Should You Learn to Code in 2024? (Freelancer's Honest Take)
The short answer: As an experienced freelancer web developer I think it is worth trying if you like to spend time on your computer, like tech, want to treat it seriously and build a career in programming. Some advantages are unique to this profession
1. Good payment if you get good at it and very good payment if you get very good at it. As a freelancer web developer, you have the chance to work with interesting businesses from all around the world and from developed countries which can open multiple opportunities. You can live in any country in the world and get paid almost the same, the same or better than developers in developed countries. When I check my profile in search results on freelancing platforms, I see developers from all around the world charging high rates. You are able to negotiate directly with the client that needs the service and because there is no middleman you get all the money.
2. The ability to work at whatever hours of the day that you want. This is in my top personal benefits. If you want to sleep more on a particular day, play some online games at the beginning of your day, start with a 1-hour coffer, take a break whenever you want, or if you don't want to work because you feel tired you can take that day off. Most of the time you will be able to do so. There might be certain days when something is urgent and you will need to take care of it.
You are your own boss!
3. Immediate opportunities after you learn to code. There are multiple freelancing sites on which you can find clients who need your skills immediately. I created a video about the web development demands on Upwork at the beginning of this year and you can find it on my YouTube channel
4. Freedom of location and relaxing working environment. You are able to work from whatever location you want and like. Whether it is from your home, your local coffee shop, or whatever other location you can think of you are able to do so. If you want to listen to a podcast or an audiobook during your work you can do that to.
5. Remember that at the end you will need to deliver great results. You have the freedom to choose but you will need to be productive and in the end deliver a great final product
6. You can also use your programming skills to build your own websites or web apps and earn extra income from marketing.
I did so with this Web App and I also have some websites.
So with programming skills, you are able to build your own products and earn extra income, and with time it can be your main source of income
7. There is also the possibility that you will have many clients and won't be able to take care of them all. So you decide to hire additional people and start an agency and who knows maybe it becomes a large software company.
Programming skills open the doors to many opportunities.