How can you know you can be a computer programmer?

I have had a number of friends asking me how they can become computer programmers and whether programming is easy. For starters, computer programming is writing instructions (code) to make a computer carry out tasks either on its own or when a user commands it. Computer programmers write and test code to develop software, improve computer applications, and develop web applications.

A quick answer to that question of how to become a computer programmer may be: “after undergoing appropriate training and graduation.” But a computer programmer is never made – he/she is born, as in any other career, like law, mass communication, etc. To the question of whether computer programming is easy, the answer is both YES and NO. Although programming is not a cakewalk – it takes a lot of time and dedication, but if you possess the personal characteristics that a programmer should have, programming will seem part of your life, and it will come almost naturally, and then my answer to you will be YES. But if you don’t have those natural qualities, my answer is NO – it is not easy.

The following are crucial personal traits that one should possess if he/she wants to take on a career as a computer programmer before even enrolling for the course.

Love for computers and technology If you are the kind of person who will most likely spend long hours on a computer and sometimes sleep late in the night when you are not under any internal or external pressure, you find pleasure in helping other people with their computer problems, you don’t rest until you solve them, and you feel very uneasy when you fail, gadgets and games take a lot of your time trying to figure out how they work in and out, you may find a lot of satisfaction in writing codes and making software.

Yearn for learning and discovering: If you hate reading and learning new ways of doing things, computer programming is certainly not a good place for you. The IT sector is one of the most dynamic of all, with advancements and new innovations in technology almost every year. IT professionals are required to stay ahead of the curve in order to keep relevant. After graduation, computer geeks continue learning on their own throughout their careers. Seminars, user manuals, technical/service manuals, online tutorials, and other IT-related publications are sources of information. If you are intending to start and run your own IT business, ensure you attend training and in as many aspects as you can to widen your knowledge base, but if you work for a corporate company and you intent to stay on the corporate ladder, upgrade your qualifications and specialize as you want, but knowing and following the new developments in other technological aspects may be an added advantage in keeping your job or even in promotion and raising your pay grade.

Resiliency: If you are the kind that gets upset so easily and more so bogged down, computer programming is not for you. Just like customer care, computer programming can get challenging sometimes, even for the experienced, so if you get easily upset, you cannot handle it. The good thing is computers don’t sugarcoat – most programming interfaces will, in most cases, tell you if your program is not running. That will mean looking at your code again to trace the problem. This act of regression requires a high level of resiliency, persistence, and patience.

Desire to solve problems: As said earlier, a computer programmer should possess a desire to solve problems, but not to run away from them. How do you know you have that quality? You know this when you don’t fear facing puzzle games, love finding answers to logical questions that require a lot of logical reasoning, love riddles, and like fixing stuff that doesn’t work.

Desire for efficiency: Some employers won’t like this, but perfectionist is one of the words that describe a good computer programmer. The desire to reduce redundancy (time wasting) in workflow and a craving to automate processes. If you are fond of looking out for the simplest ways of making tasks easier, done with the same or even better results, you possess a good quality for computer programmers.

Love for orderliness: Do you get irritated by poorly saved computer files and folders spreading anywhere on a computer? If yes, you may enjoy programming. Writing code requires paying close attention to details because one tiny mistake can cause a gigantic effect. Computer programs require a logical series of inputs and actions to create a desired outcome, so having a perfectionist’s eye for details and organizational ability will serve you well.

Creativity: Creativity goes hand-in-hand with problem-solving. In fact, creativity is the mother of problem-solving ability. The ability to think creatively and find solutions to problems. All software we use is a product of the creative thinking of its respective programmers. Unfortunately, no school teaches creativity besides helping you to know how to apply it. Many times, as a computer programmer, you find yourself having to use common sense to think of a solution to a problem, and then use a combination of the studied techniques and creativity to incorporate them into a program that solves a problem.

In a nutshell, therefore, if you have the above seven, you are welcome into a complex world of programming. You will enjoy writing code, developing software, and web applications. Go for the course, acquire skills, start your career, and continue learning. Learn at least five computer programming languages and more if you can. Don’t be mediocre. The more you know, the more successful you will be in this area because, of course, everyone looks for the best.