March 28, 2012 | British Columbia

Understanding computer coding is not just a skill for professional programmers. Any tech professional - and even nontechnical professionals - can gain a competitive edge by learning the basic skills of programming and the language of computer codes.

Particularly, help desk experts and networking employees may need basic programming skills to create small-task automation programs or provide intellectual input on company projects related to IT. Students who are pursuing careers in fields such as IT support and networking training have more programming resources available to them than they may realize. Hundreds of books and online portals provide valuable insight on the mystery behind programming languages.

"Learning things today is much easier than it was even 10 years ago because of the internet," Brian Hook, a software and computer game developer, told Monster Canada. "Search engines make finding answers to common problems easy, and the Internet is littered with message boards devoted to programmers of all levels."

In the computer world, one of the best ways to tackle a topic is to just dive into it. While it may not come easily at the first try, the more practice that students give themselves, the better. Aspiring professionals can also use classmates and teachers in their help desk courses as valuable aids. To further an education in the IT world, students can enroll in programs at CDI College. To begin, fill out the form on the right.