What is better for programmers to change careers?

If you prefer to go off the beaten track as a programmer, or finding a mainstream job is too difficult, check out alternative career options for your skills. You may like them better.

What Are Popular Programmer Jobs?

Check out the types of jobs that companies advertise that involve programming or coding. Some jobs you will come across frequently, such as:

web developer
computer programmer
computer systems analyst
programmer
Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer

While well worth it, the competition is fierce, which means the standard is okay too. Needs vary by job and company, of course, but finding these careers is not easy, especially without sufficient skills, experience, and confidence.

What other careers should you consider as a programmer?

Coding challenges and competitions are great for experiences and rewards. On the career front, though, explore alternative paths to mastering programming, even if only as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

Fun and inspiration are the least you can expect, along with plenty of practice.

1. Video game developers

If you're a gamer, you know firsthand what makes a good game. Its programmers create and tweak the code so that everything works—interface, controls, action sequences, dialogue, audio, etc.

The best way to prepare for this programming career is to practice by making your own games or making mods for existing games. Even learning how to make a Roblox game can enhance your experience.

The tasks of a video game developer include:

Code in industry-standard languages like C++, C#, Java, and HTML5
UI/UX Design
Using software such as Unity and Construct3
Program the game as a playable whole
Fix bugs during development or update the game after it's released

You can work as a freelancer or as a studio. Again, big companies are hard to get into unless you're already extremely talented and have a stellar portfolio. Otherwise, you can try your luck with smaller names in the gaming business.

2. Audio Programmer

You can focus on more specific things like audio programming. Any use of sound-based software requires experts to design, tweak or fix it. So, your career prospects are huge.

Let's put them in perspective. Audio programmers fit a range of niches, including computer development, video games, television, podcasts, audiobooks, and more. You can be as creative or corporate as you want.

From podcasts alone, The Joe Rogan Experience was the highest-grossing show of 2020, with $300,000 in revenue, according to Statista .

Also, given that sound technology can go wrong suddenly and inexplicably, it pays to be the go-to specialist, whether in-house or freelance.

In terms of skills, make sure to check as many of the following boxes as possible:

C++ programming
Audio editing with tools like Wwise and Adobe Audition
UI/UX Design
Extensive knowledge of audio development, from 3D effects to memory management
Experience in the field of audio components

3. Audiovisual Programmer

As an extension of your previous career, consider expanding your potential with audiovisual programming. All the traditional and digital opportunities available today mean there are plenty of jobs to look forward to.

In addition to the above-mentioned sound-related skills and tools, you'll need a few others to delve into the visual aspects of broadcasting. First, any experience with image or video software such as Photoshop, CyberLink, and Adobe Premiere Pro is a good place to start.

When it comes to control systems, learn about popular tools like Crestron and AMX. The broader your skills in audio and video programming, the more projects you will encounter.

4. VR/AR developers

If you want to be challenged and be part of an exciting industry, get an in-depth look at VR and AR development. To do well, you need to know your stuff, from terminology to related coding. Even if your skills are basic, they develop quickly in this kind of work.

According to Finances Online and its report on the current VR market, 50,000 VR and AR headsets were shipped globally in 5 years. On the downside, content offerings and user experience are two of several factors holding back growth.

In other words, it's a lucrative industry with plenty of opportunities to prove yourself and make a difference. As a programmer for VR/AR products, you will be very familiar with tasks such as:

software engineering
3D modeling
video editing
Design UI/UX
Code in C#, C++, Java, and more
Handles VR/AR hardware such as Oculus Quest and HoloLens

5. Mobile application developers

Mobile technology is equally groundbreaking and a great industry to behold. Designing applications for handheld devices is technical and fun, requiring good programming skills and creativity.

Fill your skillsets with coding languages and experience in related fields, such as software development, working with different devices and platforms, and even mobile gaming. Just knowing the best open source libraries for React Native app components is a great foundation.

In the end, a typical app needs to be functional, educational, and fun, so the more you know and love about mobile technology, the better you can handle each project's needs.

6. Coding Instructor

As a programmer, you can teach others to code instead of applying it yourself. It's a nice change of pace compared to most technical careers, but just because it's less stressful doesn't mean you don't have to put in the effort.

First, you need to understand your topic so you can present what you're teaching and explain it in a way your target audience can understand. Therefore, communication skills are essential.

Unless you work for a school with a fixed curriculum, you also have to choose the best way to teach it. What are you good at? What tools are available to you? Are you teaching source code snippets or how to make yourself a programmer?

Depending on your answers, you might want to start a blog, YouTube channel, Udemy course, or an entire business using a range of content and media. All in all, the demand for instructors will continue to rise along with the demand for programmers.

7. Technical Writer or Editor

If you can code and write, then you are a good fit for these last options. You can write programming-related content independently, for a company (website, agency, publisher, etc.), or as a programming-related content concurrently.

They are jobs that require time, thought, and attention to detail, not unlike creating or fixing code and software as a whole. In addition to programming knowledge, your main challenge will be mastering spelling, grammar, content writing and editing for the benefit of both casual and formal readers.

Ideally, you'll start with the skills to be a successful content writer and develop those abilities as much as your coding expertise. You can then put all of your creative and technical skills to good use as a technical writer.

For example, as audiobooks become more popular, you can consider how your audience will experience your text, which is a great way to apply any audio programming skills and expand your writing career.

You Can Thrive Without Coding

At first glance, programming may seem like it's only available for a handful of specific careers, but this technical skill opens many more doors than you might think. It's worth exploring all your options and finding a path that better suits your personality and coding experience.

That said, you don't have to write code to be successful in a tech career. There are plenty of tools around to help design a product or analyze data, and even employers don't always view programming experience as essential. Even better, further training opportunities are often on the table as well.