Can I get a job as a programmer without a degree in Computer Science?

Question

🆘
I feel like the demand for degrees is ridiculous. Experience matters most, in my opinion.
But when i check Job openings for programmers, its full of employers that want to see a CS degree and 4 years of experience.
Is it possible to get a programming job (with a reasonable salary) or become a successful freelance programmer without a Computer Science degree?

✔ I'm still relatively young and haven't started college yet, but I want a career in programming.

Any opinion is welcome, thanks in advance 💯

Answer 1

Diploma or a degree is an advantage.

(I am an Associate degree graduate in IT but I never had a programming job as a startup. It took me months before I ace a freelance programming job)

But its not a 100% guarantee to get a programming job as a startup. Most of the clients rely on proofs like a portfolio of your own creations. If you want to get job without a degree in CS or IT, my tips would be:

1. take advantage of free interactive learning sites and coding bootcamps. (this is where I learned a lot)
2. build you own professional portfolio and create something simple yet will show off your coding skills (ex. re-designed newsletters, simple app, sample web templates etc.)
3. join community forums for job tips or recommendations..
4. earn certifications if possible (this is only optional but recommended)
5. ace the interview as usual and believe in yourself that you can code and you deserve the job.

this is only my own opinion.. still.. it is up to you and I bet you can if you try.

Answer 2

yes you just have to prove your skills to your employer

Answer 3

Try to become a freelancer over the next year or two,

if (you make it great,)

else if (go to college. )

else (up to you.)

Answer 4

You already have the answer.
In the tech field, a degree doesn't necessarily guarantee​ a job, nor does it signify skill, but the lack of a degree almost guarantees you the lack of a job. This leads to the lack of experience - The vicious cycle continues.

Answer 5

See, we had a visit to a Dev company here, and we asked if a diploma or a degree helps with getting a job. She said that, while it's a bonus, a degree or a diploma doesn't mean you'll get a job. Knowledge and a good reference to your knowledge is more important.

Answer 6

But they usually don't give a chance.
They won't even call for the interview if they don't see a degree

Answer 7

In my opinion if you gather enough skill, job will find you no matter where you hide

Answer 8

We have a place in St. Louis called LaunchCode that helps train people new to IT. There is even an apprenticeship phase.

Answer 9

What @T_Pug said it's the truth. And the reason that people with other degrees (especially any BS), is because the employer can see their math skills history. They know the person had knowledge of high level algebra and calculus. Computers are just calculators, hence all the math.

However, it sounds like if you have a good enough portfolio site, and GitHub repo that you CAN get hired as a developer. But they need to see your skills for you to get in the door.
Hope this helps 👍😄

Answer 10

@Delhiite Siddhartha, Google codejam??

Answer 11

@Leigh E. O. Google summer codejam is a contest regulated by Google to award the best coders of the world.. They prizes in thousand dollars to high rankers and the top hundred will get worldwide recognition.. Generally it is hold on codechef.com.. You should be strong enough in Data structures and algorithms to compete here.. Hope this helps.. Otherwise just Google it to know more.. 👍👍

Answer 12

Startup companies are scarce these days.
And even those that are around want the programmers with a degree (because they think these are the best programmers), so that they can produce the best software and grow into big companies.

Answer 13

Degrees represent the conceptual knowledge required for any given field. They don't help you secure a job, your skills do that. Being experienced doesn't necessarily mean you are qualified but the backing of a degree asserts your competence in the understanding of concepts in question.

You are young don't miss out on the opportunity to learn and better yourself in all wakes of life making a reasonable salary is secondary.

Answer 14

That depends on the general situation in your local market. I personally know a few people who work as programmers or web developers even though they do not have degrees in CS or IT (they either have a different degree, or they have quit their CS studies due to their low quality and practical applications). Experience matters much more than a degree in our local market, but that might also be related to the fact that our universities are a bit to theory-centered and thus a degree is in no way a proof of ability. Most of the employers know that and they value experience a lot more. However, the fact that large foreign companies establish their IT operations in our country, is an indication that our specialists are pretty good, even though not all of them have a degree in CS or IT. The downside of not having a degree, however, is that the first job you will get will either have pretty lousy pay, or none at all. But that is what you have to do in order to gain experience.

Answer 15

Hmmmm, #possible #passion #environmentalStandard. it's quite possible but it's safer to a least have a certificate in the field.

Answer 16

yes you have to prove your skills to the employer

Answer 17

While there are places that would hire out of a bootcamp with no degree, you will be on the bottom of the pack, and will have a hard time advancing (or even keeping your job when the market gets tight) without a degree.

The concepts that you learn in college aren't necessarily essential for a junior developer, but you will be ill equipped to have a successful career without them. Concepts like calculus, linear algebra, proving theorems, etc. are not things you will explicitly do on the job, but having that knowledge is what will allow you to solve the problems that you will face on a daily basis.

Bottom line: you need a degree to be successful, and the easiest time to get on is generally when you are young,.

Answer 18

yep... if you have the knowledge of programming then you can be...

Answer 19

yes you can

Answer 20

@I like to think so... 😓