r/neoliberal • u/jobautomator botmod for prez • 4d ago

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u/GhostTheHunter64 NATO 4d ago

Keeping some worries as I continue to learn programming without college, with regard to job prospects.

I guess I'll just have to make the sickest portfolio and Github ever without a degree, I dunno. Sounds more bearable than even thinking of touching a GenEd ever again.

Just worried if any of this will be worth it, if I can't be hired.

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u/its_Caffeine Mark Carney 3d ago

I can give you a bit advice on this path if you're interested since this is what I did, but fair warning I got hired in 2022 and the market dynamics have shifted considerably since then.

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u/GhostTheHunter64 NATO 3d ago

Any advice, stories, or words are always welcome!

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u/its_Caffeine Mark Carney 3d ago

So I got hired in 2022 as a junior full-stack dev and had about 4 years of on/off hobby programming, but really focused on working on a portfolio over the course of 2021 during covid. My CV showcased my github projects. During my interviews I was given some very basic leetcode style questions and drilled on my projects, what I did, and why I did what I did. I think from scratch, you can teach yourself to program fairly well at a junior level and you can probably put together a portfolio that is actually quite impressive within a compressed timeline (~12 to 18 months) if you really work at it.

If this is a path you want to pursue, you should come up with a bit of a plan as to what you want to do and where you want to go. Personally, I would suggest something like:

  1. A low-level starter: Any kind of course where you're learning to program with C. This lets you start with a language that much more close to your computer's hardware with less stuff that's abstracted away from you (I recommend CS50x which is free and extremely fun, the course tutor is an extremely skilled orator and will get you interested in programming if you're not already).

  2. Some kind of python / javascript basics course: You want some familiarity with a fairly straight-forward higher level language that allows you to complete leetcode-style tasks.

  3. Data Structures & Algorithm fundamentals course: Basically, a course that familiarizes you with the kinds of patterns seen in leetcode-style problems. These patterns show up all the time in any kind of developer work, they're important to become familiar with.

  4. Optional: Object-Oriented Programming / Functional Programming course: Personally, I didn't learn any of this until I was already working as a junior dev, but I wish I had because it would have led to way less headaches starting out.

  5. Full-stack webdev bootcamp course: You want something that teaches you modern web technology fundamentals (CSS + HTML + Front-end framework + Back-end framework + database + git). You don't have to have expert knowledge in everything, but at least rough knowledge where you're able to connect the pieces together.

  6. Work through a very large scale capstone project: You want a project that isn't just a re-hashed tutorial course project or todo list. It should be something that lets you connect a database + a web server + a frontend that is live on the web, and is something that is at least reasonably meaningful ("I had a X problem and I solved it with my Y project")

I think having great projects that are serious enough can actually make your CV stand out without a degree or career experience. And that will at least put you on par with a cs grad. The only caveat I would say is that the tech market right now isn't great for anyone, and this is less to do with AI than it is to with interest rates and a glut of cs grads entering the market. The tech market is very cyclical. If you're unable to get hired despite trying your best, it may be that you may just need to wait a bit for the market to recover, which I'm positive it will.

Oh, and if you have questions or just want general advice, you're always welcome to dm me. :)