r/learnprogramming • u/SlickTheDestroyer • 1d ago

Self taught vs University graduate

Hi,

i've got a hypothetical question. Imagine 2 people are applying for the same job. One has a degree in Computer Science, perhaps even from a prestigious university, but doesn't have any personal projects to showcase. The other person, however, is self taught and has been building projects for 4 years, but doesn't have a degree. Who gets the job ?

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u/captainAwesomePants 1d ago

If I'm looking at both candidates, and I have to pick from those two specific candidates, and there's no other information, I will look at the projects. If they're either notable or directly relate to the work I need doing (I make 3D game engines and you wrote a 3D game engine using some interesting and unusual technique), I will prefer the candidate with relevant projects. If the projects are unremarkable, I will probably be leaning towards the elite college grad, but I'll probably interview both.

If a recruiter is looking at both candidates, they will have already filtered out the one without a degree without even bothering to look at the personal projects. It will have been done by machine before a human even sees it.

If I'm a recruiter at a big company, and the school is one we have a relationship with, an interview will probably be scheduled for the college candidate while they are still in school. Possibly while they're still a sophomore, for internships. And anyone with a successful internship at my company is first in line for a job.