Getting a Coding Job For Dummies®

Chapter 3

Working as a Coder

In This Chapter

Understanding the coding process

Benchmarking compensation and benefits

Seeing a week in the life of a coder

Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor …

—Studs Terkel

Some people are born into their occupation. The Queen of England didn’t interview for her position as head of state, but for most of us, considerable effort goes into obtaining a job. Every job has many variables that involve much more than just the work, such as compensation, relationships with colleagues, and the potential for career growth. If you understand these variables before your start a new job, you’ll increase your chances for success, and potentially save yourself from recruiting or training for a job that won’t be a good fit.

In this chapter, you explore the process developers use to write code, who they interact with, and other factors beyond the daily work.

Writing Code by Using a Process

Writing code is much like painting, furniture making, or cooking — it isn’t always obvious how the end product was created. However, all programs are created using a process, and ...