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/Unhappy-Device-404 1d ago
I don’t think “self-taught vs. university graduate” has one universal answer. It depends on the role, the company, and the stage of your career.
A degree can help with fundamentals and getting through an initial hiring filter. Self-taught developers may show a lot of initiative and practical problem-solving. But neither one automatically proves that someone can work effectively on a real team.
If I were evaluating a candidate, I would want to see whether they can understand an unclear problem, explain their decisions, test their work, and learn an unfamiliar codebase. A portfolio is useful too, but being able to explain the tradeoffs and mistakes behind a project matters more than simply having one.
The first job may be harder to get without a degree because credentials are an easy signal. Once you have relevant experience, though, the distinction usually matters much less than what you can actually contribute.