I'm 24 and don't have a college degree. I'm not very motivated to spend over four years getting one, so I've been considering teaching myself software development. However, I'm worried about whether this is a realistic path, especially for landing a job later on. I've always been good at math, and I've enjoyed the bit of coding I've done so far. But I fear I might waste my time or hit obstacles due to my lack of formal education.
Is it really possible to become a successful self-taught developer? If so, how should I go about it? Or should I just play it safe and get that degree? I would really appreciate any advice from people who have been in a similar situation or have experience with hiring, coding, or the self-taught journey. Thanks!
7 Answers
If you're thinking about self-teaching purely out of lack of motivation for a degree, that might be a red flag. The self-taught who succeed usually have tons of drive and have battled through setbacks. It's not the easier path; it requires relentless effort. You need to be disciplined and ready to prove your skills to employers, who often favor college degrees.
This was my journey too. I didn't go to college due to finances and it took me over five years to land stable entry-level positions. Sometimes it's about who you know and having the determination to learn and grow on your own.
Challenging does not mean impossible! I've seen self-taught devs land gigs, but it usually involves unconventional routes or heavy networking. Just keep coding, build your portfolio, and don't shy away from applying!
I’m a self-taught Staff Engineer in Silicon Valley. It's viable if you’re committed. Start with the basics and build projects related to what you want to work on. Get freelance gigs even if they pay low to build your portfolio. Real-world experience is invaluable, and you can supplement your learning with online courses.
That's great! I want to do freelance too. Any tips on how to get started with projects?
Thanks for the advice! I guess it just means I need to be strategic and proactive in finding opportunities.
I'm not saying it's impossible, but challenging under current market conditions. If you're truly interested and can demonstrate your skills with real projects, it might work! Just remember to market yourself well and showcase your coding experience.
You can definitely find success without a degree, but building a network is crucial. Start connecting with others in the industry, maybe even contribute to open-source projects. Those connections can help a lot when job hunting.
It's so saturated now. Just last week we had 700 applicants for one position and we dismissed the resumes of non-degree holders right off the bat. That's the reality today—it's tough to even get your foot in the door without a degree.
It’s wild how competitive it’s become. Even if you’re a genius, if your resume doesn't check those degree boxes, you're likely to end up in the rejection pile. I had a similar situation where I had to rely on networking to get my first break.
That seems harsh, but it’s true that a lot of companies are filtering heavily. If you don’t have a degree, you’ll need to stand out significantly to get noticed.
Honestly, the lack of motivation is concerning. If you're not driven enough to pursue a degree, what makes you think you can drive yourself to learn coding? It’s tough out there—having a degree will definitely help in getting job interviews, more so than self-learning alone can.
Totally agree! Many self-taught developers face immense challenges compared to their degree-holding peers. You really have to hustle and constantly demonstrate trust in your abilities. If you're not feeling motivated now, self-teaching might not be the best path for you.