Todd

Software Security TechLead

Aug 25, 2017

You're overanalyzing this.

I'm serious, and I have a right to tell you because:

A) My brain works the same way and at first, I also overanalyzed it.

B) I currently have a job where I'm doing research AND programming, including a lot of SQL and C (all "back-end" stuff). I do not have a CS degree.

C) Nearly ALL of my friends who are programmers don't have CS degrees.

D) I know a guy who became a senior developer at age 20 as a back-end engineer for a medium-sized company because he knew SQL well. Never stepped foot in a college. Casey Muratori created a tool used to make over 3,000 best selling video games, never stepped foot in a college, Anders Hejlsberg led the team to develop C#, doesn't have a degree, Uncle Bob Martin doesn't have a degree, pretty sure Kate Gregory (C++ teacher, MVP, consultant) doesn't have a degree... Edward Snowden doesn't have a degree and I think he even may not have graduated high school. The point being, it's not a requirement.

Listen, if you make excuses for yourself that you not having a degree will hold you back, then it will. If you poison your subconscious into that train of thought, it will reflect in your applications and interviews and you will be unsure of yourself. It will also turn into insecurities in the workplace around others who do have degrees and PhDs and all.

My advice is this: Software engineering is HUGE now and there are tons of jobs to fill. If you know that you can learn this stuff without a degree and have skills, then apply NOW and don't have one single second thought about it.

However, if you don't feel comfortable, you have the resources (time and money) to spend on a degree, and you feel that you would learn more and/or contribute to the field more with a degree, then go get one.

This goes both ways because if you choose option 2, don't come out of college entitled just because you have a degree. I've seen those guys/gals get passed up on jobs before and the reason why is because the other guys/gals "get shit done" while those guys/gals come out feeling entitled. Also, you gotta realize, it may sound cool for a company to say they have CS PhDs, but the reality is, nobody really looks that up before they purchase/use software. If it works well, is maintainable, and sells, it's good from their perspective.

Education and training are a very important part of the picture, but they also are not everything. If you have a good attitude, the desire to learn, good work ethic, and people like you, you'll be surprised at who will hire you, with or without a degree.

This is not a post against degrees, but rather one explaining that it is an optional choice to get one. It is a wise choice (depending on the school), but it is optional. If you do go the degree route, I urge you to pick a great program. Why use 4 years on a subpar or just a standard one? I've heard great things about MIT or Carnegie Mellon for example and I would aim for something of that nature if you decide to go.

Alex Harrison

Aug 25, 2017

Thanks for the response - it's great to get that kind of encouragement. Do you think that there are certain types of positions where they are averse to self-taught professionals (like Database Management for example as a guess)?

I am going to focus on completing some projects and building a small portfolio and git-hubbing them all - then promptly start applying for specific roles.

I think you need to change your frame of mind on the question. For example, you are seeing it as "certain type of positions averse to self-taught" and in reality, it's not based on position but instead employer. For example, some employers may very well have had bad experience with a self-taught developer while others, the best person in the office is self-taught. There is no one unanimous position on this based off of the job. So just apply around and make sure to accent your self-teaching, studies, material covered, courses taken if any, PROJECTS, etc... And be prepared to answer serious questions. Perfect example of a large, successful employer is Raytheon. Their positions say in bold: no degree or certificates required period. They don't matter to us. I also have heard (or have friends who work at) even Palantir, Google, Microsoft, and some of the other bigger employers will interview you without a degree if you know your stuff.

I was self-taught, yes... But I also was prepared to answer heavy CS questions because my goal was to show them that I could give myself as well-rounded as an education as an actual CS graduate, if not better. I did not take that lightly at all. I spent some days 12-14 hrs studying, coding, and I was coding and learning 7 days per week. Even on days I saw my girlfriend, I would be coding until 3-4, then even 6-10 am while she slept. If you have that type of outlook, some people will actually look up to you more in fact. I've had people tell me "wow, that's amazing, I would not have the discipline to learn that much on my own" etc...

Make sure you do give yourself a well-rounded education though... Don't just learn to code. Learn how the computer works, learn a bit about binary, learn what virtual memory is, learn about what the real difference between the stack and heap are. That's a common one. I guarantee you if they ask you whats the difference between the stack and heap and you explain not just conceptually, but also how they are implemented in the OS, and they know you have no official schooling, that'll look real good for example... But mostly, it's just so much fun to know and learn!

Not trying to brag here at all, but I need to tell you the facts to encourage you and tell you the reality. Another thing too is, I don't consider myself to be "self-taught" really. I learned from all of the amazing professors, teachers, scientists, and engineers who authored all of the material that I've read, watched, and studied until this point. The difference is I developed my own curriculum and worked at my pace. Don't be shy about that, if you're reading and comprehending and then putting into your code concepts written by world-class programmers, that's a serious education.

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