I'm 19 and feeling a bit lost about my future. I'm not in university and unsure of what I want to study, especially since I had a tough time in high school and don't want to continue my education in my small town. I recently realized I might want to become a programmer, and I've started dabbling in Unity and C#, even though game development doesn't seem like my passion. I've read that having a university degree can help open doors, but that real work experience might matter more. Should I focus on learning programming online and maybe freelance while I search for a job? Or should I consider university? I'm feeling pressure from my family to figure things out, but I'm also scared about moving away from home. Any advice?
5 Answers
Have you thought about what’s really keeping you in your hometown? There are tons of opportunities to study in other cities or even abroad. Learning on your own is awesome, but only if you have the self-discipline to do it. I wouldn't recommend freelancing right away; it's tough to learn programming without guidance and mistakes can have real consequences.
I’m a software engineer, and let me tell you: in smaller towns, finding developer jobs can be rough. However, many companies have opened up to remote work, which is a huge plus. You can absolutely break into this field without a degree, but you need to really hone your skills. I know many successful developers who started coding at a young age and built their careers from there. A degree does help on a resume, but your projects are what will truly showcase your abilities to employers.
Getting into programming can be tough right now, especially for entry-level roles. Many students I teach have difficulty finding jobs, with a lot of companies still recovering from over-hiring during COVID. A degree can help, but it’s not a guarantee like it used to be because the job market is competitive. If you pursue a degree, keep in mind it takes time—about four years—and hopefully, things will improve by then.
I appreciate the insight! It’s a bit scary to think about the competition out there.
I'd say that having both experience and a degree is more likely to land you a job. Just having experience without any degree might limit your options, but it depends on the field and the company. Getting some project experience is key, though!
It’s true that experience often beats a degree, but you face a catch-22: how do you gain that experience without a degree? A good certificate can make your job search a lot smoother, so consider if you can take some online courses or go for a degree that you don’t feel too stuck in.
Mainly it’s about money, but I’m also worried about leaving family behind who might not be around much longer.