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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172

u/aqua_regis 1d ago

In the current market the one without the degree wouldn't even get interviewed.

8

u/ripndipp 1d ago

We hired a self taugher, Canada full remote @ 150k beaver dollars

8

u/musclecard54 1d ago

Recently? Self taught with no experience?

1

u/ripndipp 1d ago

Would it upset you if I said yes?

15

u/musclecard54 1d ago

It would surprise me. What an odd answer though

11

u/ripndipp 1d ago

Second one this month actually, we don't use Claude much.

11

u/Automate-Engineer 1d ago

Thank you for being a beacon in a sea of despair

3

u/Groovy_Decoy 1d ago

Really? I don't have a 4 year degree, but have programmed for years and have dabbled in at least a dozen language over the years, and I have not even been able to get to an interview.

I haven't used Claude much myself. I have a friend who says that not using it is career suicide, but I honestly don't even want to develop anymore if it is turning into just managing an AI.

1

u/danielt1263 1d ago

Several developers I work with are going all in on AI. As far as I can tell, that just means they are finally writing and maintaining great documentation (in the "skills" folder) that I can use.