Career Enjoyment: programmer
A programmer is someone who writes computer code, programs, or apps to make a computer perform certain tasks. In a business context, the programmer works from a specification written by a systems analyst, though the roles are sometimes combined into that of an analyst/programmer. This career tends to have salaries in the range £25-55k (based on research in the UK). Typically, therefore, it has a high earnings potential.
Views from people doing the job
The common feedback from people in this career was:
- When people in the job described what they liked about it, the common themes that emerged were: using computers to solve complex problems, research.
- When people described what they disliked about the job, the themes were: working alone, the need for self-promotion, little influence, low pay, lack of communication, poor leadership, boredom, management overcommitting programmers' time, strengths are not fully utilised, requirements changing.
Enjoyment Rating
When we asked people in each career to rate their job for enjoyment, on a scale between 1 (low) and 6 (high), the average rating for all jobs was just over 3.5. The average score for this career - programmer - was 3, making it less enjoyable than the average job. This is only one part of what makes a job enjoyable. You can find out how well your unique personality fits the job by completing our personality questionnaire.
Behavioural Demands
The table shows the balance of preferences that are required in this career, using the language of the Myers Briggs model of personality. This career therefore involves:
| The demands of the job | |||
| E | I | ||
| S | N | ||
| T | F | ||
| J | P | ||
- Slightly more Introversion than Extraversion.
- Slightly more iNtuition than Sensing.
- More Thinking than Feeling.
- Slightly more Perception than Judgment.
Job Profile
This style involves taking action using logical analysis - e.g. selling a product or constructing a table.
This style involves taking action using important values - e.g. performing a piece of music or teaching a practical subject.
This style involves introducing change using important values - e.g. being an advocate in social work or running a culture change programme.
This style involves introducing change using logical analysis - e.g. developing a new business or providing management consultancy.
This style involves building relationships based on insights or vision - e.g. improving teamwork or building a society or community.
This style involves building relationships using information or experience - e.g. looking after customer satisfaction or employee welfare.
This style involves organising things based on insights/vision - e.g. improving a team's efficiency or designing business processes.
This style involves organising things using information or experience - e.g. managing an office or administering an insurance claim.
This style involves analysing to find the correct explanations - e.g. identifying the cause of a car breakdown or understanding an electrical circuit.
This style involves identifying what is important based on facts - e.g. selecting ingredients for a menu or overseeing safety in a swimming pool.
This style involves analysing to find new possibilities or truths - e.g. researching scientific or technological principles.
This style involves identifying what is important when things change - e.g. editing a publication or counselling a patient.
This style involves developing vision using important values - e.g. teaching media studies or leading a church.
This style involves clarifying information using important values - e.g. curating exhibits in a museum or getting to know customers.
This style involves developing vision using logical analysis - e.g. conducting market research or designing computer systems.
This style involves clarifying information using logical analysis - e.g. inspecting accounts or investigating a crime.
The wheel provides a more detailed view of the types of behaviours required in this career. Each segment represents a behavioural style. Lighter segments indicate that you need to use that style more in the job. On a PC, you can hover the mouse over a segment for a brief description.
Lighter/redder segments show the types of behaviour you will need to use more of, i.e.: strategic thinking; solving practical problems; theorising or analysing; following defined procedures; designing new processes; solving immediate problems or crises.The job does not involve as much: maintaining good relationships; developing other people.
Comparison with your personality
You can find out how well your personality matches this and all the other careers by completing the MMDI personality questionnaire.
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