I've got a bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, but it's been 11 years since I graduated and I haven't used those skills at all. In my home country, coding doesn't pay well, so I ended up in hospitality for a decade. Now I'm in Omaha, Nebraska, and after a year and a half of trying to make it in hospitality here, I'm feeling stuck. I'm considering returning to coding but I don't know where to start. I initially studied Java, C++, and Delphi, but I know Delphi is pretty much obsolete now. I'm good at logic and problem-solving, but not so much on software architecture. My question is: what's the best way for me to relearn coding and find a junior developer role? Should I look into colleges or boot camps?
3 Answers
In my opinion, the best plan is to save up and get a degree online from a reputable school while you work. A CS degree might help a lot. A degree from 10 years ago in a non-Western country doesn't hold as much weight without relevant experience.
Your Java skills can still transfer well into today’s web development. Do you have any projects in mind that excite you to kick off your coding journey again?
I honestly haven’t coded for 11 years! I’m not even sure how to install the IDE on my Mac. I’m feeling really lost but would even take unpaid work right now just to gather some experience.
First off, it's important to recognize that while you have a degree, the industry might not see you as an experienced software engineer right now. A good way to start might be aiming for a technical support role. It can be a stepping stone to gain experience and eventually move into development roles. Take every chance to write code whenever possible!
Oh, no, it’s actually from a western school! Probably more reputable than anything in Omaha, just not a first world one.