Hey everyone, I'm 28 and have spent the last six years in sales working remotely for German companies while living in Serbia. While the pay is decent, I'm feeling burnt out and want to transition into a field that offers more stability and real skills. I've always had a passion for computers and technology, but my education only goes as far as high school — I never attended college. I'm seriously thinking about switching to software engineering now, and I'm ready to commit my free time to learning programming. My big question is: at my age, should I start a computer science (CS) degree, which will take 3-4 years, or is it better to pursue a structured self-study route, build a portfolio, and take on personal projects? Since I'll be juggling work alongside my learning, I'm concerned about making the most of my time and not wasting years if a degree isn't strictly necessary, especially for getting remote jobs in the EU or US. I'd also love to hear any personal stories from people who have made a career switch later in life and whether they found success with or without a degree.
6 Answers
Given the current recession in the tech industry, I'd strongly suggest grabbing a CS degree. There's immense competition right now with many qualified candidates having formal education. With a degree, you might be more desirable to employers compared to a self-taught developer.
I have a degree, and honestly, I’m not seeing that it’s helping much either in finding a job right now.
If you're considering a degree, I advise against some local options like IT Akademija or Singidunum. Aim for something solid like ETF. Self-study is doable but tough. If you choose that, be prepared for a challenging journey, but you can get hired faster if you really commit yourself.
Thanks for the tip! I definitely want to focus on quality education and avoid those non-reputable institutions. I’ve struggled with time management in distance learning before, so I’m wondering if I could really keep up with structured study.
A degree can open more doors, especially for internships that can provide experience. I suggest looking into post-baccalaureate programs if you already have any degree. It can be a shorter path to entering the field, and you’ll still have the backing of formal education.
I made a shift from engineering to software development at 35. Honestly, a CS degree didn’t benefit me much, and with your sales background, you might want to consider Business Analyst roles instead. Your skills in communication and understanding of business processes could serve you well in that area without needing heavy tech.
I switched careers at 28 as well—from logistics to CS. Starting my degree was the best decision I've made; jobs expect a certain level of theoretical knowledge, and a degree gives you a solid foundation. Self-study might miss essential parts of programming that you won’t realize until it's too late.
It's tricky to recommend self-study now considering the saturated job market. I've been self-teaching for years and landed a volunteer role, but I’m struggling with finding a paid position due to the competition. It's safer to get a degree just in case the market doesn't bounce back.
I went the self-taught route and later got a degree to make my resume stand out. It took me years to land my first dev job, and during this recession, I'd only recommend pursuing a degree if you focus on something like AI. You might find more opportunities there.