How to Become a Python Developer

When it comes to programming languages, Python is regarded as one of the easiest to learn. Still, simplicity does not diminish its importance as a language but motivates more people to learn it!

If you’re going to enter this competitive job market, you should be well-prepared and have a specific strategy to become a Python developer.

This article will help you take the first steps into the world of data science and web development. Let’s keep on reading to know more about what you will do as a Python developer!

What Is A Python Developer?

A Python developer is in charge of coding, designing, delivering, and resolving development projects, usually on the back-end. They can also assist the company with its technology framework.

As a developer, your job duty will range significantly. You may create an application for the organization, develop the coding structure, build the necessary tools to perform the task, set up websites, or launch new services.

The job requires you to frequently work with data collection and analytics to deliver helpful answers to questions and vital information.

Like other programming positions, you can work as an independent contractor or an employee for a single organization. But most of the time, it will depend on the demand of your employer. 

There’s a high chance you will be responsible for building integrable systems., although the role ultimately relies on each business and job description.

What Is Python Programming Used For?

Python appears in various fields, including web development, scientific computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and academic research.

Python

Its popularity attaches to the increasing data science community and Artificial intelligence and machine learning. Almost all industries have been and will apply machine-learning applications to develop their organizations, from education, healthcare to finance!

For instance, programming developers of many big companies like Google, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, or Netflix also use Python in their organizations. 

Specifically, Spotify applies this programming in the back-end services to gather user data and delivers reliable suggestions and playlists. On the other hand, Dropbox uses Python scripts to create native apps for different platforms (including Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, etc.)

How To Become a Python Developer

Even if you don’t have specific background or experience, you can start your career as a Python developer. This occupation only requires you to have a particular set of skills and master its programming language.

Python developer
Master the programming language.

Here are four steps for you to acquire that position!

1. Learn To Read and Write In Python

Python is relatively intuitive and straightforward to learn, so the first step won’t be too challenging for beginners. You can enroll in a coding boot camp or Python Programming course to quickly learn how to read and write the programming language.

It’s important to note that Python is always recommended as the first programming language for new learners. It is general-purpose, adaptable, and widely popular. 

As an introductory language, this most extensively used language is also simple, versatile, and easy to read. You can use it for web development, software development, and scientific applications! 

Once you master this base language, you’ve taken one step closer to your dream!

Even if you don’t work as a Python developer, you can also use its knowledge for other related positions, like data scientists, back-end developers, or machine learning engineers.

2. Work On Projects With Python To Develop Your Skills

Once you’re familiar with the programming language, it’s time to work on real projects to develop your skills.

Don’t be hesitant to take on any fun project, as it will hone your skills and give you the chance to be in contact with future challenges.

Here are a few suggestions to help you get the first project:

  • Build a website: It may not make sense, but developing a website idea and building a site with a framework like Flask or Django is an excellent way to gain knowledge and experience for your job later.
  • Develop a game: You may not think of this project, yet there are some great libraries (like Panda3D, Pygame, or Pyglet) that help you create a game with the language. You can ask some kids to test it for you.
  • Construct a web service: It’s essential to practice building a web service. You can consider some frameworks like Flask or Falcon.

3. Develop A Portfolio Of Projects Completed With Python

After you gain some experience with the language, it’s crucial to build a portfolio of Python-based projects to introduce your work. 

You should include importing, exporting, and altering data sets. It’s best to present visualizations like bar charts and graphs.

If you haven’t updated your portfolio in a while, now is the time to brainstorm project ideas that you can execute and then share on your GitHub account.

That way, you can demonstrate to your future employer that you’re willing to work with coding. Monitoring digital collections, organizing files on computers, and training an artificial neural network are just a few project possibilities.

You can enroll in a Python programming class to improve your portfolio. Your professor, who understands exactly how this industry operates, will supervise and mentor you thoroughly while giving you some pieces of advice. 

That’s not to mention you will get a certification that will help you stand out among the rest.

4. Start Job Research

You have created a good portfolio, and it’s time to start looking for jobs in this industry. Remember to include any relevant credentials and certificates on your CV when applying for the position. 

That way, your employers will appreciate you more than other applicants.

How Do I Become A Python Developer With No Experience?

As mentioned above, you can pursue this position without prior experience, but the only way is to develop the necessary skills and then demonstrate them.

To help you learn faster, you should look for a good training strategy and Python course, and then start writing in this programming language as soon as feasible!

Another option to get this job with no experience is to work as a freelance developer. It allows you to create your portfolio and make contacts in the field, which may lead to a job later.

working with multiple computer screens
What if I have no experience?

According to our survey, around 25% of developers are conversant with this programming language, indicating that they have a specific skill set – making it easier to enter than other industries.

You can consider contributing to open-source projects, and you can use GitHub to check the repositories of other people and contribute to their projects. It will display that you work well with others and can add value to existing projects.

Finally, you may create a blog to earn a reputation and attention; talk about your journey and experience as a developer, the projects you’ve worked on, and the resources you used to gather information. This way, recruiters will be able to swiftly discover your coding style.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the basic skills you will need to build to acquire this position:

Python

First, you’ll need to learn essential Python concepts such as object-oriented programming, primitive data types, basic syntax, semantics, and arithmetic operators.

This programming language is easy to read and learn while also bearing some resemblance to the English language, with a mathematical impact.

Libraries

This programming language has a vast library available, and these resources can help you pursue this position easier. 

Different projects will necessitate different libraries, but it’s best if you get to know some of the most used, such as NumPy and Pandas.

PyPI (Python Package Index) is a software repository for this programming language.

Frameworks

This position requires you to learn about Python Frameworks. But it’s quite the same as the libraries. 

What you work with will rely on your project. Flask, Django, and CherryPy are some of the most popular frameworks.

While some web frameworks are starting to contain AJAX code to assist developers with some complex programming tasks (client-side), the majority of frameworks are entirely server-side technology.

ORM libraries

Programmers should also get familiar with ORM (Object Relational Mapper) tools like Django ORM or SQLAlchemy, which can help translate data across incompatible systems.

ORMs offer a high-level abstraction over a relational database, letting you create, read, and remove data and schemas in the database using Python code rather than SQL.

FAQs

Is Knowing Python Enough To Get A Job?

No. You will need more than that to get a job. You must have a specific set of skills and can use coding techniques to solve problems!

Unfortunately, most firms will not spend time teaching you about the software. That is why they want a candidate with years of experience. 

In order to meet that condition, you must equip yourself with a good portfolio of the projects you have completed! 

What Qualifications Do I Need To Be A Python Developer?

To prepare for this occupation, you can earn a four-year degree in information science, computer science, and software engineering. But if you don’t have one, you can replace it with a code boot camp certificate and a diverse portfolio.

Remember that the skill level must be the most crucial factor in determining your success. So it’s best to master Python and other relevant skills so that you can feel confident in any interview!

What Is The Salary Of A Python Developer?

According to our statistics, the national average income for this position in the US is $132,358 per year. It ranges from $78,941 to $193,201.

It’s also worth noting that other related jobs also have good pay, including web developer, data scientist, and data analyst

Let’s take web developers as an example! A web developer can earn between $78,000 and $88,000 a year.

In the United States, the average income for web developers is $71,531, for senior developers is $95,325. As a result, web development is one of the most profitable jobs in the computer industry.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Python Developer?

As a beginner, the fundamentals of Python will take you roughly 6-8 weeks to learn to read and understand most lines of Python code. Still, it would require more time to learn advanced knowledge to become an actual developer.

If you’re a novice who wants to learn this programming language in less than two months, you’ll need to commit to learning full-time. Specifically, it could take about 250 hours to properly build your skills if you spend 40 hours each week.

Most beginners create a schedule in which they spend a specific number of hours each day learning the fundamentals and another portion of the day practicing those abilities.

What Skills And Qualifications Are Required To Work As A Python Developer?

You should equip yourself with the following skills and qualifications:

  • Good knowledge of Python in front-end technologies, web frameworks, and event-driven programming
  • A thorough understanding of code versioning
  • Knowledge of server-side templating languages
  • Having a basic understanding of HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript (front-end technology)
  • Background knowledge of security
  • Testing and debugging skills
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Problem-solving skills 
  • Good communication

Conclusion

Our article has just walked you through four steps to help you become a Python dev and other relevant information.

If you have read as far as here, we hope that you now have a better understanding of your job goals. Keep in mind that your career path will always start with a solid foundation, so try to learn and improve yourself from now on!