What is Coding? A Deep Dive into Coding Careers

Category: Learn To Code, Published: 9/17/2021

Close up image of keyboard, what is coding?

If you apply for a job based on your inherent skill or love doing it, you'll never really work a day in your lifetime. However, in the post-pandemic American workplace, working a job you love may have to take a back seat for the time being.

What matters now for most Americans is just finding a job, period. Almost 6 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance benefits in the final week of March 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic became public.

And since March 2020, an average of 700,000 to one million Americans applied for unemployment insurance every week. In the middle of February 2020, a year since the coronavirus struck the United States and the world, over 861,000 Americans filed for unemployment insurance.

In the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, segments of the American workplace have become obsolete or newly hybridized workplace models with remote working. Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chairman, said in June 2020 that millions of Americans wouldn't have their old jobs again post-pandemic because those lost jobs will become obsolete or automated.

And since the coronavirus pandemic changed the world, over 41.6% of American jobs are now partial or fully remote.

It would be great to do the kinds of jobs that we love, but life is often unfair. Prioritizing need over want is a skill one must perfect to get ahead in life. And most Americans now need a job whether they love it or not.

One job that you could learn to love and learn to do in time with free online training is coding.

Want to learn more about coding? Check out Sabio today.

What is Coding?

Coders are technology, computer, website, and A.I. experts who specialize in writing code or the software languages that dictate how the technology operates. As a coder, you would be writing the language of technology that commands a website, app, or computer program to perform a specified output.

There is more than one kind of code utilized in technology. Code is the language of computers and software. The commands that you give your computer, smart device, or app are interpreted as code within a system, a predesigned language created by a coder.

And the coders of the future will write the code for the innovations of tomorrow.

And coders are not tech geniuses like you see in Hollywood films. Coders are entry-level experts when it comes to coding and programming.

No one is implying that computer coding is an easy profession. The point is that with sufficient education, you can be a computer coder in a relatively short time. All you need is an associate or bachelor's degree in computer science or information systems and various certifications.

You can take coding classes and certification courses at EdX, Coursera, or Udemy for free or at extremely affordable rates.

Coders are needed in every industry. The app industry, fintech enterprises, tech, insurance, manufacturing, and healthcare industries, to name a few, will always require coders. According to studies from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be a 17% demand increase for software developer jobs and a 24% increase for web developers after 2024.

And depending on the kind of coder job you qualify for, you can make anywhere between $37,000 to $102,000. Additionally, many coding jobs can be done remotely from home too.

It is important to remember that a computer coder is a generalized term. Sometimes a computer coder is referred to as a computer programmer or developer interchangeably.

And you can become a computer coder, even if you are a novice with no experience. To become a computer coder, you will need patience, good study skills, problem-solving skills, and an understanding of logic.

Are you still interested? Hopefully, you are because all kinds of industries will need coding specialists for the foreseeable future.

And the demand for these jobs will still be there after you finish training.

What Kind of Coding Jobs Are Out There?

The types of coding jobs that you may qualify for depend on your training and the skill complexities required for the position.

Here is a list of some in-demand coder jobs that you could start training in and then applying for now.

Software Engineer

The software engineer vocation is an in-demand entry-level position and is the most traditionalist coder vocation. When you start looking for coding jobs to apply for, you will probably see the software engineer position come up a lot.

A software engineer understands multiple code languages like HTML, CSS, Ruby, and JavaScript. Additionally, a software engineer intimately understands the technology or software product they are working on to improve.

Software engineers understand how their products are designed, managed, their capabilities, and create solutions for potential contingencies. Also, software engineers can improve upon code to update and improve upon a technological product.

Front-End Web Developer

A front-end web developer is a kind of coder who designs the code and user interface metrics seen and used on the front end of a website. Everything you visit, touch, and click on your laptop or smart device was realized and implemented as an interface between and the system by a front-end web developer.

A front-end web developer, also known as a client-side web developer, designs digital architecture. When you click on an icon, drag icons, copy and paste, retrieve and input data, and so on, know that these interface functions were created via code by a front-end web developer.

Front-end web developers perfect the skill of converting code and data into a graphical interface via code languages like AngularJS, BackBone, Bootstrap, CSS, EmberJS, JavaScript, and HTML. Additionally, front-end web developers test websites for efficiency and look for bugs to fix.

Computer programmer at work, what is coding?

Back-End Web Developer

A front-end web developer designs the digital architecture interfaces of the internet and websites via code. However, the interpretation, implementation, and interface abilities of front-end development require storing a lot of data and code on a back-end development system.

A back-end web developer designs programming code that is used on a website. They empower front-end web developers. Without a back-end web developer, a front-end web developer can't do their job.

A back-end web developer focuses their energies on how the site works and how to communicate that data, via code, with a browser. Back-end web developers should be well-versed in code languages like Java, PHP, Python, Ruby, MySQL, Symfony, CakePHP, Zend, SVN, and more.

Full Stack Developer

A full-stack developer is a kind of jack-of-all-trades kind of code writer. Full-stack developers are people that can come in and troubleshoot or do work that is entirely dedicated front-end and back-end web developers can't focus on during labor.

Additionally, full-stack developers can work with clients during the design and planning stages of a project.

A full-stack developer understands code like CSS, HTML, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, etc.

Data Science

A data scientist is a coding specialist who specializes in proactively identifying, analyzing, and interpreting data to provide actionable strategies for the clients who hire them.

Data scientists help companies and clients to data-mine, collect data from various sources, interpret code and data to innovate and upgrade, and so on.

A data scientist is well versed in computer code like Python, Java, SQL, and R.

UX Design

Some industry experts question whether or not a UX designer vocation exists. The UX designer is a coder who uses code to test, fine-tune designs, and develop the prototype for a website before it is given to a front-end developer.

The UX design job description is real because it is in the title; "UX" is an abbreviation for "user experience."

As a UX designer, you interpret data like design development, market research data, and interface processes to create an efficient and seamless interface experience for users. And while coding is not a strict requirement to become a UX designer, it can only help.

Product Manager

A product manager in the tech field is responsible for coordinating all related engineering teams' responsibilities and efforts to design and create the best product possible. Product managers assess the client's and user's current and potential future needs.

You don't need to know code to be a product manager, but it would help.

Database Developer

A database developer develops, stores, and maintains a company's technology or web-related activities in an I.T. environment.

Database developers can also work in a team setting to edit, modify, and update existing databases.

One of the essential jobs that a database developer does is updating or migrating the entirety of an outdated legacy system to a modern database system.

A database developer understands code like SQL, amongst others, for use in database modifying and manipulation.

DevOps Professional

"DevOps" is a mix of the words "development" and "operations." A DevOps professional designs, develop and deploys automated solutions, fixes, and upgrades to a system during the developing and production stages.

DevOps professionals don't necessarily need to know code, but it would help based on the projects they must improve.

Close up of code on computer monitor, what is coding?

How To Get a Coding Job?

Coding is an in-demand profession that pays a lot of money. And you can train to become a coder remotely from home, for free or very little money, in a matter of weeks.

You won't need to be a programming genius to be a coder. You need the strength to accept that you should apply for the job you need right now in trying economic times like these.

And who knows, being a coder may become the job that you end up loving.

To learn more about coding, check out Sabio today.