In today’s world of fast-changing technologies, it is important to identify the ones which you can pick up so as to help you secure a great job in the future. The world is more competitive than ever before. In this blog post, we will try to identify some key domains of Computer Science which if you can excel - you are guaranteed to get a good paying job.
Let us first talk about the scene of Programming languages.
Programming Languages
Choosing the right programming language, to begin with, will give you an edge over others. You should try to learn the languages that are hot in the market so as to make yourself more relevant to potential employers. It also makes sense to focus on top programming languages of the future if you intend to look for a job in near future. Here are some of the programming languages that are trending in the market currently and would stay relevant - for sure - in near future:
- Python: undoubtedly, Python is the programming language of the 21st century. A large number of new startups and even large organizations are using Python as the primary backend programming language. You should definitely pick up Python to stay relevant in the industry since it is believed to be the language of the future. Python developers are getting paid quite well since there is a huge industry requirement. The key reason for choosing Python include its speed of development, the speed of execution and the vast library support for all sorts of integrations.
- C/C++ and Golang: C++ has been there for awhile while Golang is relatively new. If you are looking to develop a career in finance and algorithmic trading, these are the 2 programming languages you should absolutely be well-versed with. C/C++ combination has been heavily used in various High-frequency trading firms. Golang is catching up as well. Both of them are excellent for developing a performance-critical, low latency system which forms the core of any algorithmic trading firm. The salaries are quite high - generally higher than those of engineers in software firms. At the same time, the skill level required is also higher - you are expected to know the programming language thoroughly. You are also expected to know the concepts of Object-Oriented Programming in and out.
- Java and PHP: These 2 languages have been traditionally used at most large organizations. Almost any enterprise company which has been into existence for a few decades uses Java as the programming language for its core backend systems. Talk about banks - they all use Java for their databases, core banking systems, and even portals. Some of them also use PHP to design their websites - the customer portal as well as the net banking portal. This holds true for enterprises of almost all kinds.
Now, having talked about Programming languages, let us talk about the trending technologies in the market. Remember, it is as important to know about the latest technologies as it is to be fluent in a particular Programming Language. You may be a Python wizard. However, if you do not know how to create a website in Python, you will have a hard luck finding a good job.
100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp for 2024
Tools and Technologies
These days, we hear about various shifts that are happening in technologies. For instance, the world is moving towards an AI-driven world. We read about Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Blockchain almost every day in the news. Startups in these spaces are attracting venture capitalist money. Basically, it is a technology wave. You need to be smart to surf this wave in order to progress in your career.
Let us talk about some of these technologies.
- Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence: AI and ML have been the buzzword throughout the last 2 years. This is due to the rise in the number of startups in the Fintech space that are deploying enterprise AI systems. There have been many consumer-focused AI startups as well. Machine Learning as a technology has advanced in the past couple of years primarily because the hardware and computer have become super cheap and so running decade old Machine Learning algorithms now makes sense because they can be executed much faster. In the ML/AI domain, Python has become the king. Almost all the startups in the ML/AI domain are using Python as the backend programming language simply because of the fact that there are excellent Machine Learning libraries in Python. To name a few:
- TensorFlow: this library is quite new and has been developed by Google. It has caught the eye of the entire developer community and has opened new avenues in Machine Learning. What was considered as a tough task has been made extremely simply by TensorFlow. You should definitely consider learning how to train ML algorithms using TensorFlow.
- Scikit-learn: this is another popular library and has been there for a while. It is quite good for beginners. It contains readymade implementations of a large number of Machine Learning algorithms along with sample datasets. This makes Sklearn an excellent playground for beginners.
- Keras: this is a great library for deep learning - a domain of Machine Learning concerned with training Neural Networks. Deep learning has gained a lot of popularity in the past simply because the results of running Deep Learning algorithms are phenomenal.
There is an excellent collection of programming community-recommended Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence tutorials on Hackr.io.
- Blockchain: Blockchain is another trending technology. It has been the buzzword lately due to the cryptocurrency and bitcoin hype. Many startups are coming in the Blockchain space. Not just startups, even enterprises are developing mutilation-proof, high-security systems by adopting Blockchain technology. The technology is relatively simple. However, there is a huge demand in the market while there is a scarcity of developers who know the technology properly. As a result, if you can pick it up, you are sure to get some attention. Here is our What is Blockchain Programming? blog post; a step-by-step guide for beginners if you are new to Blockchain domain. If you are looking for Blockchain tutorials, here are the best Blockchain tutorials recommended by the Blockchain community itself.
- Android Application Development: We all have moved from Computers to smartphones. Most people prefer to use a mobile app vs opening the website on a laptop or a personal computer. This is simply because of the fact that it is much faster to access something in a smartphone than to open your laptop, open the browser and then access it. Android app development has been there for a while and it will continue to be a trend in the future. In fact, almost all companies today are shifting to a “mobile-first” model where they want their customers to rather come through a smartphone. For instance, Uber doesn’t have a web portal to book a cab. It is “app-only”. Here are some great tutorials on Android Application Development.
- Backend Development: Backend development is an evergreen job that will stay in the market for long. Companies today are moving to modern web frameworks like Django, NodeJS, Ruby on Rails (RoR), etc. These frameworks are fast, reliable, secure and most importantly - they save a lot of developer time since developers need not reinvent the wheel for the common functionality. Backend developers who are experienced in at least one of the above 3 web frameworks are high in demand in the market. The salaries are also quite handsome and the best part - the evergreen nature of these technologies - they are going to stay in the market for quite a while!
- Frontend Development: Frontend development is the counterpart of Backend development. It is also an evergreen job that will stay for long. Most of it requires deep knowledge of JavaScript since it is the primary frontend language. AngularJS is the most widely used framework for Frontend development at most organizations. There has been news of the release of Web Assembly which is said to be the future of frontend development.
Summary
Python and Golang are undoubtedly the top programming languages of the future. They are relatively new in the market and will stay so until a competing language is developed and accepted by the market. On the other side, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are going to be future technologies. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are also picking up fast. However, they are still in the nascent stage and the adoption is low.
In order to stay relevant in the market, you should keep picking up new skills and technologies as soon as they come. However, you should keep learning as your primary motivation. Good job and money will always follow.
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