Computer programmers without a degree how did you break in ?

[Atomizer]

I read a recent Digg post that was discussing the merits of a Computer Science Degree for programmers. One of the responses posted said some the best programmers the person worked with didn't have degrees at all.

So to those of you who are working programmers, yet don't have degree's, how did you break into the job market ?

[Seditedi]

get a degree.

[Naobi]

Step 1. Had interest in computers
Step 2. Had interest in all things that made computers do what they do.
Step 3. Grabbed books and researched and learned.
Step 4. Practiced what was learned
Step 5. Prove that can do what you do exquisitely well
Step 6. Give employer the "wow" factor they're looking for

[Khamsin]

I'm not a programmer (except by hobby), but the way I look at degrees is that they are only necessary if the career you want requires it. In most science fields, including ones with government licensure, that's more or less true. But the most practical way to find out is to go to monster.com or whatever and look for a job. See what the jobs you want require.

If the majority require a degree, looks like you're going to college. If the majority require a portfolio instead, you can skip college but you'd better have a great portfolio.

So, do a little research, find actual job openings for careers you want to be in, and see what the best use of the next 4 years of your life will be.

[Jefe]

Most of the people I know either have it or are working on it. I think not having one would make things extra hard (job-wise), unless you are really skilled and lucky.

[Norelco]

If you want to go the no degree route, I suggest putting together a website with a portfolio of sorts that will let potential employers download your source code so they can see what you can do. Make some mini-apps or games using different technologies, coding structures, etc.

[Neosutra]

Or get a degree thats not in CS and get a job that pays more than 30k a year.

(Prepare for onslaught of people with CS degrees that make more than 30k a year posting in anger).

Seriously though, any engineer or scientist is expected to know how to program, get an engineering degree and open up your options alot more than the overflooded CS market.

[Norelco]

Or get a degree thats not in CS and get a job that pays more than 30k a year.

I can't really think of a place that requires a CS degree that pays that little.

[Creeps]

Or get a degree thats not in CS and get a job that pays more than 30k a year.

(Prepare for onslaught of people with CS degrees that make more than 30k a year posting in anger).

Seriously though, any engineer or scientist is expected to know how to program, get an engineering degree and open up your options alot more than the overflooded CS market.

Chock full of retarded statements.

Also, I firmly believe that although a degree isn't necessary to perform job duties, it is required to get a strong foot in the door of the job market. My dad is now making six figures as a nuclear engineer and he didn't go to college, but he did get a semi-formal education in the Navy in sonar and nuclear technologies. He spent years having to move around the country to find work and at one point was living in a double wide trailer in the middle of Tennessee, setting up power plants and substations. All his financial trouble could have easily been avoided if he just got his degree.

I also laugh at people who get a degree in a math/science field and think their education is done when the degree is. People fail to realize that to stay relevant in today's world, you really have to have a continuous education your entire working life.

[Woozie]

Or get a degree thats not in CS and get a job that pays more than 30k a year.

(Prepare for onslaught of people with CS degrees that make more than 30k a year posting in anger).

Seriously though, any engineer or scientist is expected to know how to program, get an engineering degree and open up your options alot more than the overflooded CS market.

Chock full of retarded statements.

Also, I firmly believe that although a degree isn't necessary to perform job duties, it is required to get a strong foot in the door of the job market. My dad is now making six figures as a nuclear engineer and he didn't go to college, but he did get a semi-formal education in the Navy in sonar and nuclear technologies. He spent years having to move around the country to find work and at one point was living in a double wide trailer in the middle of Tennessee, setting up power plants and substations. All his financial trouble could have easily been avoided if he just got his degree.

I also laugh at people who get a degree in a math/science field and think their education is done when the degree is. People fail to realize that to stay relevant in today's world, you really have to have a continuous education your entire working life.

Crap like this makes me want to go change my major. I have to go to school twice as long as half of my friends, but so many of them will still make more money than me.

[Creeps]

Or get a degree thats not in CS and get a job that pays more than 30k a year.

(Prepare for onslaught of people with CS degrees that make more than 30k a year posting in anger).

Seriously though, any engineer or scientist is expected to know how to program, get an engineering degree and open up your options alot more than the overflooded CS market.

Chock full of retarded statements.

Also, I firmly believe that although a degree isn't necessary to perform job duties, it is required to get a strong foot in the door of the job market. My dad is now making six figures as a nuclear engineer and he didn't go to college, but he did get a semi-formal education in the Navy in sonar and nuclear technologies. He spent years having to move around the country to find work and at one point was living in a double wide trailer in the middle of Tennessee, setting up power plants and substations. All his financial trouble could have easily been avoided if he just got his degree.

I also laugh at people who get a degree in a math/science field and think their education is done when the degree is. People fail to realize that to stay relevant in today's world, you really have to have a continuous education your entire working life.

Crap like this makes me want to go change my major. I have to go to school twice as long as half of my friends, but so many of them will still make more money than me.

Haha, understandable, but my pops has also been working in the field since he got out of the Navy at 23, so about 30 years now. He was making absolute crap until about 6 years ago, so he definitely put his time in. It also doesn't hurt that he was awarded a degree after all his military courses were evaluated last year. He works from home now and does mostly paperwork and bosses new graduates around, so it's not like he's doing anything really exciting.

[Woozie]

It's still not fair

[Creeps]

Woozie, how much do you know about electronics? I start that part of my computer engineering program this summer and may want to use your help >_>

[Khamsin]

Or get a degree thats not in CS and get a job that pays more than 30k a year.

(Prepare for onslaught of people with CS degrees that make more than 30k a year posting in anger).

Seriously though, any engineer or scientist is expected to know how to program, get an engineering degree and open up your options alot more than the overflooded CS market.

I'm an engineer and not expected to program. But I can, anyway, although it's only manifested itself in my job as little VB scripts in Excel or something to make some repetitive process easier. I've never busted out the C++ or PHP on the job.

[Woozie]

Woozie, how much do you know about electronics? I start that part of my computer engineering program this summer and may want to use your help >_>

Not much, tbh. In my field, we have to know a lot about electricity and magentism in general, but no specifics related to electronic components in today's technology. I mean, I've studied a bit about capacitors and inductors, and in the laboratory I've done a bit on diodes, transistors, and PN junctions, but my knowledge in electronics is extremely limited. I've mostly done things like electric fields in free space, wave propagation, maxwells equations, quantum theory of electricity/statstical mechanics applied to electricity, superconductors, etc.

I could help you if any part of the course is related to general E&M, but I can't do much when it's specifically related to engineering applications of E&M.

[Kiro]

Internship.

CompTIA.

???

Profit

[Woozie]

Or get a degree thats not in CS and get a job that pays more than 30k a year.

(Prepare for onslaught of people with CS degrees that make more than 30k a year posting in anger).

Seriously though, any engineer or scientist is expected to know how to program, get an engineering degree and open up your options alot more than the overflooded CS market.

I'm an engineer and not expected to program. But I can, anyway, although it's only manifested itself in my job as little VB scripts in Excel or something to make some repetitive process easier. I've never busted out the C++ or PHP on the job.

Yeah, as I scientist I haven't had to do any programming (yet?) either (though I've only had this job since October. Maybe there will be more programming later?)

[Creeps]

Internship.

CompTIA.

???

Profit

That's still some kind of certification/formal education :D

CCNA/CCNP/CCIE imo

[Kiro]

A+ = GeekSquad

N+ = GeekSquad

CCNA = Hay thar FBI/CIA.

[Correction]

Learning to program is a lot like learning to draw. Unless you do it every single day you're never going to get better. All the formal education does in enforce the 'every day' part of learning to program. The degree people earn is a simple way to prove your dedication to the craft.

If you're self-motivated enough that you can program something every day that's actually useful to human beings (i.e. 'I maintain the HTML on my livejournal' doesn't count) then that can be used as attractive experience in the eyes of prospective employer. You won't get a great salary but it's enough for a junior position in a consulting firm, at least (think Accenture). If you're not doing that then you'll need a degree of some sort. You don't just get to show up, say 'I want to be a programmer' and get a job.