For those who have mastered the art, coding is a great tool for both the creative and the career-minded. For those who aren’t as comfortable behind a keyboard, the mere mention of the word “code” can feel like (and quite literally is!) another language. However, for both the masters and the apprentices, there is much more than just great career opportunities. Here are 5 ways that coding can help you outside of the IT workplace.
1. Improve Digital Literacy
If you’re a beginner to the world of programming, learning to code can give you a far better understanding of how digital technology works on a basic level, which can be very helpful for those of us who aren’t digital natives. Plus, you’ll be able to fix a bunch of problems yourself that you might previously have struggled with. Although you might think you need this knowledge to even get started with coding, you’d be mistaken! There are plenty of great resources out there for even the most inexperienced of beginners.
Alternatively, if you already know your Python from your PHP, then don’t be afraid to share that knowledge with other people! Outside of just lending a hand to those you know, there are plenty of great initiatives to get involved and pass on your knowledge. Volunteering with organisations like Code Club Aotearoa can give you the opportunity to instil your passion into the next generation of programmers.
2. Improve Communication
Technology is something we often take for granted in our lives, and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The great thing about coding is that you take these complex languages and machinations and make them produce something that is effortlessly usable. Being able to communicate something complex in a simple way is a key skill both in work and in life, and learning to code is a great way to sharpen that skill. For example, if you’re a project manager working with a group of developers, being able to understand how the code works, even if you don’t know how to fix it yourself, is a huge help in explaining problems or client requests effectively.
Veteran coders however, will likely already know that programmers don’t have the best track record when it comes to communication. Although this stereotype is often a misnomer, coding itself does present some great opportunities to enhance those skills. Developers love to chat about the nitty-gritty of their work, but those who don’t understand quickly switch off when expert terminology comes into the conversation. Instead, show people who aren’t as technically capable real world examples of your work and its function. This way you’ll be able to get your message across more clearly, without having to explain fine technical details out of context.
3. Improve Your Problem-solving Skills
That same idea will also help with your problem-solving skills. There’s no one right way when it comes to coding, and a quick Google search (more on that later) will show you that there are always plenty of ways to skin the cat. Learning to code can help you to approach other problems in a different way, which is a little more systematic and computational, and can be helpful in a vast number of pursuits. To use the example of project management once again, if you break your project down into the smaller parts it’s made up of and approach each of them systematically, you’ll have a far clearer view of your path forward.
On the other hand, more experienced coders might want to approach more problems in the way they approach coding. Breaking things down computationally and tackling your problems from there can often give you a whole new sense of perspective – in essence, yes, you can rubber duck debug everything, not just code!
4. Make it Easier to Meet Awesome People
Ask any developer who their best friend is, and they’ll probably say Google. The development community is built off the back of collaboration; you’ll find several people willing to help you with any problem you’re facing both on and offline. With forums like Stack Overflow helping you to connect with like-minded people all over the world, and numerous MeetUp groups there to support you in your hometown, the development community is a great network to be a part of – and a fantastic learning tool. And these opportunities aren’t just limited to beginners! All too often we see experienced developers not engaging with the wider community – it’s a great place to showcase your skills and projects, learn new things and meet great people (and create opportunities too).
5. Make it Easier to Follow Your Passion
Speaking of pursuits, learning to code can make it easier for your own passions as well as your career. No matter what you’re into, it’s all going digital. Learning to code can help you take your pet project to the next level, whether that’s by creating a website or building an application, or simply by networking with the people you meet through coding. Regardless of what you want to pursue, being able to code is a fantastic tool to bring your ideas to reality, and is a great way to elevate your project, whilst connecting you with more people all over the world.
In Closing
Learning to code can seem daunting for many beginners, but there are many benefits to doing so even if your goal isn’t to be a hot-shot software developer. As everything around us continues to become more digital, having knowledge of how it all works is going to be essential both in the office and at home.
If you’re looking for a role to make the most of your coding skills, feel free to get in touch with us at RWA today.