Examples of Programmer Careers
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Programmers, also known as code writers, are the creators of the software that runs the world. Programmer careers can be absolutely extraordinary, with quite unparalleled opportunities. This can be an ideal career for people who are particularly creative, and/or those with strong mathematical skills.
Career path
The path to a career in programming stats in high school, with a range of mathematics qualifications and usually a range of basic IT-type courses and skills acquired in the process. Most programmers start young, and develop a very strong knowledge base early in their careers.
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The qualifications and certification process for programmers is quite complex. Because of the large range of different types of computer language, the usual pattern of skills development is to start with one or two basic languages, for example, C++ and Java script, or in some cases Virtual Basic. More often than not, programmers will also pick up a range of certifications and create a very strong skills base early in their careers.
The problem is, and for many programmers sometimes remains, a limited number of options in terms of languages they can use professionally. Common wisdom is that over-specialization programmers is not a good idea, and that a broad skills base is more useful for employment purposes. Fortunately for programmers, they're usually happy to learn new programming skills, and don't need much encouragement to become experts.
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Career progression
The employment market for programmers is a truly strange environment. Some jobs are absolutely fascinating, some are drudge jobs would seem to be largely about correcting problems with software, and getting antiquated codes to run properly.
While most experienced programmers would happily emigrate to another planet to avoid the drudge jobs, it has to be said that this experience of correcting and debugging does have its uses. Programming, by definition, is based on effective operation of software, and experience in learning how to debug programs is absolutely critical, even for the most successful programmers.
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Career progression and success is largely based on a mix of qualifications, experience and above all motivation. Programming is mentally intensive work, particularly in its creative modes, and motivation is very much the catalyst for success. Creative programmers, particularly those with some understanding of things like micro routines, hardware and electronic skills are arguably the real driving force behind software evolution. Intellectual property in programming can be worth literally billions of dollars, and the most successful programmers can virtually name their own fees.
At this very high level programming, and further career requirement becomes extremely obvious - Business skills. Working with your own intellectual property can be an extremely complicated business process, and getting good value for your work in protecting your interests and becomes crucial at this level. In the early days, programmers suffered severely from lack of knowledge about how to protect their interests. Modern programmers have learned that lesson, and many have become self-made millionaires virtually overnight on that basis.
If you're a truly creative person, with a real love of software and everything to do with it, this is definitely the career for you. Learn your trade and your business, and you'll go far.
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