1. You don’t need a degree
It may surprise you to hear that you really don’t need a degree to become a software developer. Roughly only half of developers today have a degree in Computer Science and some of the world’s best developers don’t have any formal qualifications to their name. It is possible to take an alternative route into the industry, such as self-teaching using online resources (kudos if you are disciplined enough for this!) or learning to code through an intensive bootcamp.
When it comes to hiring software developers, employers prioritise tangible, practical experience over qualifications and grades. While a degree in Computer Science might suggest that you are a proficient coder, your portfolio of projects will prove it. This is what employers really care about.
2. You’ll be in high demand
In 2019, the UK invested a whopping £10.1bn into technology, breaking our all-time record! With more investment, comes a rapid advancement in technology and an increasing demand for the people who possess the skills to bring the technology of the future to life. The demand for Software Developers more than tripled between 2015 and 2018 and it continues to be the most in-demand technology position.
The rapid growth in demand is creating a global tech skills shortage, meaning that the jobs market in the technology sector is candidate-driven i.e. there are more job vacancies than qualified candidates and the competition for tech talent is fierce. By learning to code, you’ll equip yourself with skills that are in growing demand and set yourself up for a future-proof career.
3. Your earning potential will be massive
Coding is technically complex and isn’t for everyone. So, people who possess coding skills are very generously rewarded for the difficult work they do. Also, because of the high demand for and short supply of skilled coders, companies are willing to pay a high salary to attract the top talent. The average salary for software developers in the UK is £45K and career progression can be very fast if you’re prepared to put in the hard graft.
4. You can take your career in many directions
Coding is incredibly versatile and there’s no need to be tied to one particular area for your whole career. Learning to code will give you a lot of transferable skills, which you can utilise many areas of software. The logic and principles of coding remain mostly the same across the board. For example, if you start your career in web development (this is what we recommend), you can easily transition into mobile app development later in your career. All you will need to do is equip yourself with some additional coding skills and knowledge of a different market.
5. You can work anywhere in the world
The global process of digital transformation means that every company in the world is becoming a tech company. Let’s take the banking sector for example. It’s been disrupted by technological innovators in recent years, such as Monzo, Revolut, Starling Bank (all UK-based by the way!). The big banks have been forced to follow suit to keep up with changing consumer behaviour and now pretty much every bank has become a “FinTech” company.
No matter the product, company, industry, sector or geographical location, all companies are investing in their technological capabilities. Because coding languages are universal, you’ll be able to take your coding skills anywhere in the world and work towards a cause you’re interested in.
6. You can work flexibly ?
The nature of the work allows you to have a lot of flexibility. Most software projects will run for a set period of time, e.g. 3/6/12 months. You could work on a freelance basis and pick and choose when you work, what clients you work with and which projects you work on. Or, you could join a company as a permanent employee and work on a variety of projects as part of a team.
You’ll also have flexibility over the hours you work and where you do it. The role of a software developer is very much suited to remote working. All you need is a laptop, a strong WiFi connection, platforms for collaboration (e.g. Slack) and coding skills, so you won’t be confined to the four walls and 9-5 grind of corporate office life.
7. It’s really social
It’s a common misconception that coding is a lonely job that people do in a dark room with headphones in. This couldn’t be further from the truth! It’s actually incredibly collaborative. You’ll most likely be working as part of a team and regularly communicating with clients.
Not only is the work itself collaborative, you’ll also have access to countless communities and loads of opportunities to socialise. The online and offline community for developers is buzzing! Webinars, workshops, Slack groups, MeetUps and more take place everyday. In 2018, more than 58K tech-related MeetUps were hosted around the world. By becoming part of this growing tech community, you’ll surround yourself with like-minded people who can not only offer technical support, but also guide you through your career.
8. You’ll be continuously learning
In a recent survey, 82% of software developers said that ‘new challenges and continuous learning’ is one of the top three things that attracted them to the career. Technology is changing so rapidly and there is always something new to be learning. There are more than 500 programming languages that you could be getting to grips with. What’s more, languages go in and out of fashion meaning that as soon as you’re feeling confident with one, you’ll most likely need to learn another. But don’t worry, you won’t be starting completely from scratch. The syntax of programming languages often has a lot of similarities so the skills you’ve already got will be transferable. Also, there are so many online resources that you can be making use of throughout your career to equip yourself with the most up-to-date and relevant knowledge (Google will be your best friend!)
9. It’s really creative
Many people assume that coding is just for mathematicians, scientists and typically “techy” people. It’s all about algorithms and logic, right? This couldn’t be more wrong! Coding provides a real opportunity to express your creativity. You don’t have to be naturally artistic or good at drawing to create something incredible. Imagine building a website from scratch. You will start with a totally blank white page and, using nothing but code, you can create a beautiful site that delivers a first-class user experience. Go on and flex your creative muscles.
10. It’s fun!
We speak to developers everyday and the one thing really stands out is how much they love their jobs. They get a real buzz from working in a fast-paced collaborative environment, creating products and finding and fixing bugs. The tougher the challenge and the longer they spend working on it, the bigger the sense of achievement they get when they finally “crack the code”. In a recent global survey, 85% of people said they are glad they pursued a career in software development. We don’t blame them!
If these top 10 reasons to work in software development resonated with you, then it’s time to switch up your career and launch yourself into coding! That’s where _nology comes in. Via an immersive, full-time, Software Developer Course, you’ll be ready for your first job as a Junior Developer just 12 weeks! To find out more, contact our Admissions Manager, Jenna Wilson, on jenna@nology.io or 0117 302 7773.