Learning new skills and staying ahead in the field of coding is important for both personal and professional development. The benefits of updating coding skills can include improved job performance, increased earning potential and a diversified range of employment and career options. In this CPD article, we will explore effective ways and tips you can utilise to enhance your coding skills.
What is coding and why is it important?
Although coding has become a familiar term to many, there can be some confusion about what exactly it entails. Coding, or programming, is the process of creating instructions for a computer to execute. These instructions or code can range from simple commands to complex algorithms. Coders, or programmers, use their expertise and knowledge of coding language to write, test, and debug code - creating websites, software applications or other computational solutions. Coding is a fundamental skill in the field of computer science and is integral to the advancement of technology.
Key benefits of improving your coding skills
Coding is an area that lends itself to continuous learning. With constant advancements in technology, and therefore the possible applications and achievements through coding, it is vital to keep these skills up to date. Even if you are not currently working in the field of coding or programming, having basic skills in coding language such as html, JavaScript and SQL can greatly enhance employment prospects. In addition, there are other important reasons to regularly update coding skills.
- Enhanced Career Opportunities: Including coding skills on your CV can make you stand out from the crowd, even if it’s not the main focus of your job. People who possess transferable technical knowledge and capabilities within their particular field are valued by potential employers. Coding is an in-demand skill across industries and will improve employment prospects.
- Entrepreneurial Opportunities: Many people are looking to start a business, have a personal passion project alongside their job, or even an idea they would like to further pursue. Having the ability to code - and therefore create websites, make working prototypes and understand technical requirements - can be extremely beneficial and cost effective towards achieving these aims.
- Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to code fosters an analytical and logical mindset. It develops the capacity to break down bigger problems into smaller, more manageable components in order to find a solution. These problem-solving skills are hugely valuable and transferrable to many personal and professional situations.
- Effective Communication: Learning how to code and regularly updating these skills can help achieve effective communication between teams within organisations. Technical specialists can often be remote workers based in various locations, and therefore, learning and developing coding skills can bridge the gap between technical and non-technical professionals. This facilitates better overall communication within an organisation and ensures wider objectives are successfully met.
- Understanding Technology: In order to explain something effectively, it is necessary to understand how it works. In an increasingly technology centric work environment, having a basic knowledge of code can help you understand the tools and systems used in the workplace. Gaining this knowledge will not only enable better collaboration with IT professionals within an organisation, but will also allow you to have a wider insight into the effects of technology within a particular industry. This can improve overall competitiveness and relationships with customers and stakeholders.
- Efficiency through Automation: Coding skills will enable you to automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows. For a small business owner, for example, implementing these skills can reduce costs and allow more time to push a business forward strategically.
- Innovation and Creativity: Coding can encourage a creative approach to problem solving. This ‘outside the box’ thinking can be applied to different areas of a job role and help navigate an ever-changing work landscape.
- Data Analysis: Many professionals across industries deal with data. Knowing how to code can allow you to organise and analyse data more effectively. This can be especially helpful in extremely data driven fields such as finance or marketing.
