Getting a job in software development
In the UK, one in four workers are planning a job change, and in the US, a record-breaking 4.5 million people quit their jobs at the end of November. The global trend dubbed the great resignation is born out of optimism as employees prepare for a post-pandemic world where the global workforce chooses to get off the hamster wheel, re-invent themselves, and train for their dream job role.
Although many admit they failed to learn a language or musical instrument during the lockdowns, it did shine a light on what the future of work could look like. As the pace of technological change continues to race ahead at breakneck speed, there is also a realisation that it will never move this slow again. As traditional roles begin to be replaced by automation, the tech skills shortage is the highest on record and is responsible for delaying two-thirds of digital transformation projects.
The tech industry needs you
The good news for anyone wanting to break into the tech industry is that Software developers are more in-demand than any other profession. According to Sky News, demand for programmers and software development professionals was outstripping supply with 68,929 unfilled vacancies.
Should lockdowns ever return in the future, Software developers have the flexibility and peace of mind that all they need is a laptop and an internet connection to complete their work. Moreover, with an increasing number of unfilled vacancies and entry-level positions starting with an average salary of £35,000 per year, it has never been a better time to begin a career in tech, regardless of your employment background or experience.
“We’re seeing ridiculous salary offers, doubling of salaries for developers based on moving to different industries.”
Jo Graham, boohoo.com
However, one of the most attractive features of a career in software development is that no two days are the same. You could choose to focus on many different areas, such as designing, creating, and maintaining computer software, applications, and websites. As you progress in your career, you could specialise in the front-end or back-end of websites, using a variety of coding languages. Your experience will open a multitude of career pathways. So, what is holding you back from entering a career in tech?
Overcoming impostor syndrome while learning how to code
One of the biggest misconceptions around coding is that people will need to be math geniuses to be accepted. As a result, they often convince themselves that they are not smart enough to pursue a career as a software developer. Even those that are more confident of their abilities will often rule themselves out by saying they are now too old to code. But as the British Government begins to consider raising the state pension age to 70, I think we can finally retire these tired old myths once and for all.
In fact, most skills you will have learned in job roles outside of tech are transferable into coding. For example, someone that wants to work in coding from marketing will have excellent communications skills, which will help them work in a team of developers. The reality is that everybody reading this has a perfect opportunity to overcome self-imposed career limitations by exploring one of the many online coding courses for beginners in the UK.
One of our favourite inspirational student stories is by Maya Saff, who shared her journey, which began as a personal trainer that specialised in training pre and postnatal women. She shared how she set out to learn to code, her experiences, and how it led to a career in software development.
What is a software developer job like?
There are many online Coding courses for beginners. But before embarking on a career change, how will you know if it’s right for you? After a diet of watching movies, you could be forgiven for thinking that developers sit in front of machines typing code all day without talking to anyone. But the reality is that verbal communication is equally as crucial as your keyboard skills.
Every workplace will have its own culture and style of working. However, coders in most organisations will typically spend more time thinking, reading, learning, planning, solving problems, or writing solutions than writing code. Software developers are natural problem solvers who usually begin their day with a stand-up meeting where their team coordinates, organizes collaboration, and shares their current challenges.
Rather than working on a project in a single run, software developers usually work in two-week “sprints” where tasks are split across the dev’ team. During your time coding, problem-solving, and general software development pieces of work, you will also be expected to collaborate with your colleagues and offer advice as required. If a team encounters any problems, you will see the developers bouncing around ideas on Slack or huddled around a whiteboard.
Steve Jobs once famously said,
“Everyone in this country should learn to program a computer because it teaches you to think.”
Ultimately, software developers are creative problem solvers who thrive on working with others and finding solutions to problems. If the idea of no two days being the same in a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and creativity sound exciting, you will fit in just fine.
Getting started, coding courses for beginners
A coding bootcamp like our full-stack developer diploma is one of the most beneficial ways of learning the skills that will put you on the path to becoming a pro developer. The Coding course is designed to help students learn both front end and back-end languages that will give them a broader knowledge of coding from the beginning.
As a junior developer who will be looking for your first development job sooner than you think, a portfolio that showcases your skills will play a crucial role in helping you stand out from the crowd. This is just one of the many reasons why we will help you build your portfolio throughout your learning journey and teach you how to show off your new developer skills to potential employers.
Many of our students land their first coding role within the first few months of studying, demonstrating how the full stack developer course is a successful way to move into the industry. But the portfolio also plays a vital role in helping students secure their first job.
Even if you have no coding experience, The Full Stack Pro Collection has everything you need to achieve your dream of a tech career. Anyone serious about learning to code will have access to guided labs, sandbox environments, 10,000 hours of video content, and more than 12,000 books. Collectively, these resources provide learners with the flexibility to learn job-ready skills, on the go from anywhere, on any device, and at a time convenient to them.
Anyone with minimal web development experience who is more interested in opening up new opportunities by learning knowledge of Python can quickly be working with complex data types or hashing and encryption algorithms with our Python coding course. The simplicity of the Python coding language makes this another popular starting point with beginners. When combined with our 360 Career Support programme, climbing the ascent to your dream career in software development will feel much easier than you previously might have anticipated.
Software developer job opportunities
With the experience gained from your coding course and healthy portfolio, you will be ready to begin your career as a software developer in an entry-level position. However, as you build experience and knowledge, you will reach a senior developer position, which will include responsibilities around research, planning, project management, and management tasks in a team.
From here, the only limits are your imagination and ambition. For example, you could move away from your technical role into management or work as a consultant and explore opportunities to work internationally, including traveling overseas or working remotely.
Every software developer will take their own path and choose a direction that works for them and their goals. However, every career transition into software development and the tech industry will begin with the question, “How can I learn to code?” The good news is it’s as easy as choosing the right course that is backed up with a support team that can keep you on the right track.
Whether you want to transition into the tech industry and embark on an exciting career of continuous learning where no two days are the same or want to upskill, we have you covered. Our most popular coding courses are the Diploma in Full Stack Software Development and Full Stack Pro Collection, which cater to those completely new to coding. But we also serve software developers looking to expand their skill set to Python, Java Novice to Javanista, and Blockchain.
If you have any additional questions or concerns about improving your job security, starting a new career in tech, or enhancing your existing coding skills, don’t hesitate to contact our expert coding career consultants.