Job Opportunities In Technology - Programming

                                                           
Before we go into the details of the job opportunities in programming, it is very important to know what programming is and what does it take to be a successful programmer. This will prepare our mind for the task ahead.
                                                              What is programming.
In lay term,programming is the use of computer languages to communicate with a computer system. It is a way of commanding a computer system to perform some functions using a programming language commands
to send the works to be done to the system.
                                                            What is a programming language?
A programming language is a set of computer instructions send to a computer system to communicate with it. Just as we use human languages to communicate with each other, a computer language allows a user to communicate easily with a computer.
                                                           Types of computer language
There are different types of computer languages:
1. Procedural language.
2. Object-Oriented language.


                                                         Procedural language.
A Procedural language makes use of console-based instruction to pass information to a computer system. One of the examples of a console is the MS-DOS prompt, equally known as the command prompt. Examples of Procedural language are Quick Basic, COBOL, C etc.

                                                   Object-Oriented language.
This is the latest set of programming languages. They are used to interact with a computer system through the use of graphical user interface. They allow the use of keyboard and mouse to click on menus and buttons to perform their tasks.
Unlike the procedural languages, these ones are easy to learn and have a very large areas of application. Examples are Visual Basic, Java, C++ etc.
                                                    Requirements
Does one need to be a graduate to be a programmer? The answer is a capital NO. Both Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of the university to pursue a career in programming.
Does that mean that one must drop out of school to be a good programmer? Once again the answer is a capital NO. You only need a strong mindset to pursue a career in programming.
Other requirements are:
1. A computer system.
2. A modem for data.
3. Time. Like I said in my first article, I have not engaged in anything that is as time consuming as programming.
4. Resources: In terms of resources, you need a lot of tutorials, both visual and otherwise. You can check online for a list of good programming tutorials. To make use of this, you need to install Acrobat Reader on your system as most of these ebooks are in pdf format.
5. Constant electricity supply. This is very important for a beginner. When I was in school, I was developing a school management software using Visual Basic. I had to develop the software such that it will automatically generate positions based on the input scores. I wrote the necessary code but the software refused to do it automatically. Then one day when I was receiving lecture, an idea just came to me. I rushed home from campus to try what occurred to me. Gratefully it worked. What would have happened if I didn't get electricity supply on getting home. Lest I forget, I was almost late for the submission of the software. Get a means of getting power at any cost. Buy it. Borrow it. Steal it if possible. You simply can't do without it.
  If you have all of the above, then you are welcome to the world of programming.
Is programming fun? Programming is exciting, it is fun. Many times you will unconsciously clap your hands, shake your legs and even scream.
Really? Find out by yourself.

Areas of Application

Programming has a very wide area of application. From banking to medicine, insurance to education, programming reigns.
Consider the following daily scenarios:
1. "To copy this tone, dial 11"
2. "Send 'Menu' to 127 to see our services"
3. "To participate in this contest, send your name and date of birth to 333"

These and many more are what we witness everyday. They are programming options that allow us to make some choices based on the options that have already been programmed.

Medicine

In the past, most of the tests were carried out using crude instruments and methods. Modern day technology and programming has turned this to become easier and more effective. Those methods were very ineffective and took longer periods of time to be carried out. They usually resulted into incorrect diagnosis which sometimes led to accidental death of patients. But things have changed drastically since then. Now you can write a program to carry out any diagnosis with the right technology and the result will be amazing.

Communication 

The first two examples above are some of the programming examples that we have in the communication sector. Practically everything we do to communicate is programmed. When you dial a number, how do you connect with the user? Programmed. What makes recharging your line possible? Programming. "Dial *123*PIN#. What is that? A program written to convert the PIN to the Naira equivalent . There is an endless list of what can be programmed in communication. No wonder then that Communication giants are paying their programmers heavily to ensure that they render smooth and good services to their customer. Dare to dream big. Who knows, you may be the brain behind the next communication outfit to rule the world. 

Education 

During our days in the secondary school, if you finish your WAEC exam in June, you will have to wait for at least 6 months before the result will be released. Why? you may wonder. The reason is very simple. After the exam scripts have been marked manually, the computation and compilation will be done manually. In some cases, students' scripts will be lost in transit from one location to another leading to incomplete result, or in some exceptional cases, cancellation of result due to negligence on the part of those handling the scripts. My WAEC result was released in 3 batches within a period of 6 months meaning that I waited for more than a year before I could lay my hands on my complete result. What of  today? Maybe after  3 months. Programming changed everything.

Let me share an experience with you to know the power of programming. About 10 years ago in Lagos State, the issue of late release of results of JSS 3 students and that of the Primary 6 Leaving Certificate was a source of concern to the state government. The contract to address this issue was awarded to one of my former lecturers. He did the job using the state's resources and his programming knowledge. The result? You have your result within a week. The pay? The contract was worth #20m per year. Got my gist?

So I  can go on and on to give you the areas of application of programming. I bet, the areas are endless. Just be determined and go for it. Who knows, you may change the world with your programming skills and make your fortune just as Bill Gates changed the world with BASIC programming language on his way to becoming the richest man in the world.

Have a wonderful day.