Andrew Badham 2018-02-21 15:04:11
Learning to program has been on the tip of everyone’s tongues when it comes to which skills a person should study. The skills are so underrepresented in the job market that anyone looking for a career path would be mad not to at least consider it, and to that extent, I completely agree. There’s just one problem; programming isn’t for everyone. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of the idea that people can develop skills they never knew they had, but different skills come quicker to different people.
So much of job satisfaction is more than just your pay and environment; it’s how well you can perform, your sense of achievement. So, if you’re struggling day to day with your job tasks, that will take a toll on you.
But, what if you are one of that rare breed that could program with ease? How would you know before you invest the hours into learning these skills? Well, that’s why we’ve compiled this list of characteristics that make an excellent programmer.
Programmers are good at understanding abstract ideas
Lines, and lines, and lines of code. If you need to work with tangible or visual material then this line of work is not for you. A programmer needs to be able to see the functionality of their code in their mind’s eye without any other prompts.
They can hold complex models in their head and keep track of them
Although each line of code has its own function, a programmer needs to be mindful of how each snippet fits within their greater model.
They can think through the steps a machine will need to follow in order to complete a task
The way machine minds and human minds work are not the same. If you can adapt your thinking to fit within the rules different systems, you’ll be able to anticipate how to code for that system.
They are good at breaking down tasks into components
Each complicated idea is just many small ideas working together. If you can take a big idea and deconstruct it into its various parts, you can do the same with code.
They get satisfaction from making things work
For great programmers, the task is its own reward. That doesn’t mean it’s all happiness and satisfaction. Any programmer will get frustrated and curse liberally at their broken code, but those who push through because it simply has to work, because they crave that accomplishment from working code; they will do well.
They love technology
The world of programming is a permanently shifting environment. Those who survive this constant change are those who are fascinated and excited by new technology and innovation. These people naturally keep up with tech trends, not because it’s useful, but because it excites them.
These are all characteristics that make someone a good programmer, but what about the type of programmer that a company really wants. That’s where a few other skills not related to programming come in.
Teamwork
Larger projects need whole teams of programmers each working on smaller components of the code. The best programmers can ruin their impressive skills by simply not playing well with others.
Humility
If you want someone to pay you for what you do, you need to carefully listen to what they want and need. A common mistake programmers make is assuming they know a client’s or boss’s need better than they do.
Reliability
You can be an excellent programmer, but employers need to know they can count on you on a daily basis. If their system goes down, you need to be able to answer that call.
If you tick most of these boxes, chances are you’ll make an excellent programmer. If you don’t, don’t worry. There are so many different avenues to choose from in the tech space. But, whatever route you choose, start now.