Computer programmers are those who are dedicated to writing computer programs, as the name implies. The position of programmer is increasingly requested by companies, who want to develop platforms and infrastructure for their customers and seek to increase their visibility through web pages and mobile applications. If we are interested in computer science and technology in general and we want to think of a future as programmers, all this is what we must take into account.
Having studies is essential
The first thing we will ask ourselves is what to study. Normally companies usually ask for programmers who have a career in computer engineering or other degrees also related to technology. During the race they usually teach basic concepts about programming, and it is a good basis for what companies are looking for.
However, there are also higher level FPs where they teach programming, databases and much more direct knowledge focused mainly on job search. If we cannot (or want to) study a career (although it is recommended), specialized professional training can be a great option.
The master’s degrees (for example, in software engineering, advanced programming and even in Artificial Intelligence) usually help a lot when it comes to specializing and finding programmer work.
Continuous training
Of course, just one career is not enough to find work as programmers. There are many people with experience, and much more knowledge, who will opt for the same job. Therefore, once we finish the race, the next step is to continue the training.
We can find programming courses on many Internet sites. On platforms such as Humble Bundle, they often publish this type of course. We can also find many programming courses on YouTube and other websites that will help us expand our knowledge.
Specialized training
Obviously we cannot learn all programming languages, since it is impossible. And also not all programming languages are useful for finding work . We must be clear about what kind of programmers we want to be, and train accordingly.
For example, if we are going to be Android app programmers, we must learn to master their own programming IDE and the Java language, since apps are programmed in this language. And if we want to program for iOS, then we must know Switft.
If we are going to be web page programmers we must know HTML, CSS and JavaScript, in case of frontend, or C, SQL, PHP and frameworks (among others) in case of backend. Or maybe we are interested in programming video games . In that case, we must control the languages (usually scripting) used by IDEs and engines, such as Unity and JavaScript. We must also have knowledge about 3D modeling, although this may be left to other users, depending on the size of the project.
Another case is that we are interested in programming data infrastructures . Then we must master databases and have knowledge of C ++, C # and Visual languages (for example). We can also try to be multiplatform programmers thanks to languages such as C or Python that allow us to defend ourselves on any platform.
It all depends on the type of programmers we want to be. But apart from having basic knowledge about programming, we must master the languages that we will use.
Other knowledge to be a programmer
In addition to knowing how to program and control the programming languages necessary for our work, there are a number of “extras” that will help us to program better and, in addition, to be more likely to find work. One of the knowledge that many companies ask for is Clean Code , knowing how to program in a clean and correct way.
Advanced knowledge on all types of operating systems (especially Windows and Linux) will also be valued, in addition to knowing how to defend ourselves with the most used programming IDEs and code versioning systems, such as GIT.
There are also certain certifications (such as the Cisco CCNA, or Microsoft Technical Certifications) that, although they may not be directly related to the programming, will allow us to give a much more professional appearance for the company.
Experience and the vicious circle
Unfortunately, no matter how much knowledge we have, it will be very difficult for us to work as programmers if we have no experience. And if we don’t work, we can’t get experience. It is the same as in most jobs.
However, if we want to work as programmers, we can try to demonstrate this experience, even if we don’t have it, in several ways. One of the best and most recommended is to carry out a series of projects on our own and share them on GitHub . In this way, when asked about our work experience we can show that we know how to program by sharing the page of our GitHub profile. And not only program on our own, but also collaborate with other OpenSource projects that we can find on the page. Companies usually look at activity, both for their own projects and collaborating on other projects.
In addition, we will be helping other developers and users in general. Some companies may even contact us as a result of viewing our GitHub profile. A good opportunity in every way that will help us improve our technique and work with other people.
Professional profile of the programmer
We must bear in mind that companies often look for profiles of very specific people to work as programmers. For example, people who know how to work in groups are sought, since normally a computer program is created by several people who must communicate and adapt the code to that of others. You should also look for dynamic and analytical people , able to pay attention to details and solve all kinds of problems.
Programmers must also have a great capacity for concentration and be meticulous with the work, writing code in an orderly and commented manner so that others can understand each part, each function.
Of course, you must have programming and computer skills , as well as know how hardware and networks work. Although this is something that is taken for granted for this type of work related to technology.