Becoming a developer – our recommended tools and resources for beginners

It’s to no surprise that technology has taken a pretty big effect on our modern workforce. At Pathways, a majority of our team is consisted of talented, college educated, experienced developers who are responsible for carrying some of our most critical projects for our biggest clients right on their backs – making them one of our most valuable assets in our company! Becoming a developer may seem like it requires years of experience and a college degree, but in reality – a coding certification can get you off the ground and on your way to expert status no matter who you are or where you stand in your current career.

According to Forbes, thousands of companies across all industries are relying on technology to power their business operations. If you feel your current occupation is not for you or you want to increase your skillset – learning to code is your ticket to better personal and professional opportunities. Regardless of your current age or occupation, gaining an understanding of the coding language will immensely boost your potential in becoming a valuable asset in any organization. The best part – your wallet will thank you too

Whether you work full-time, have a family, take care of a loved one or cannot afford to go back to college, there are tons of opportunities to find your spot and further your education. Better yet, you can do so all while continuing to live your everyday life! An important factor to note is that coding is not just for the technology industry! There are people who work in Marketing, Program Management, Human Resources, Finance, Healthcare and even Retail who apply their coding skills to their jobs.

Your first thought might be, “Where do I start?” Rest assured, there are tons of free, online resources to kickstart your new journey.

Codecademy and even Youtube offer hundreds of tutorials, free of charge! Codecademy is a great place to start, offering a variety of beginner’s programs for HTML, CSS and JavaScript – three of the most crucial languages employers look for! The course will guide you through each exercise step by step, giving hints when needed and with no time limit! Check out Codecademy’s full catalog of courses here.

If you want to dig your feet even further, but college is too expensive and time consuming, Udemy offers over 100,000 courses starting at just $9.99. The Web Developer Bootcamp is one of the most popular beginners’ courses on the site. This single program includes over 50 hours of on-demand video, 85 downloadable resources, 80 articles, full lifetime access, and a certificate of completion. All you need is a computer with Internet and within no time you are prepared to build real web applications!

If you are really looking for a challenge, check out your local colleges to see what types of programs they have to offer. Courses are offered full-time and part-time to suit those who are either ready to go all-in, or have other responsibilities like a full-time job, a family, or caring for a loved one.

It’s important to note that while learning to code is easy to start, it is very difficult to learn. Mastering these skills is the same as learning a new language. There will be many times that the material feels challenging, frustrating and will have you ready to give up, but the output is incredibly rewarding.

At Pathways, a significant portion of our team has years of experience in coding, programming and other immensely valuable skills. We are always on the hunt for driven applicants to join our team. Check out our open positions and apply today!