A career in Programming has been in demand in the tech industry for quite a long time in India. With lucrative coding job opportunities and a high-end annual salary, it has become one of the most sought-after career options in the country today, especially in the era of artificial intelligence. However, with such a large number of learners being admitted into engineering and MCA courses every year, the competition is only getting tougher.
So, what can one do differently to stand out in the crowd?
Upscaling one’s career by upskilling is the only way!
These days, Edtechs are helping programming aspirants by enabling them to receive hands-on training in addition to theoretical knowledge.
To decode the era of coding, Shivangi from CodeQuotient brings you a conversation with the founder of the CodeQuotient, Arun Goyat, in the first episode of ‘Fixing the Bug,’ a podcast series on the coding skills and programming world.
In this episode, Arun sheds light on:
- CodeQuotient, an Edtech platform for programming skills, software applications, soft skills, and other technical skills, was started to bridge the gap between the college degree curriculum for software developers and industry demand skills.
- What learners should keep in mind to make themselves industry-ready apart from studying.
Let’s dive into more details!
Keep your Fundamentals Clear for A Career in Programming
Emphasising the extent of conceptual learning, Arun said the biggest disconnect among the learners is that they don’t have a deep understanding of the importance of fundamentals of popular programming languages or key skills. He says that:
Hence, upskilling is the next step in a programming career, and learners must first focus on strengthening their fundamentals, which can build problem-solving skills in the future.
Test your Fundamentals by Implementing Knowledge for A Career in Programming
Now the question arises, ‘How would the learner know if their fundamentals are good by mere theoretical learning and no practical exposure?‘
Regarding this, Arun presses upon the need to start implementing their theoretical knowledge. He said that:
This is known as project-based learning, and learners must indulge in it while pursuing studies.
Arun says that the biggest challenge is their mindset. Most college students learn intending to get a job or crack an interview. However, they need to understand that this study is what helps them survive and grow in the industry. And the best way to do this is by implementing what they are studying in classrooms.
Begin with Smaller Projects and then Upscale
Another important point that Arun has highlighted is to ‘start small.’ He says many learners make the mistake of taking on huge projects to make their resumes look good. On the contrary, they must fix achievable targets, as implementation is a phase-wise process. Learners need to grow step by step rather than choose a project that is too difficult to finish.
Mentor’s Role is Crucial
In project-based learning, a mentor holds a crucial position. Hand-holding by the mentor and validation of the approach adopted by the learner is essential. However, for this, the mentor must have access to what the learner has done.
Consulting a mentor in project-based learning can be a long and cyclic process, with the learner sharing the code and related zip files with the mentor. CodeQuotient has streamlined the process without the learners being required to send the code to their mentors.
CodeQuotient’s technology-based platforms enable live and parallel working for both the mentor and learner on the same code or project. This allows the mentor to make necessary interventions whenever required, thereby making the entire learning process seamless.
What Makes the Learners Stand Apart?
Arun further added that during the screening process, they take into account several parameters to select learners for their software program, such as:
- Right Approach towards Problem-Solving:
Learners with the right approach to problem-solving skills are always preferred for programming jobs. Focusing on the quality of the approach rather than on the number of problems helps in the long run. Once they join the industry, the problems will change, but it is their approach to solving the problem that adds value.
- Capability to Learn New Things:
An ideal candidate for programming jobs must be zealous about learning. While it is okay to expect the best from companies and future jobs, it is equally important for learners to give their best. One must always be ready to learn, as in an evolving industry, what matters is the ability to learn new skills and tools.
Arun rightly says that:
“Maximising learning helps in maximising earning.”
- Building Profile:
The best way to build one’s profile as a coder is to work on live projects during your college years rather than outsourcing them to someone else. A company or an academy would always like to select a candidate with some hands-on experience working on a fresh or unique project, such as a library management system.
- Smart Utilisation of the Internet for Upskilling:
These days, the internet can be used for a plethora of things if used right. From working on an online project to taking an upskilling course like one from CodeQuotient, it depends on the learner and how they use the internet to upscale their career in programming.
Final Takeaways
In concluding his conversation, Arun gave some crisp yet strong takeaways for learners who are serious about building their careers in software development.
- Deserve before you desire and upskill yourself.
- Prepare yourself in a way that would add value to the company.
- Develop a proper skill set.
- Be open to learning, as good learning implies better earning.
Last but not least, don’t compare yourself with others; rather, trust the process and believe in your journey and yourself when choosing a career in programming.
If you would like to upscale your learning journey and make a mark in the field of programming, check out CodeQuotient’s Software Engineering Bootcamp.
We bridge the gap between college learning and industry demands by equipping our learners with the best programming training and helping them be placed in their dream companies.
To get more industry insights and stay up to date with the ever-evolving coding world, follow our podcast today!
