I'm currently in high school and my computer science teacher is encouraging me to pursue a job as a software engineer. Both he and a student teacher, who is a college graduate and former software engineer, are willing to be my references. Since I don't have a college degree yet, I'm considering some online certifications, like Harvard's CS50 course available on edX. I'm curious if paying for this certificate would actually be beneficial. My teachers have mentioned that certifications aren't that crucial and that my focus should be on my side projects, of which I have eight. They've mentioned that these projects are quite impressive, especially for someone my age, and may even surpass what many university students have done. What do you all think?
4 Answers
In the job market, especially for software development, they’re mostly a non-factor. Good companies focus on your coding skills and problem-solving ability, which you can best show through your actual projects. If you can back up what you know with real work, that’s what will impress employers the most.
Exactly! Real work speaks volumes compared to any certification.
Certificates can be hit or miss in the software engineering field. Some people say they don’t really matter that much, but having a certificate can show that you’re serious about learning and improving your skills. It's true that if you show the wrong certificate, it could backfire. But it can also be a small talking point in interviews—like why you pursued it or what you learned from the course. However, they really only help if you’re equally matched with another candidate without experience.
That makes sense! I guess they can help in some situations but aren't the ultimate deciding factor.
Totally agree! At the end of the day, it's all about your projects and skills.
Honestly, most certifications feel overrated. A decade ago, people raved about the Oracle Java certification, but it doesn't really hold weight anymore. Experience and how you perform in interviews matter way more than a piece of paper.
That’s interesting! Do you think there are any certs worth getting nowadays?
I think the focus should be on real-world skills—projects can speak volumes!
If you're looking to stand out without a college degree, having a certification like CS50 can help. It shows you've taken the initiative to learn something substantial. When applying for entry-level jobs, these certs can go a long way in making your resume look better since you don’t have much formal experience yet.
For sure! Balanced with your projects, it can make you a competitive candidate.
That's encouraging! I want to make sure my projects shine as well.
Got it! I’ll keep that in mind and focus on improving my projects.