The first and most important question that always comes to mind is “Why?” Why should you learn to code? Why should you work as a programmer? What value do you get or impact with coding skills?
1. Numerous Job Opportunities
Coding is very marketable. There are so many job opportunities for software developers. You can opt-in for a career in data science, cybersecurity, machine learning, website development, mobile app development, DevOps, QA and so much more. You only need a foundational course in a programming language, data structures, and algorithms. Afterward, you can specialize in one of the courses above.
Learning to code allows you to easily create employment for your friends. These skills are potent enough to create a fully-fledged company that can cater to your needs and several others. It’s so easy to start a company after you learn to code. I know you have heard of 16-year-olds who have made a million-dollar company. It’s that easy.
2. You Can Work Remotely or Freelance
You don’t have to be physically present to offer your coding skills. You can work for a foreign company in the comfort of your home. Some local companies also allow their employees to work partly onsite and on other days remotely. This is made possible because of the nature of the work, with only a laptop and internet connectivity, you can code, share code and publish your code, anywhere anytime.
Along the same line, you can opt-in as a freelancer. Freelancers bid for gigs, jobs, and/or assignments and deliver them remotely. There are many online freelancing platforms you can sell your skills. Most notable are Upwork and Fiverr. Other platforms like Flexjobs and WeWorkRemotely are focused on offering short-term and long-term job opportunities remotely.
With freelancing, you get to choose your work, dictate your time, and most importantly, write your check. It’s very easy to get started with freelancing. All you need is to create an account and choose a domain, in this case, programming. You can be sure that with the right skills, you will always get a gig any day.
3. High Pay (Even for Junior Roles)
Software developers are among the highest-paid roles. This is no secret. You can expect as much as Ksh 200, 000 every month, even for entry-level positions. As if that’s not enough, foreign companies in Kenya like Google are willing to pay double the local pay.
For those willing to work remotely, you get paid in dollars. The dollar has a higher value compared to local currencies. This means that your total earning will be much higher. For example, if you get paid 100 dollars, that would be equal to Ksh 14000 in Kenya as of July 31, 2023. Must be nice, right?
You don’t have to be employed to benefit from coding skills. You can publish your website or mobile app and earn a lot of money. For starters, you can do this using Google Ads or subscription programs where users pay periodically to use your service. Meta grew enormously from just running ads. At a later stage, you can sell your software to larger companies.
4. Coding Is Fun
Work can be fun. This is especially true when it comes to coding. They are so many people who code for fun. They are so many hobbyist developers. Writing code and seeing it work is such a mesmerizing activity. It even gets better when you show your friends an application you wrote yourself that solves a problem. Learning to code allows to solve problems with ease.
At a higher level, you can also publish your application to be used by others. Those quiet evening, when you look at people benefiting from something you made, is fulfilling. It gives you an immense sense of worth and purpose.
You could also contribute to open-source projects. Open-source projects are open for change and review by the outside world without restriction. Most of these projects are aimed at making this world a better place by benefiting from a pool of developers willing to write code for free. A good example of an open-source project is Android OS, which runs on most mobile devices. You can freely fork and improve the codes without restriction.
Conclusion
Coding skills will give you expose you to vast job opportunities, the ability to work remotely, and a high-paying career. Take the bold step and start a career in programming. KwetuHub is a programming institution offering project-based learning experiences in website and mobile app development. You will not only learn to code but also build projects that you can share with your friends or potential employees. Your next big thing is only one click away.