This post was originally posted on General Assembly.
Software development is a lucrative career, with a median salary of over $90,000 — and demand for developers is still skyrocketing every year by 22%.
But even if you’re not planning a career change, learning how to code can have big benefits for your career. Technology is rapidly effecting change across industries, and understanding how that technology works can put you ahead of the game no matter what your job title is.
Not sure if you want to tackle the challenge? Consider these benefits to your career.
1. Logical Thinking
Learning to code forces you to think a certain way. In order to communicate with the computer, you’re forced to order your thoughts more logically, which has the effect of sharpening your reasoning and problem-solving skills. You’ll find you’re seeing problems at work in a whole new way, and logical solutions may become more easily apparent.
Because programming forces you to be organized in adhering to a coding language’s syntax, you may find your newly ordered way of thinking spreads to other areas of your work as well.
2. Abundant Opportunities
With your new coding skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile, you’ll find that more opportunities open up to you. Even if you’re not looking to become a software developer or programmer, you’ll be qualified for more branches in your career path when you have an understanding of technology.
3. Startup Know-How
If you have dreams of entrepreneurship, coding is an invaluable skill to pick up along the way. By learning to code, you’ll know what industry problems technology is capable of solving and how, which may spark startup ideas.
Have an idea for a new app? You’ll be able to create an early prototype to demonstrate exactly what you have in mind. With your prototype, you can more effectively raise funds and hire well-qualified developers who will know exactly what you have in mind. Then you’ll also be able to more accurately estimate how long each stage of development will take, and what resources will be required.
4. Network Boost
Networking is indispensable for a career on the rise, and learning to code can widen and strengthen your network. Your colleagues will appreciate your technical savvy, and any developers you have to interact with at work will love that you have an understanding of how their job works.
Convinced, but not sure where to start? Basic HTML and CSS are required for building web pages, and a great place for beginners to learn some coding basics. If you’re looking to jump right into programming web apps (back-end web development), Python and Ruby are often recommended for beginners.
Of any job skill you can add to your repertoire, coding is a great choice for its multitude of benefits. And with all the resources now available online, learning programming skills may not be as difficult as you think.
Interested in getting started in HTML, CSS + JavaScript and building your own website from scratch? General Assembly has a 10-week, part-time Front-end Web Development course beginning March 23rd. Come meet one of our grads and learn more at our upcoming information session on Monday, 3/9 at 7pm.
