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How to start a career in coding
How to start a career in coding together with engineering
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David’s Answer
There's a wealth of paths you can embark on to kickstart a career in coding, whether that's through obtaining a degree, joining a bootcamp, or self-learning.
I would strongly advocate for the educational route, as schools typically offer a well-structured curriculum that ensures you graduate with a robust foundational understanding of programming. Plus, there's the added bonus of internships. I would urge you to seize at least one or two internship opportunities during your studies. These provide invaluable exposure to the industry's coding practices and help you start building a compelling resume. It's worth noting that many internships often pave the way to full-time roles after graduation. An additional advantage of attending school is earning your degree, which can be a crucial hiring requirement in many organizations, making it challenging to kick off your coding career without one.
However, this isn't to undermine the other viable routes to a coding career. I've known fellow software engineers who've successfully bypassed the college/university path. A significant plus of this alternative route is the avoidance of substantial student debt, although it might present more challenges in securing a job.
Here's wishing you the best of luck in all your pursuits, and I eagerly look forward to seeing you make your mark in the field soon! :)
I would strongly advocate for the educational route, as schools typically offer a well-structured curriculum that ensures you graduate with a robust foundational understanding of programming. Plus, there's the added bonus of internships. I would urge you to seize at least one or two internship opportunities during your studies. These provide invaluable exposure to the industry's coding practices and help you start building a compelling resume. It's worth noting that many internships often pave the way to full-time roles after graduation. An additional advantage of attending school is earning your degree, which can be a crucial hiring requirement in many organizations, making it challenging to kick off your coding career without one.
However, this isn't to undermine the other viable routes to a coding career. I've known fellow software engineers who've successfully bypassed the college/university path. A significant plus of this alternative route is the avoidance of substantial student debt, although it might present more challenges in securing a job.
Here's wishing you the best of luck in all your pursuits, and I eagerly look forward to seeing you make your mark in the field soon! :)
Updated
Sahil Siddharth’s Answer
1. Learn the Basics:
- Choose a Language: Start with an easy-to-learn programming language like Python or JavaScript.
- Online Resources: Use free online tutorials, courses, and videos to learn the basics. Websites like Leetcode, Codecademy, and Coursera are great places to start.
2. Practice Regularly:
- Write Code Daily: The more you practice, the better you'll get. Try solving small problems or building simple projects.
- Use Coding Platforms: Websites like LeetCode, HackerRank, and CodeSignal offer coding challenges to practice your skills.
3. Build Projects:
- Start Small: Begin with simple projects like a personal website, a calculator, or a to-do list app.
- Increase Complexity: As you get more comfortable, try bigger projects like a blog, a game, or a complex web application.
4. Learn Version Control:
- Use Git: Learn how to use version control systems like Git. Platforms like GitHub let you store and share your code.
- Collaborate: Join open-source projects or collaborate with others to get real-world experience.
5. Join a Community:
- Online Forums: Join coding communities like Stack Overflow, Reddit’s r/learnprogramming, or local meetup groups.
- Networking: Connect with other learners and experienced coders to get advice, support, and opportunities.
6. Get Educated:
- Formal Education: Consider taking formal courses or earning a degree in computer science if it suits you.
- Bootcamps: Coding bootcamps are intensive, short-term programs designed to teach you coding quickly.
7. Create a Portfolio:
- Showcase Your Work: Build a portfolio website to showcase your projects, skills, and experience.
- GitHub Profile: Keep your GitHub profile updated with your projects and contributions.
8. Apply for Jobs:
- Job Boards: Look for entry-level coding jobs on job boards like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor.
- Internship: Consider internships or freelance projects to gain experience.
- Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your coding skills, projects, and any relevant experience.
9. Keep Learning:
- Stay Updated: Technology is always changing. Keep learning new languages, tools, and techniques.
- Advanced Topics: Once comfortable, delve into advanced topics like algorithms, data structures, and system design.
10. Prepare for Interviews:
- Practice Coding Interviews: Use platforms like Pramp, Interviewing.io, or mock interviews to practice.
- Know Common Questions: Be ready to answer common technical and behavioral questions.
- Choose a Language: Start with an easy-to-learn programming language like Python or JavaScript.
- Online Resources: Use free online tutorials, courses, and videos to learn the basics. Websites like Leetcode, Codecademy, and Coursera are great places to start.
2. Practice Regularly:
- Write Code Daily: The more you practice, the better you'll get. Try solving small problems or building simple projects.
- Use Coding Platforms: Websites like LeetCode, HackerRank, and CodeSignal offer coding challenges to practice your skills.
3. Build Projects:
- Start Small: Begin with simple projects like a personal website, a calculator, or a to-do list app.
- Increase Complexity: As you get more comfortable, try bigger projects like a blog, a game, or a complex web application.
4. Learn Version Control:
- Use Git: Learn how to use version control systems like Git. Platforms like GitHub let you store and share your code.
- Collaborate: Join open-source projects or collaborate with others to get real-world experience.
5. Join a Community:
- Online Forums: Join coding communities like Stack Overflow, Reddit’s r/learnprogramming, or local meetup groups.
- Networking: Connect with other learners and experienced coders to get advice, support, and opportunities.
6. Get Educated:
- Formal Education: Consider taking formal courses or earning a degree in computer science if it suits you.
- Bootcamps: Coding bootcamps are intensive, short-term programs designed to teach you coding quickly.
7. Create a Portfolio:
- Showcase Your Work: Build a portfolio website to showcase your projects, skills, and experience.
- GitHub Profile: Keep your GitHub profile updated with your projects and contributions.
8. Apply for Jobs:
- Job Boards: Look for entry-level coding jobs on job boards like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor.
- Internship: Consider internships or freelance projects to gain experience.
- Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your coding skills, projects, and any relevant experience.
9. Keep Learning:
- Stay Updated: Technology is always changing. Keep learning new languages, tools, and techniques.
- Advanced Topics: Once comfortable, delve into advanced topics like algorithms, data structures, and system design.
10. Prepare for Interviews:
- Practice Coding Interviews: Use platforms like Pramp, Interviewing.io, or mock interviews to practice.
- Know Common Questions: Be ready to answer common technical and behavioral questions.
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad to hear that you have interest in coding.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Identify a simple programming language to start, .e.g Python, Scratch, etc.
2. You can find out the structure and syntax online and start doing some simple programming
3. You can then do some simple projects, e.g. control a toy car or robotic arms, etc.
4. Learn another programming after familiar with one
5. Attend the information sessions hosts by Computer Science department of colleges. Speak to the professors and alumni if you have a chance. Also, find out the entry criteria. Work hard on academic to meet the criteria
I strongly recommend you to take the Computer Science course in the college if you would like to develop your career in programming. It can give you an overview Computing Theories and programming techniques.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions :
1. Identify a simple programming language to start, .e.g Python, Scratch, etc.
2. You can find out the structure and syntax online and start doing some simple programming
3. You can then do some simple projects, e.g. control a toy car or robotic arms, etc.
4. Learn another programming after familiar with one
5. Attend the information sessions hosts by Computer Science department of colleges. Speak to the professors and alumni if you have a chance. Also, find out the entry criteria. Work hard on academic to meet the criteria
I strongly recommend you to take the Computer Science course in the college if you would like to develop your career in programming. It can give you an overview Computing Theories and programming techniques.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!