• How to become a programmer

How to become a programmer

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Irem Cohantimur

The programming profession may be one of the most in-demand professions today and this is not likely to change. Programming is as important as building buildings, programmers build our digital environment and it has become one of the most important things in existence.

We are moving towards an increasingly online world, there are few things that in the very near future can only be done physically and programmers are the architects and builders of all this reality, a programmer in any company is something basic. It's for these reasons there's no better time to start programming classes.  

What are the requirements to become a programmer?

According to a Microsoft study, only 30% of programmers worldwide would have studied a university degree to become programmers. All you have to do to learn to program is to know a programming language.

It seems obvious and many people do it in a self-taught way, it is perfectly possible, but to be a professional you need more than just mastering a language. Whatever you study, these are the characteristics that a good programmer must have:

  • Communication: Contrary to the stereotype of the programmer isolated from everyone else, a good professional programmer has to be able to talk about what he or she has created so that others can work on what he or she has done. It is normal for a programmer to work in a team and this requires great skills.
  • Problem solving: Some developers think that mastering a programming language is less than half the job of programming. The rest is about knowing how to apply it and solving problems thanks to mastering the language.
  • Ability to learn constantly: technology and programming languages are constantly changing, it is essential to have the ability to adapt to these changes. It is possible that you learn a language and a few years later you have to change to another, a good programmer must always keep an open mind.

  • Analysis and synthesis: mathematical and analytical intelligence is fundamental in a programmer. Having objectives and being able to reach them in a logical way is crucial on a day-to-day basis.
  • Creativity: apart from logical intelligence, it is very important to have a creative intelligence, to be able to stimulate lateral thinking and to be able to contribute a different vision to a problem that arises.

But if you want to be a programmer, what you really need is the confidence to start programming or to look for programming classes where you can learn from a professional. From minute one you have to be bold enough to build, create and develop.

But many people wonder where to start and what do I have to study to become a programmer? Here are some of the most frequent studies.

Studying computer engineering

It is an option for people who want to go further than programming. It is a very broad university degree that will give you an overview of programming, you will learn to program as part of your degree.

Computer engineers are at the top end of products that need programming. They are often hired to be at the front end of the product, although many of them create their own. They are someone who can be involved in all parts of the creation process.

Studying a higher degree in programming

For the more technical side of programming, this vocational degree was born, which is designed to train programmers in the strictest sense. People who build the product and create the code, in most cases on the orders of an engineer.

Having this degree qualifies you for many things, and many people end up climbing the ladder and reaching very high levels. Although the curriculum is designed for technical training in programming. The limit is where you set it.

Courses to learn to program

The Internet is full, you will have to research who is teaching and the content to find out which is the best. These courses cater for all levels, from beginner programming classes to very specific courses.

The first thing you need to do is to know what your level is. Some people know a few things before they start programming and when they start a course it becomes repetitive, so start by asking yourself how much do I know about programming?

The second thing you need to know is which programming language do you want to learn? there is a course for each language. To know if it is useful or not you will have to rely on the opinion of the people who have taken it and the prestige of the person who teaches it.

Programming tutors

There are many tutors for programming and they are very useful. For those people who decide to learn by themselves, it is essential, as you will have to complete your training in some way. A tutor is useful at three points:

  • Basic level: for those who have no idea about programming and need a lot of guidance and patience. Many students take an introductory course in programming and then need to hire tutors to consolidate their knowledge.
  • During training: any career or professional study of programming is somewhat complicated. Many students have to use private tutors to get a good training.
  • For specialisation: programming advances so fast that it is normal to become obsolete in a few years. It is also normal to want to learn something and there are no courses or training. That's why a tutor can be the solution.

Learning programming on a self-taught basis

Believe it or not, there are many programmers who are self-taught. Internet is full of ways to do it, videos, forums, academic material... You can teach yourself by marking your own steps.

Self-taught programming requires a lot of discipline and the awareness that you will have to invest more hours than others, but you have the advantage of being the master of your own training.

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Irem Cohantimur
Content Specialist at FindTutors
Irem is a Content Specialist with experience in digital marketing, specialising in SEO and UK market trends. Originally from Turkey, now based in Barcelona, where she completed her Master's in Marketing. Fluent in Turkish and English, and currently improving her Spanish, Irem is passionate about marketing trends. With a strong background in both organic and paid marketing strategies, she enjoys crafting engaging digital content through her expertise in content development and data-driven insights.
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