Thinking about diving into the world of coding and landing that dream tech job? Hold on a second. While the allure of high salaries and innovative work is strong, the reality for many aspiring coders is far from glamorous. Before you invest time and money into learning to code as a career path, let’s talk about why you might want to seriously reconsider, especially if you’re facing constant rejection.
For many, the first harsh lesson comes with the job application process itself. If you’re sending out resume after resume and hearing nothing back, it’s a clear sign. And while you might be told to just keep tweaking your resume, the problem might be much deeper than formatting or wording. In a saturated market, even a perfectly crafted resume can disappear into the void. Spending months, even years, sending out applications with minimal results? That’s a strong indicator that the issue isn’t your resume—it’s the overwhelming competition.
The idea of “pounding the pavement” in the tech world often translates to a “spray and pray” approach. You might be applying for dozens, even hundreds, of jobs, hoping that sheer volume will land you an interview. But this strategy often overlooks a critical point: the sheer number of applicants for each coding position is astronomical. It’s not just about getting your resume seen; it’s about standing out in a sea of equally qualified, or even overqualified, candidates. Tweaking your resume for each application becomes a desperate attempt to gain a marginal edge in a game where the odds are increasingly stacked against you.
Then there’s the bootcamp myth. You hear success stories, glowing testimonials of people who went from zero to hired in a few short months after completing a coding bootcamp. These stories are compelling, but they represent survivor bias. What you don’t hear are the countless stories of individuals who invested significant amounts of money and time into bootcamps, only to find themselves still struggling to find employment. Bootcamps can be helpful for acquiring specific skills, but they are not a guaranteed ticket to a job, and in an oversaturated entry-level market, they might leave you with debt and no job prospects.
Ultimately, the pursuit of a coding career, especially for newcomers, can feel like an uphill battle against overwhelming odds. While there are undeniably many tech jobs out there, the competition for entry-level positions is fierce. You might be told that you just need to be the “best choice for one job.” But in reality, you’re often competing against hundreds of others who are also striving to be that “best choice.” Before you commit to coding as a career, take a hard look at the realities of the job market and consider if this highly competitive and often discouraging path is truly the right one for you. Perhaps exploring alternative career paths where your skills and efforts might be more readily valued is a more pragmatic approach.
