I'm biased towards Python, which has many applications and massive popularity in different platforms/fields but, like every language with a couple of exceptions, it faces competition.
One of those exceptions is JavaScript. It has the privilege of being the only choice of one particular platform and that that platform is one of the most active (and that's unlikely to change). Nowadays it is the language that will get you a job the fastest, methinks.
Heard alot about Python to be THE programming language to learn first. Personnally, I've learned Python as my first programming language. The syntax is pretty clean and not confusing and there's alot of documentation/community on the internet to help you.
** If any one is interested in Web World **
Any one who wants to make a career in IT world as a software programmer in 2017,
one should consider these technology stacks:
Readers'll think question is regarding programming language & i'm talking about stack so i would like to tell you that each technology of above stack use only one language , yes just one language only i.e: JavaScript.
So if you learn javascript then you have a lot of opportunities as these are the technology stacks which are being most popular now a days.
Why you should choose these technology stack:
-> In Today market every one know that every client demand is to get done his/her project within a very short time with complete functionality, so it helps us to speed up the development process.
So i think that you should learn javascript. Rest depend on you.
I reckon any language can be useful especially if you master on any of it , you can find a quite "easily" a job , but if you scan through the job market the language that has the biggest need is Java.
Marco Alka
Software Engineer, Technical Consultant & Mentor
Most programming languages can land you a job. However, since it is an industrial language, you might have the best chances with Java. It is used everywhere in big companies and is an all-arounder.
If you prefer the web, there is no way around HTML, CSS and JS. You will definitely land a job learning JavaScript. However, leave out the frameworks and libraries; your boss or senior developer will usually tell you what to use, so in order to quickly learn the required tools, you should have a solid understanding of vanilla JS! JavaScript today can do anything: animate websites, power cross-platform desktop and mobile apps, do low-level prototyping on your Arduino. So, even if you later decide to change whatever you want to do, JS might still come in handy.
As for the server side, there are many possibilities, including JavaScript (again), however I want to add PHP to the list, since I see companies searching for PHP developers all over the place. PHP is nice, easy and perfect, especially for quick and small solutions. Just make sure to use it only when it makes sense to actually do so.
Other than that, C/C++ is used for most system applications, so if you have fun doing lower level stuff, that's one way to go! Lower-level stuff includes creating games (for example with UE4, Lumberyard, CryEngine, etc.), programming embedded (automotive control systems, etc.), drivers (for the graphics card), Kernel development,...
Last, but not least, there are languages, like Object-Pascal and ABAP, which are not very common, however some companies are desperately looking for people who can use them. They can land you a job with a very high salary, but your job might include porting all the source over to more common or newer languages, making yourself disposable.
Just do not make the mistake of jumping onto the hype train of newer languages. They are nice and offer awesome features, but it will take time until they are spread enough throughout the world of companies (if they manage to stick around long enough, that is)