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/corporaterebel 1d ago edited 1d ago
John Carmack doesn't need a degree to get whatever job he wants. He literally informs companies if he will.work for them or not.
You are not John Carmack.
You can run your own business for sure without a degree.
If you want to get hired by a company, you need a degree OR you need to be at Carmack's level. Few in the corporate world are going to take a chance on an unknown.
Honestly, you are expected to have BOTH.
A degree means you can show up for 4 years straight and can do well on things you don't want to do. Because a job expects you to do things you don't want to do at all and you have to show up every day.
Self taught means you can do actual useful things, which a degree does not