Why You Should Learn At Least One Programming Language

Why You Should Learn At Least One Programming Language

Steve Jobs once said: “I think everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think”. Whether you want to improve your job prospects, or just want to understand more about how computers work, learninga programming language is a great way to improve your skillset. Here are 10 reasons why you should learn at least one.

1. The job prospects are great…

Coders, programmers and software engineers are in high demand, with more computing jobs available than IT professionals to fill them. If you want to make a career change, then programming is a very safe bet. And learning at least one programming language is the first step down a potentially very lucrative career path.

2. …Even if you’re not a programmer

It’s not just IT professionals who can benefit from learning a programming language. Knowing code can help anyone from content creators to office managers, and even basic programming skills can give you the edge in an increasingly competitive job market.

3. It helps you work with others

Whatever your role in a company, there’s a good chance you’ll have to work with programmers at some point. Having an understanding of programming languages will help you work together with them to solve problems and come up with fresh ideas.

4. You’ll learn how to learn

Learning a programming language will also teach you how to learn in a methodical, self-structured way. Even if you attend a course, the field of study is so vast you’ll have to search for correct methods and techniques off your own back. And that approach to learning will help you learn better in other fields, too.

5. It teaches you how to think logically and solve problems

Programming languages are all about logic and problem-solving. You’ll soon learn how to break down problems, whether in programming or elsewhere, into small, logical steps.

6. You’ll become more detail-orientated

Learning to code requires attention to detail and precision. As you pick it up, you’ll also become more focused and detail-orientated — a plus for any job role.

7. It can be used to automate repetitive tasks

Once you know how to program a computer, you can automate repetitive tasks. You could program Photoshop to automatically resize images, or instruct Excel to create certain spreadsheets. Suddenly those tedious, everyday tasks can be done at the touch of a button.

8. You can use it for your side projects…

Knowing a programming language will let you build your own blog for that fun little side project. If you ever launch your own business, you’ll be able to create your own website and save yourself money in the process.

9. …Or rake in money as a freelancer

Freelance programmers can earn upwards of $100 an hour, which means you work less and still earn some serious cash. Plus, you’ll have the added flexibility of only saying yes to those projects you really want to do.

10. Everyone can learn how to do it

No matter what your background is in, you can learn a programming language, and there are loads of free resources (including Academy Cube) where you can get started. Some good languages for first-timers to learn include Ruby, Python and Swift.