There are plenty of reasons to look for a job in technology. The pay tends to be high, the work is interesting, and many of the necessary skills have a wide range of applications. But working in the tech industry isn't the easiest nut to crack. If you're starting at Square 1 and need to build a core cluster of skills, there are some compelling reasons to choose Java or JavaScript as your first programming languages. Better yet, learn both.
According to IT World, Java and JavaScript are neck and neck in 2014 for the most in-demand programming languages, and 2015 isn't showing any signs of that trend slowing down. This information comes from Gooroo, a tech career site that releases the International Tech Careers and Salary Index. Gooroo analyzed more than three million job listings in the U.S., Great Britain and Australia, and the data points to Java and JavaScript as hot, job-worthy languages.
"Java demand in the U.S. and Australia has risen sharply from March/April, and to a lesser extent in GB. This has had an impact in the U.S., where demand for Java currently outpaces JavaScript [by a few percent]," Gooroo analyst Carl Joseph said.
IT World looked at the data and discovered that JavaScript was the programming language most frequently listed as a desired skill in each country. Java came in second in the U.S. and Australia, but fourth in Great Britain. The good news for present and future Java experts is that the demand for Java has increased faster than the demand for JavaScript, meaning it will outstrip JavaScript for the No. 1 spot if the trend continues.
If you're worried about Java and JavasScript becoming irrelevant by the time you finish a four-year degree, don't be. The good news is that it doesn't have to take a full four years in a traditional four-year university to learn these languages. There are plenty of cheap or free online schools that provide industry-ready knowledge of these languages and more.
But keep in mind that the world of tech can be broad and complex; job requirements vary from region to region and company to company. Some employers may be open to hiring individuals without a four-year degree, but others may require one without exceptions. Either way, learning the languages themselves is a solid first step toward landing a job in tech.
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