Some say college is not for everyone. Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates for example, are college dropouts however they managed to excel in what they love to do. Yes, you may not be Zuckerberg or Gates or whoever, but with hard work and a little bit of luck, you too can become a programmer. There are several things you need to keep in mind if you want to pursue programming when you do not have a degree:
Consider Getting A Degree
If you think you still have time or resources to get a formal college education, then do so. You may not see the benefits now, but they may come in handy later on in life. Just because others become successful even without a degree doesn’t mean it will also apply to you. Don’t eliminate the advantages of having a hard-earned degree.
Start Learning As Early As Now
Do not wait for a miracle to happen. Instead, work towards your goal and intentionally make it happen. There are free courses online like Codecademy that you can utilize in your pursuit of programming. If you’re currently working a day job, you have to be willing to invest your spare time after work learning how to code. Don’t haste, but don’t delay either.
Get A Mentor
Be it your colleague, your spouse, your neighbor – having a mentor can significantly improve your career, especially now that you’re starting out. You can do your research online if you do not know anybody who can mentor you. A mentor can check your coding exercises and can see through your progress and assist you where you need to improve on the most.
Know The Software Development Market
The reason you’re learning and getting a mentor is to get a job as a software developer. That said, it is crucial to know what skills and other characteristics companies are looking for. You can regularly update your list and learn those skills. This way, you won’t put your efforts to waste and instead make them useful in the real world.
Meet Other Programmers
One of the best way to do so is to attend coding camps or seminars. It also helps to enroll in a short-term program for coding. Not only will this help you widen your network in the software development field, but it can also help you enjoy the process more.
Can you become a programmer without a degree? Yes and no. It all boils down to you and how much you want to get into the world of programming.
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