Python Career Path: Everything You Need To Know For a Career in Python

Almost every software or computer engineer struggles with programming languages, the complex syntax, learning a new language every time the old one becomes obsolete, juggling with upskilling and whatnot. Well, the overlords have their prayers in 1991, when Python was first introduced, and since then its popularity has gained momentum amongst developers and engineers as it is easy to read, learn, and implement.

In this blog, I will highlight why you should learn this language, the opportunities that a career in python offers, and how you can start a promising career with this language.

Why Should You Learn Python?

Well, for starters (as already mentioned), the syntax is super easy to understand and implement, and shorter codes can deliver designs better than other languages. If this wasn’t enough the language is extremely compatible with trending tech domains such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Analysis, Machine Learning, etc. which has added stars to its shining armor.

Additionally, it also brings in features such as rich library support, great community support, ease of integration with other languages, and much more. In short, if you are a pro at python programming, the world is your oyster.

What is Python Often Used For?

Image from chris ried on unsplash

The Jetbrains Python Developer Survey 2020 highlighted some key domains where this programming language is used:

1. Web development
2. Data analysis
3. Machine learning
4. Web parsing, and scraping
5. System administration/DevOps
6. Software testing, and so on.

In fact, businesses are increasingly looking for data analysts with expertise in Python to fill such roles.

What Are Some of the Python Job Profiles?

A quick search in Trends makes it evident that the popularity of Python has increased over time and still is.

Image from Google Trends

This, the most widely used programming language, also offers some amazing career prospects. Here’s a glimpse of the profiles you can work for once you complete your Python training:

1. Python Developer: Proficient in building websites, writing reusable codes, designing and building applications, python engineers can expect to land this job post acquiring this skill
2. Data Analyst: Being a pro with Python libraries such as SciPy, Pandas, etc., data analysts can analyze and interpret the collected crude data using Python and help companies improve their business
3. Machine Learning Engineer: Using Python’s capability to work with data automation and algorithms, engineers can make and train machines and programs and land a job with an average salary of $138,601
4. Research Analyst: Responsible for researching, analyzing, and interpreting collected data, research analysts find a place in verticals such as operations, marketing, finance, sales, etc.
5. Python Software Engineer: As a Python software engineer, you will be expected to design, develop, deliver, test as well as maintain software applications.

With multiple merits, the future scope in Python appears to be promising.

What Are The Top Companies That Use Python?

With over 332,854 sites using Python as their server-side programming language, it’s obvious that the popularity of this language isn’t going to fade anytime soon. Python has also been a part of the tech stack for some of the leading companies as following:

1. Reddit — With over 330 million monthly active users announced its shift to Python in 2009
2. Netflix — Uses Python as the main technology from the beginning
3. Facebook & Instagram — Use Python for multiple services in infrastructure management
4. Spotify — Uses it for data analysis and back-end services
5. Dropbox — Uses Python in its desktop client

and the list goes on.

What Are The Prerequisites to Start a Career in Python?

To set foot on your Python career path here’s what you need to do:

• Get the basic knowledge about the syntax of Python
• Become proficient with the variables, data types, loops, algorithms, etc
• Code to learn and don’t just check out the tutorials
• Understand the purpose of your learnings, are you interested in data analysis, machine learning, web development, or anything else
• Once you’re aligned with your purpose follow the set python career path to reach your end goal

4 Tips to Start a Career in Python

Interested in starting your Python journey? Here are 4 tips to help you get started with a career in Python:

Tip #1: Start with the basics

Work on your fundamentals. Once you have a clear understanding of the syntax, operators, loops, functions & modules, OOP concepts, exception handling, etc, you can move on to taking advanced steps for which you can either use online tutorials or resort to reading guides available online.

Tip #2: Learn Python frameworks

Python has a huge collection of libraries and frameworks and as a python engineer, you need to know which framework or library you need to use as there are various Python web frameworks such as Django, Flask, etc.

You also need to understand the libraries at your disposal, there are various libraries like Pandas, NumPy, PyBrain, SciPy, etc that you can work with. Being a pro at using these frameworks and libraries will help you to stand out among others in the domain.

Tip #3: Work on projects

Theoretical learning is never enough. You always need to implement your learnings to get the necessary practical exposure. This is why building minor projects such as Madlibs, Number guessing games, Hangman, etc will be a good start. It’s these projects that will add value to your profile.

For learners, working on projects helps them become familiar and comfortable with the frameworks and libraries. Also, when you do, don’t forget to contribute to open-source Python projects using platforms such as GitHub.

Tip #4: Learn about trending technologies using Python

Like already mentioned Python is used in almost every tech trend be it Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning, Cloud Computing, or any other, which is why learning about these technologies using Python will be the next step.

What Does The Future Look Like For Python Professionals?

With over 70,000 openings on Indeed — a recruiting platform, Python professionals are in demand. The increased demand for python professionals depicts a better career scope for python programmers in the future. In fact, according to the Developer Survey by StackOverflow, Python is one of the most in-demand technologies and is ranked as the first most wanted programming language.

Businesses, be it economics, finance, marketing, or development, are all on the lookout for professionals proficient in this language.

Apart from being in demand for development purposes, the popularity of Python scientific packages such as NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib has surged with the rise of data science, big data, and artificial intelligence. It’s clear that this superstar programming language is here to stay at least for the near future.

Originally published at https://the-writer-next-door.blogspot.com on July 8, 2021.