Are you thinking about a career change? With all that has changed in the world, especially over the past year, it has prompted many people to consider new and different career opportunities. Coding is definitely one of them.

If you are considering a career as a developer, here are five key questions you might want to consider:

1. Do you enjoy problem solving?

Technology is created in response to problems that exist. Coding is one way to address those problems. Before you actually begin coding, a great deal of your time is spent brainstorming and applying logic to figure out a solution. The satisfaction of being presented with a problem, and then taking the time to explore it until you find a possible solution can be very rewarding for some. If that’s you, a career as a coder just might be one to pursue.

2. Are you creative?

Since coding is so technical, oftentimes people don’t see it as creative work. But it certainly can be. Similar to how a visual artist starts with a blank canvas and eventually creates a masterpiece, a developer starts with a blank text editor and eventually creates an interactive, functional web or mobile experience. From start to finish, coding is a creative experience.

3. Do you enjoy learning?

One of the most amazing things about coding, and one reason I chose to become a developer, is the fact that there is always something new to learn. Technology changes and becomes more advanced everyday. Because of that, developers have to stay on top of the latest development trends and tools. Just when you think you’ve learned all that there is to learn, a new problem will come along to challenge that.

4. Are you self-motivated?

There were many times, especially during college, where I was very tempted to quit pursuing a career as a developer. Let’s face it, programming is hard. Without self-motivation, it’s very easy to let the challenges you’ll face deter you. You have to be willing to see a challenge through to the end. There’s always a solution to a problem. You just have to be motivated enough to follow the journey to that solution.

5. What area of development are you most interested in?

Do you like the web? Computer networking? Gaming? Databases? While the fundamentals of computer science and programming may be the same across various disciplines within computing, all development is not the same. Furthermore, not all developers have the same set of skills. Some developers work more on the front-end, while others work on the back-end. Some work on websites, while others work on mobile apps. Some design and develop databases, while others design and develop operating systems. One size does not fit all. Building mobile apps might fit you better than designing databases, for example. Try to identify what you enjoy and what your area of expertise will be.

What other questions should you ask yourself when deciding if a career as a developer is right for you? Drop them in the comments below!