Which Coding Course Is Right for You? Here's How to Pick One Without Regret

Selecting the right coding course for yourself, especially with so many alternatives available in the market, can be challenging. You end up wondering, "Where do I even start?" Picking the right course can be extremely overwhelming, but you don't have to guess your way through it! Let’s find out how.

Start With the End in Mind

Are you looking at a course catalog or randomly scrolling through a course? Pause and ask yourself why you want to learn coding in the first place! The language you want to learn, the depth of learning, and whether the focus will be on theory or real-world projects depend on your set goal!

Some common goals that you might have include:

  • Looking to become a full-time developer.
  • Building a specific app or a website.
  • Freelancing or starting a side hustle.
  • Better understanding of tech in your current job.
  • Curious about it and testing the waters.

Knowing the ‘why’ helps in clarifying the ‘what’ for you! This makes it way easier for you as well.

Goal 1: You’re Looking to Be a Full-Time Developer

Settling for surface-level stuff when you're gunning for a career in software development won't be helpful at all! You must get a comprehensive course or a bootcamp-style program. Everything, including programming fundamentals, data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving techniques, needs to be learned.

If a course is offering full-stack development, it is the perfect bait for you! You should look for the following:

  • Courses that offer a comprehensive frontend knowledge, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and a backend language like Node.js, Python, or Java.
  • Helps you build your portfolio with real-life projects.
  • Coding challenges and preparations for job interviews.
  • Community support and mentorship.

If the platform offers certification, it’s an added bonus!

Goal 2: Building Your Own App or Website

Looking to build your own app or website? Go for a project-based course, focusing on the tools that you need now. There's no need to drown in theory here, as you don't need to know the Big O notation. All you need is a proper app that runs appropriately!

Courses that walk you through building real projects like e-commerce sites, blogs, or mobile apps are the perfect ones here. You should be looking for the following:

  • Code walkthroughs and step-by-step tutorials.
  • Focus on specific frameworks like React, Next.js, or Flutter.
  • If you’re flying solo, a course teaching design basics can be an added bonus.
  • Guides that are stack-specific.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur or someone who wants to validate an idea, this is the perfect course for you!

Goal 3: Looking for a Side Hustle or a Freelance Career

As a freelancer, just writing code won't help you, as you've to handle everything. From client communication and UI/UX design to hosting and SEO, you are to handle all! So, a course that offers a mix of web development, design, and soft skills is ideal in such scenarios.

A course that teaches you how to build and sell is what is needed here. Isn't it? So you must look for the following:

  • Web development course providing you with knowledge regarding platforms like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, WordPress, or Shopify.

  • A course that teaches no-code tools like Webflow or Bubble.
  • Learning about aspects like client management, pricing, and personal writing.

You should search for ‘freelance web dev roadmap’ as it helps you understand what you really need as a freelancer.

Goal 4: Looking to Level Up Your Current Job

Role-specific and language-specific courses are perfect if you’re someone who wants to learn skills for levelling up your job role! For example, as a marketer looking to learn about APIs or a product manager looking to learn development, you need specific skills.

A full curriculum is a hassle and can be unnecessarily time-consuming. All you need is targeted knowledge that can help you communicate or automate better. Look for the following:

  • Short courses teaching specific languages in specific fields, like Python for data analysis.
  • Courses focused on tools like Excel + Python, SQL, or APIs.
  • Specific topic-related courses can be helpful.

When you’re learning to code, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re switching careers. You can simply gain superpowers at work with this.

Goal 5: You’re Just Curious

Get a beginner-friendly course that’s fun and forgiving, if you’re just trying the course out of curiosity and don’t really know where this will take you. The course should be fun for you and should facilitate quick wins without taking much pressure.

You must look for:

  • Introductory courses including ‘Python for beginners’ and ‘Build your first website’.
  • Coding challenges within interactive platforms, along with games.
  • Instant feedback on bite-sized lessons.

Your key aim should be to explore without getting overwhelmed. Levelling up is possible afterwards.

Consider Your Learning Style

Your learning style matters, apart from your goals! Is it okay to learn from a course that doesn't provide hands-on practice when you need some? No, right? Consider your learning style before selecting any course.

You can even mix and match your learning experience! Make sure that you have the necessary momentum, as that’s the key to success here.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

You should watch out for the following warning signs while choosing a course:

  • Promises like ‘become a developer in 7 days’ are completely vague
  • Outdated content in a course can be detrimental to your learning
  • No answers to questions or updates to courses for years from instructors
  • Lack of community or support

You should always check out the reviews, check the course dates, and, if possible, preview one or two lessons before purchasing a course. Not matching your vibe? Just move on!

The Bottom Line

If you’re still settling for the flashiest course in the market, just because everyone else is hyping it, stand and reconsider. The correct coding course doesn't necessarily have to be flashy. It should align with your learning style and your needs as well. Matching the course with your needs is the prerequisite to success.

So, are you looking to enroll in a coding course? Consider the following:

  • What is your actual goal?
  • Is the course taking me closer to my goal?
  • Do I like the teaching style of the course?

These questions help you find the perfect course for yourself!