Learning C++ Programming Language Is Bad For Your Career … C++ Programmers Can’t Find Jobs

Part 6 of 13 in the Series: How To Learn Programming Languages

Hi,

Do you want to learn the C++ programming language or become a C/C++ computer programmer?

Have you ever asked this question? which programming language is the most complex and challenging?? and received the answer C++?

If you answered yes, you are not alone. About 13 years ago, I asked my mentors in computer programming which programming language is the hardest, toughest, most difficult to learn? And got the reply C++. I asked the question because I badly wanted to become a successful programmer. So, I reasoned that if I could prove myself by conquering the hardest programming language, my success in computer programming would be guaranteed.

Recently, a number of C/C+ software developers have been turning to me for help with their computer programmer careers. They do this by taking advantage of the free developer mentoring sessions available to programmers who order my ebook.

So, what could go wrong with the career of a software developer who has conquered one of the meanest, hardest, most complex computer programming languages?

The real problem with learning C/C++ is not whether it leaves up to its reputation for being a tough guy, because it does! The challenge facing those who succeed in learning C/C++ is more subtle. Continue reading and you will find out for yourself soon.

3 months ago, I started mentoring a programmer with real-world programming experience in C/C++, Microsoft Foundation Classes and Windows 32 API and a college degree. He couldn?t get a computer programmer job, so he bought my book and used the free computer programmer coaching that comes with the book to find out why he couldn?t get a job with C/C++ programming skills.

After he explained his situation to me, I presented him with a list of 3 hot programming technologies in high demand. I told him these technologies were so hot that just having them on his resume would land him programming job offers, even though he had been out of work for 2 years!

Well, he acted on the information I gave him, took MASSIVE ACTION and in 2 MONTHS learnt all he could about the 3 hot programming technologies!

Guess what? 2 months after buying my book and taking advantage of my free software developer mentoring, he got the first programming job he interviewed for on the spot, after being out of work for 2 years!

So, why couldn?t a C/C++ computer programmer with real world industry experience and a college degree get a programming job in the middle of the hi-tech boom of 2007?

WHY C++ PROGRAMMERS CAN’T GET JOBS

The simple reason why C++ programmers can?t get a job is that the C++ programming language is not suited for business or web applications development!

But, wait a minute, isn?t C/C++ also one of the fastest programming languages?

Yes C++ is one of the fastest programming languages. But the speed of C++ applies to the speed with which it executes on a computer and not to the speed with which you can code or develop software programs.

STOP! Think about what I just said. Don?t just read it, digest my last statement until you really comprehend it.

C/C++ is the wrong programming language for business or web programming because employers care more about the speed with which you code or develop software and care less about the speed at which your software program executes.

So, why don?t employers care about the speed of execution of C++ programs?

The reason is that the recent dramatic increases in computer processing speed and memory has made the personal computer faster and much more powerful. So, the amount of processing power available on most personal computers makes the execution speed of any programming language sufficient for most business software development projects.

Then, what do employers really care about?

Employers really want their software developers to code or write programs faster. And C/C++ fares badly at this, because it?s one of the meanest, hardest, most complex programming languages to either learn or develop real-world business applications with. The problems of C/C++ does not stop with the difficulty of learning the language. It?s also harder, tougher and slower to develop web or business applications in.

This is the real reason why most employers will not hire C/C++ programmers for business or web application development.

Am I saying that C/C+ is dead?

Certainly not. C/C++ is best suited for software projects like writing operating systems, compilers, computer or video games, data mining applications, scientific applications or applications where the execution speed is critical.

Stop for a moment now and answer this question: do you really want to make money from programming computers quickly or easily?

If you answered yes, I recommend you go into an area of computer programming where the demand is hot and where there are lots and lots of jobs.

That area right now is in internet or web application programming which C++ is unfortunately not suited for.

Secondly, if you want to success in web or business applications development, learn a programming language which allows you to quickly create programs that meet business needs.

After 13 years, I realize that employers don’t care about the beauty of the C++ programming language. Employers care about automating their business processes or making their businesses work better, quicker and faster. Employers also want to hire programmers whose speed of development matches or outpaces their business operations. The ugly truth is that C/C++ is not the right tool for achieving either of these results.

Dear friend, get a copy of my ebook now and learn those programming languages that excel at creating business software applications easily and quickly and you will discover success in computer programming quickly and easily.

Finally, if you are a programmer needing help with your career, no matter how bad your situation is, get a copy of my book and I will personally mentor you and show you how to achieve success in your situation.

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Muzahid

I want to become a master in C++ language, coz it helps me to learn JAVA easily. thank you

minime

Hey, seriously man… you forgot that noone who learned programming highspeed clusters in c++ will ever happily switch to write online shop webaps in asp.net just “because it’s programming too”.

And if C++ is so bad, tell me, why do I get about 1 or 2 job offers via networking sites per month?

Is there something wrong with me?

IT Career Coach

Minime:

I’m glad for you that you get 1 or 2 job offers per month. It’s really relative.

Here is food for thought … A good pr competent ASP.NET programmer gets one to two job offers per day … how is that for comparison?

Go to Craigslist and do a search in your city for C/C++ jobs versus ASP.NET + C# + VB.NET + .NET FRAMEWORK Jobs and let me know what you find.

Thanks for your contribution

kevin

That is wrong. C++ programmers are the most successful in life.

All the biggest companies you could think of use C++ as the main programming language.

Business applications is everything you named, video games, databases..all that…

All the programs need speed. Tell me a program that doesn’t need speed, im talking about Business programs.

C++ is not only the best language to use but it is also the cleaner.
The OOP classes is so powerful and makes codes cleaner. Which means, saves time for development and stuff.

Would you like to look into a 900 000 line of codes stinky code? No, i don’t think any programmer would be happy. That’s why most of the programmers use C++ nowadays.

The people who use java or any other small programming languages compared to c++ are using it just to get a small job that pays around 20$/hour.

Alot of c++ programmers i know are getting payed 140$/hour in private jobs.

Trust me, if you ask a java programmer to do a program, and a c++ programmer to do the same program, It will be done in the same amount of time. And, c++ programmers think logically compared to java programmers who use already made functions and codes.

Great article, but alot of informations are wrong.

IT Career Coach

Kevin: C/C++ is not recommended for the following reasons:

1. Learning Curve: it has a steeper learning curve than other popular, commercial programming languages like Java, C#, Visual Basic .NET or PHP

2. Time to Market: It is not suitable for business application development because it takes more time to build a web application (an e-commerce web application for example) in C/C++ than in PHP or C# or Visual Basic .NET

3. Support Costs: It is easier to maintain Visual Basic .NET or C# or PHP Applications than it is to maintain C/C++ Applications because it has a steeper learning curve and because it takes longer to build C/C++ Applications

4. Market Demand – The demand is right now for business application development (wesbsites, desktop software, web applications) and C/C++ programmers are not usually hired for such projects.

5. Compensation – A C/C++ programmer still has to specialize in a market like systems programming or device programming or game programming to earn a living. They can’t just freelance any of the well known programming markets or through the regular recruiters because there is little demand for their skills. So, they tend to be compensated poorly or even find it hard to get jobs!

This is just a summary of some of the issues that they are facing … I do coach or consult with a whole suite of programmers and i can see the issues that they are facing at their careers from 30,000 feet … I suggest that you read the rest of my article to get the full gist of my points.

Thanks for your contribution and your view point … I respect that!

Ramkola

Hi IT Career Coach,

First of all a lot of thanks for providing very useful career information related to C++.

I am new to this blog and I find it is very useful.

As you mentioned that from the current market point of view, Java, C#, Visual Basic .NET or PHP etc are more in use and a lot of jobs are available in these programming languages compared to C++.

On the basis of my experience, i want to share my view.

1. For your long term career, C++ will be very useful. From your short term career, money making point of view these languages(Java,VB ..) are good.

2. Today’s market is very competitive, so we should have a very good base of skills. If you know c++ very well, just put more effort and you will be easily proficient in another language too.

3. As you mentioned above, that job ratio is very good in other languages (Java, VB..) compared to C++. The question is, will it remain the same? I can not say.

4. From a career point of view you should be very strong in your basic skill sets. We can not decide only on the basis of the current market demand and we should also maintain the capability to change according to the market which C++ programmers can do easily.

5. Can another programmer become proficient in a new language compared to C++ progammers?

6. What about image processing and other emerging fields; most of the scientific calculations or research directly or indirectly use C++

Tornado

I absolutely agree with Career Coach. See its like this.

If you are a guy who is very serious about life and has that burning desire for success, who doesn’t care for happiness and only cares about money and success go with C++.

C++ is toughest language. Once i learnt all of C++ i thought i know everything until i got obliterated in the technical interviews.

This is not the case in JAVA. No doubt C++ is the father programming language. But there are easier ways to make money.

Finally its all about whether you care about the mean or the end result.

I care about the end result not the mean. So i have like half knowledge of c++, java, asp, php etc. If i don’t land a C++ job so what? I got php and asp for BACK UP.

Jade

Hi Coach,

I am a software programmer and I am having a fair knowledge of C++ programming on windows.

Little bit of VC++ knowledge along with visual basic knowledge.

I am looking forward to work in a big multinational knowledge.

Please advice me what to learn in addition(perl, sql, oracle etc) and which part of vc++ to specialise in (MFC, COM, ATL etc).

Thanks,

IT Career Coach

#visualc ++: I recommend that you start looking at learning C# or even the lowly and often despised Visual Basic .NET for the reasons I mentioned in this article.

All you need to become a competent Windows Software Developer is a strong understanding or skills in C# or Visual Basic .NET along with SQL Server.

You should also limit the number of new languages you are trying to learn, hence don’t worry about Oracle or Perl or MFC or COM or ATL until you become an expert at these few: C#, Visual Basic .net AND sql server!