I don't have a degree. The only times I've had a tough go finding a job is when I've lived in places with crappy tech markets - and even then everyone has a tough go in those areas.
I've beaten out people who hold master degrees for jobs (though I'm sure I've also lost plenty of jobs to people with degrees as well). On the other side of the interview table, I've yet to see a candidate where the fact they have a degree is the only thing that sets then apart. You either know what you're doing or you don't, and the degree gives you a start but it's not the only way in.
The only thing I can tell having a degree would have gotten me is bigger paychecks sooner. I've had managers tell me that a degree was literally the only thing keeping me from a raise - not the skills it would give, because you can learn those anywhere. Having the degree. (That was also at a job I only applied to because they forgot to mention in the requirements that a degree was needed - they gave me the job anyways.)
Not having a degree has definitely contributed to my imposter syndrome, but in turn it's also made me work harder to learn stuff on my own time so that I can hold my own with everyone else. YMMV.
I am a self taught programmer with ten years experience in frontend development and html/css. I am now focusing on the full stack and seeking a junior full stack position.
Over the years I've had employers, turn round and tell me that I didn't have xyz qualification to get where I wanted to. Or others telling me that I couldn't be both frontend and backend, I had to specialise in one.
I could of gone to university and been certified in BSC computer science or programming but by the time I would of come out I would of been pretty much outdated in technology and this is a big thing that I've found that there is almost no point to go to a university or college for. The technology moves forward so fast.
I moved from logistics, settled down and started to retrain in web development again no official certifications and now i'm at the position to hopefully get a junior full stack role. If anyone is considering uni, I would say save your money and put it on Books and Elearning materials from O'Reily, some programmers start from nothing get to being a professional within a year, one year compared to 4-8 years uni? I know what I would stick with.
In the end, no matter what people tell you, as long as its your goal to become what ever you want, keep pursuing and you'll get it providing you put the work into it. e.g Full stack role (didn't exist 15 years ago!) but it does today and that's what I shall conquer!
I have a bachelor degree, but not in computer science.
The first full-time job was at a company that hires quite some chemists, physicists and mathematicians, and some biologists and others. People who don't really know programming, but have done just enough to know if they like it. There'd be a training program of six weeks.
I think if I were responsible for hiring (which fortunately I'm not), a degree would be a good thing. The people with computer science degrees that I know are typically decent or better programmers. But someone without degree who can show their skills some other way would be welcome too.
Degree adds a lot of value in life. For example mindset of process and hierarchy is pretty much helpful in the industry work, legal work and for the work when you pass down your knowledge to next generation. You don't need degree for building software but you need degree to build software companies that sustain, hire others and innovate. There is a reason dropout rich people hire degree holders to make those foundation.
A degree means absolutely nothing in today's industry. In fact, degrees are roadblocks, imo.
However, a proper education as well as the ability of habitually educating yourself and accepting advice, mean everything.
but its better to have one, from the employers point of view... and legal stuff
Yes, an engineering degree is preferred. People who don’t have STEM degrees get distracted easily into things other than engineering!
uh nice question .... the answer should be: it depends :)!
I don't have a degree and been autodidact still certain things should not be done without a basic education or the experience.
So in general my answer would be no, ofc not .... but it helps ;D ... knowing fundamental architecture, math, software principles on an academic level does kick ass .... Still I know even within universities there are different levels and focus points.
I had two interns from the same university, even the same year, once, one of them was really into programming the other ones was more into becoming a leader in the field. Both of them are solid and nice still, I could see the difference within the same group.
Then I know some people who teach in one elite universities.... there is a likely-hood of notable differences between the levels just because the universities have a different focus.
This is just within my country I don't count the people I worked with, who were from isreal, swiss or the u.s.a all of them very smart.
And than I had some autodidact people who design chip architecture because they thought university was to boring for them ....
People are different, in general it's a good idea to get your BSc I personally would even go for MSc or the phd.
But do you need a BSc to create a webapp, a game or to be curious? I think not.
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stuff ;)
Richard Uie
"Live and learn" should have been "LEARN or DIE."
Required? No. Preferred? Usually, yes. That said, the degree need not be related to programming or any computer-related discipline. The virtues of the degree irrespective of the field of study are:
Additionally, for young people on the traditional, uninterrupted primary-secondary-college education track, the additional years of physical and emotional maturation are likely desirable.
I've known GOOD analysts, programmers, and engineers from bachelors programs unrelated to IT. My own undergraduate program was in Psych and Math (however, since I contend that programming and data-abstraction are exercises in Applied Boolean Algebra, maybe I shouldn't claim NOT to have an IT/CS degree). Critical thinking, conceptualization, imagination, ethical flexibility, personal responsibility, and confidence are all aspects frequently enhanced by the challenges of completing a degree. The college degree route more reliably and safely leads to the development of the full raft of highly desirable skills and traits than more haphazard paths.
Programming is one of those careers where your roadside, begging sign would read, "Will Think for Food." College does not make people smarter, but, more frequently than not, college will enhance the capacity to think effectively.
Finally, college or not - hire smart, emotionally stable people. Working with stupid or crazy programmers destroys the morale of the smart, stable ones. College offers little filtering of stupid or crazy.