If you ask anyone the question “What subject from their school (not university) education they use specifically in their job”, you can be pretty sure that 99 per cent will most likely answer “None”. I fall into the one per cent, as I actually learnt a skill which I use on a daily basis.
Yes, of course some could say English, or maybe even Mathematics when doing simple equations, but those are fairly obvious. What skill do I use on a daily basis you ask? Typing. I was taught to touch type as one of my subjects and this has helped in my writing and IT career. It’s funny, look around your office, and watch how many people peck at their keyboards with their two forefingers, almost like two cranes pecking the shoreline for worms.
Technology is advancing at a meteoric pace, and an industry using the web didn’t exist before our parents’ generation, so it’s only natural to see it as being a major factor in the job market going forward. Here are a few reasons why being literate in a computer language and how the web works is so important for your child.
It’s an ever growing and changing market
Online is the future, and with the growth of users, smart phones and the internet playing more and more of a role in our daily lives, there is definitely going to be career prospects. Fortunately there are also many different career paths in the IT industry.
For creatives there is web and game design, animation and art directors. For those a bit more process and analysis-orientated there is quality assurance (the overall testing process) as well as system administrators and technicians. For the leaders, there are project managers as well as SCRUM masters (SCRUM being a software development methodology).
For the creators there is development; with many different languages to learn, there are websites, applications and systems that need to be created. So depending on what your child may take interest in and their type of personality, there is always going to be a position that allows for them to fit into the industry and use their best qualities.
Resources are limited
With an advancing industry, that means there is always a requirement for resources. Companies like Apple will always be creating new devices, and operating systems like Android won’t be going anywhere in the near future, so there will always be a market for app creation. Corporations will always need systems and websites to be built, so companies will always be around to offer software development for them.
Fortunately this is where a diligent child can ensure a foothold in life via a career which they know will be around when they finish school, unlike back in the day where doing a trade that was taught by your parents no longer guarantees yourself a job. By learning something as simple as HTML (the basis for most websites nowadays), can offer them an introduction into the world of IT.
Get started
Getting started is fairly simple, and with more and more schools offering IT subjects, it would definitely be a good option to speak to your child about getting involved in coding, as it’s something they could do in their spare time, and also offer a building block to their career. If your school doesn’t offer subjects, there are always online courses. A few affordable and entry level options are Tree House, Code School and iTunes U, which can get your child ahead on the coding front.
Also always ensure that if your child is working from home, they are protected, as searching for resources and tools as well as help online may take them to a few websites that may contain viruses and such, so ensure your antivirus software is up to date.
Who knows, your kid may be creating the next Angry Birds from their bedroom and be a millionaire by the time they are 18. With enough encouragement, anything’s possible.
[Note: This post is brought to you by AVG]
I avoided typing at school, much preferred maths an science subjects, and despite having worked my way through a uni degree I still type with 4 fingers…..naughty naughty
You are so right. I hadn’t thought of it, but I’m so glad I can type properly, and I’m limited by my lack of coding knowledge. I wonder what is the right age for starting with it?
That is really interesting and so true. I wish I could get my head around coding as it makes no sense to me. I did typing at school too and it has always helped me although I’m not very fast.
To encourage basic coding a raspberry pi would be an affordable way of getting their own PC. 🙂
I’m with you in the 1%. So glad I can touch type and I use my coding skills at work too. I’ve been dipping my toe in the water to find a way to pass on my programming skills to my children. Thanks for the links.