Earlier this year, journalists laid off from Buzzfeed and the Huffington Post were heckled on social media. Harassers told them to “Learn to code.” It was a throwback to journalists telling newly unemployed coal miners to take up developer work when multiple coal plants were shutdown a few years ago.
Whether anyone is right to harass folks who recently had their careers upended is beside our point. The truth is that learning to code is never bad advice.
As software continues to “eat the world,” those with coding know-how continue to see their stock rise. Employment is never guaranteed, but it’s certainly more likely than many other industries. The pay is consistently respectable (and sometimes downright incredible). And most skills can be transferred to other roles at other companies and in other industries.
The Juno College of Technology is among the organizations in Canada giving people a powerful head start into the vast expanse of software development. Formerly known as HackerYou, the recently rebranded Junooperates developer “bootcamps” at multiple campuses in Toronto, including a flagship location downtown that stretches more than 7,000 square feet across two floors.
“With the increasing number of tech jobs in Canada, traditional educational institutions have already realized that teaching young people to code is vital,” reads a post on Juno’s blog. “Though some high schools offer elective computer science courses, in most cases, if high schoolers want to learn to code in a hands on environment, they need to do it outside their normal classroom.”
Part-time evening and weekend courses, such as those offered by Juno, allow high schoolers to code—as well as those already with full-time careers seeking an upgrade. Juno claims a graduation rate of 98% and an average entrance salary of over $53,000. The average salary of tech employees working in Toronto is $83,000, giving junior developers plenty to look forward to.
Juno’s approach to teaching suggests that coding is not the key skill, however, but rather an outcome of another skill they focus on building: the ability to learn.
“Learn how to learn; it’s the only skill that won’t become obsolete,” says Zoe Daniels, a lead instructor for Juno.
“When you’re good at that, you’ll be able to pick up whatever tools you need when you need them,” adds Robin Hamill, another instructor at Juno.
Those interested in building a career in software should look no further than courses available at Juno. The company will be at the upcoming Tech Talent Toronto Job Fair, which takes place on November 6th at Steam Whistle Brewing in downtown Toronto. There, attendees can learn about Juno’s many offerings.
“There’s no disputing the fact that tech in Canada is booming,” says Heather Payne, CEO of Juno. “And developers are still on top of the wish list.”
Those who have already mastered the art of learning can also consider a career at Juno helping others find their path. After all, Tech Talent Canada’s job fairs are unique recruiting events that connect a city’s fastest growing companies with the top tech talent in the city. Hiring companies have the opportunity to showcase their employer brand and pitch a crowd of skilled candidates on why they’re the best employer around.
If Juno is the place to go to learn to code, Tech Talent’s job fair is the place to go to get hired in the industry. Come find out for yourself on November 6th.