There are hundreds of programming languages out there, from the well-known to the ultra-obscure, and gaining fluency with one or more is a must if you want to make yourself a hot ticket for employers.
Sure, there are plenty of colleges and universities offering coding courses and degrees, along with tech bootcamps for those who want to learn outside of traditional university settings. But deciding where to specialize can be a daunting choice for beginning coders—as well as more experienced ones who want to stay on top of the latest trends in the IT world.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be. CyberCoders, one of the leading IT recruiting firms, compiled data to determine the five most sought-after programming language skills for job seekers.
1. Java :
Java is one of the most popular programming languages in use, so it’s no surprise it came in as the No. 1 skill tech companies were looking for. According to Oracle, 3 billion mobile phones run Java, along with 125 million TV devices and 89% of desktop computers in the U.S. Java is everywhere and the demand for strong developers is high.
There are many job postings for Java developers and Java engineers, but if you want to be a software developer or engineer of any kind, knowing this language is typically a core requirement.
2. SQL :
Pronounced “sequel,” SQL stands for Structured Query Language, and it is a special-purpose programming language used for getting information from and updating databases. Since nearly all businesses run a database system of some kind, SQL is a good skill to have on your resume. It’s also one of the easier tech skills to learn, with numerous tutorials and free resources online. If you become an expert, you could be a candidate for jobs like SQL Database Manager, SQL Developer and SQL Analyst—but a lot of general data analyst jobs will also require you to know SQL, as it’s widely used across database applications and web frameworks.
3. Javascript :
Javascript is a scripting language, often used to make web pages interactive. It’s text-based, written in an HTML document, and run through a web browser.
There are plenty of jobs out there for JavaScript developers. Anyone looking for a job as a front-end web developer (the person who does the coding for the part of the website you actually see, as opposed to the database or servers) will also need to know Javascript, in addition to HTML, CSS, and other scripting languages.
4. C++ :
C++ is a general-purpose programming language that can be used to create small programs or large applications. In 2013, C++ was CyberCoders’ most in-demand programming language skill, and though it’s dropped to No. 4 on the annual list, don’t count it out just yet.
As an extension of C, one of the oldest programming languages, C++ provides a foundation for many newer, more popular ones. There are plenty of C++ developer job postings, and it’s basically assumed that a candidate for nearly all software engineer or developer jobs will have some experience with the language. Side note: All major Adobe applications are developed in C++.
5. Python :
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language with an emphasis on code readability. It’s one of the easier programming languages to learn, with its use of common words and expressions, more white space, and fewer curly brackets. It is used by NASA and Reddit, and its web framework, Django, powers the Instagram and Pinterest web apps.
There are many job postings looking for Python/Django developers. Companies seeking Full-stack developers (developers comfortable working with both back-end and front-end technologies and numerous programming languages) often list Python as a required language for candidates to have in their arsenal.
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