As an owner and CEO of a recruiting company, I happen to see many different profiles with different skills. But some of them are actually more in demand than others, especially regarding software engineers.

Programming jobs continue to be very hot with no signs of cooling down anytime soon.

If you are searching for a high paying secure job that provides you with high salary and flexibility, then programming is a great option. One of the biggest benefits offered by the computer programming field is that you can learn many of the most popular programming languages for free online.

There are introductory programming classes that are available to learn C++, Perl, Python, Java and almost every other programming language.

Along with free online courses, there are also many websites that are dedicated to teaching people how to code.

If you want your resume to include top programming skills, all you need is to own a computer, and dedicate some time and have the desire to learn a new skill.

Here are 4 top languages for programming and where to learn them.

1. Java

A search on Indeed.com for the most popular programming skills shows Java on top when it comes to excellent programming jobs that offer salaries over $100K. The recent TIOBE Index shows the Java programming language on top as the most popular programming language. It was also the 2015 winner of the TIOBE Programming Hall of Fame. There are 7 billion devices that run Java and it used for developing native Android applications. An Indeed.com search conducted in February 2016 for Java returned more than 36,000 jobs that paid more than $100K per year and more than 60,000 full-time Java positions that paid more than $70 per year. Becoming a Java developer expert could definitely cause you to be in high demand and you can actually learn how to do this for free online.

There is a huge Java development community made up of an estimated 9 million developers with developer meetups taking place all around the world. There is one Java Developers group on LinkedIn with more than 300,000 members that have tips for newcomers and many active discussions taking place on a regular basis.    

Where to learn:

LinkedIn Learning (1-Month trial): https://www.linkedin.com/learning/search?keywords=java

Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/java-tutorial/

EDX: https://www.edx.org/learn/java

Codecademy: https://www.codecademy.com/catalog/language/java

2. SQL

The programming language SQL is for managing data. Most programming applications that exist interact in some way with data, so it is understandable why SQL would be on top of the lists of high-paying jobs and requested skills. Indeed.com has more than 20,000 listed SQL jobs that pay more than $100K per year.

Expert instructors can teach you how to write SELECT queries and learn various functions, operators, and much more. In no time at all, you will be interacting with and setting up databases. There are SQL tutorials that are available online. It is also possible to practice interacting with and setting up databases using MySQL, which is an open-source free database management system that is popular with many web applications. 

Where to learn:

EDX: https://www.edx.org/learn/sql

Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/topic/sql/

LinkedIn Learning: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/search?keywords=sql

Codecademy: https://www.codecademy.com/catalog/language/sql

3. C

In 1972 the C programming language was created at Bell Labs by Dennis Ritchie. It is one of the all-time most widely used programming language. On the TIOBE Index of programming language popularity, it is second behind Java, with C++ and C# fall just below it in the 3rd and 4th positions. C++ was developed at Bell Labs as well and is a flexible extension of the C programming language and allow applications to be created by programmers that run on a broad range of different hardware platforms. Microsoft developed C# (pronounced as C-sharp). It is an object-oriented, modern programming language.

If the C programming language is completely new to you, then go to LearnCOnline.com. The website offers an introduction to all of the basics of the programming language. Visit cplusplus.com for excellent C++ examples and tutorials. For expert-taught introductions of C# and C++, you can enroll at edX.org for self-paced online courses offered by Microsoft. Tutorials and full documentation for C# are also offered on the Microsoft developer network. 

Where to learn:

Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/courses/search/?q=c%20language&src=sac&kw=c%20languag&p=1&price=price-free&sort=highest-rated

EDX: https://www.edx.org/course?search_query=c

LinkedIn Learning: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/search?keywords=c%20language

Codecademy: https://www.codecademy.com/catalog/language/c-plus-plus

4. Python

Guido van Rossum developed Python in 1989. He named his programming language after the Monty Python Flying Circus, which was one of his great loves. If Python is completely new to you, there is a beginner’s guide available on Python.org to help you get started. You can also enroll in an online Python course with EDX.

Don’t just stop with the top four. More than just languages, there are many other programming skills that you can add to your resume: R, Node.js…

Where to learn:

EDX: https://www.edx.org/course?search_query=python

Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/topic/python/?price=price-free&sort=popularity

LinkedIn Learning: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/search?keywords=python

Codecademy: https://www.codecademy.com/catalog/language/python

As said previously these are popular programming languages to know to find a good position, not the only ones though!

If you know a programming language and you are looking for offers in Japan.

Don’t hesitate to contact us at Hi-Tech Japan

It will be our pleasure to help you find your next position.

Have a good lesson!

Personal Improvement