making it easy to stay in one place if that’s what you prefer.
On the other hand, if constant change is what you crave, it’s also easy to grow laterally by taking new jobs every few years or so. Those who get bored quickly don’t have to resign themselves to leaving companies once they get an itch – there’s plenty of opportunity for change right where you are.
5. Remote Work and Nomadic Lifestyles
The modern perception of work is swiftly changing, with many people ditching the 40-hour workweek and hour-long commute for alternative lifestyles. Working from home has become much more common, and many people find ways to take their work on the road, becoming “digital nomads”. There are so many attractions to working from home. Not only do you avoid the extra time-wasters that come with office life, but your entire life becomes much more flexible.
Many people who work from home feel a greater sense of their free time being truly their own, to use as they want, rather than always preparing to go back to the office. If you’ve never been a morning person, you can work from bed in your PJs. If taking your dog for a walk in the middle of a Monday sounds like the life, remote work might be a good fit for you. Programming provides ample opportunities for working remotely and is a major reason why many people are now learning to code.
6. More Creative Side Projects
If you do decide to become a programmer and really take to it, there are countless cool things you can create with your new skillset. From your own website, customized to your specific preferences, to programs that can handle tasks for you, programming is an amazing tool to transform into a hobby. If side-gigs are your thing, it’s super easy for programmers to find freelance work to supplement their income. And those with an entrepreneurial spirit will find it easy to find partners if they’re the ones bringing the programming skills to the table.
Conclusion
The sky is truly the limit with programming, which is why so many are choosing to study computer science and learn how to code. You’ll have an opportunity to be a part of the future, designing today what others will be using tomorrow. Becoming a programmer is also an accessible career path since it doesn’t require a college degree to get hired. Look into how to become a programmer and start down a path to success.
