Computer programming skills prove to be great asset
In a world that is rapidly going digital, many employers are looking for people who understand the digital world and computer programming skills as well as their field of study.
These people who can combine computer programming skills with the knowledge of their field will be more attractive to employers, according to The New York Times.
Many young students are reluctant to pursue these careers because the skills are difficult to quickly learn, and schools do not teach the material at a deeper level. Many high school programs only give students a surface level, computer programming education.
This education is traditionally limited to teaching students how to use basic computer programs like word processing, spreadsheet programs, Janice C. Cuny, a program director at the National Science Foundation told The New York Times. “We’re not showing and teaching kids the magic of computing,” Ms. Cuny said. She noted that the Advance Placement course teaches students how to program.
The New York Times also highlighted that a lot of students are learning obsolete software, which is another problem. Cuny’s agency is planning to increase the number of trained high school computer programming teachers to 10,000 in 2015. Her agency is attempting to glean interest from parents and school administrators, expanding their computer science programs.
Essentially, employers are seeking competent computer programmers who can apply this skill to their respective fields. These people are in high demand because high schools are currently educating very few people in these fields. High schools are not creating a strong interest, and students are no pursuing these fields of study beyond high school. This creates a stronger demand for people with computer programming skills and knowledge because there are not many in the current labor force.
Labor experts are predicting that most new jobs will be in the technology field. Therefore, strong computer programming skills will prove to be valuable, Robert Reich, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley and former labor secretary in the Clinton administration told The New York Times.
“Most of them will not be pure technology jobs, designing computer software and hardware products, but they will involve applying computing and technology-influenced skills to every industry,” Reich told The New York Times. “Think Geek Squads in other fields.”
Also, the Obama administration has increased federal funding and support for the science and technology education to increase interest in these fields because there is a strong demand for these types of jobs. This also grants more opportunities for interested students to get involved in these programs, according to The New York Times.
The technology sector of the job force currently has a very strong demand. Furthermore, jobs in other fields are beginning to require some computer skills. These skills could be as specific as being able to program and write code or designing websites. Also, the skills could be as simple as understanding how to use a specific program or a basic understanding of the digital world.
Students need to be knowledgeable in these fields because digital/basic computer knowledge will serve well in nearly every field. It is currently one of the fastest growing markets and prospective employees who have knowledge in these fields will be more valuable than those who do not. Students can become self taught on these matters, and most jobs will not require a student to be certified in some digital/technological aspect. Students can use new programs and familiarize themselves with new digital advances and breakthroughs. However, for the most part, simply being familiar with programs and digital trends can prove to be valuable.
