Ideal Software position for beginners

[sanantone]

For those in software development/engineering what do you think is the easiest type position for a beginner? QA, front end, VOIP? How did you learn? Boot camp, online tutorials, traditional courses?

https://www.drdobbs.com/ was a wonderful magazine. I am torn between learning to Program (whatever it is and whatever it takes) or the more blue-collar route of Systems Engineer through all of the various CompTIA certifications and others.

Systems engineering is white collar, even if you take a more informal route. I've only done volunteer IT work, so someone who has worked in the field full-time may be able to provide a better answer. It is my understanding that systems engineering is not something one typically jumps right into after earning entry-level CompTIA certifications. Most systems engineers have college degrees and several years of experience in other IT or computer science occupations.