Do you Need a College Degree for Software Development or Tech?

Why do you need a College degree?

I often get asked the question of whether someone needs to have a college degree to get into software development.

And the answer is yes. Absolutely!

Yes! You need a degree (No need for a CS degree)

I mean come on, you don’t need a computer science degree or an information technology degree. It could just be a degree in anything like a degree in journalism or a degree in accounting or a degree in physics or anything. It doesn’t matter. But you need to have an undergrad college degree. And there are several reasons why you need a degree.

Reasons for the degree requirement

Most employers expect a degree because it’s concrete proof that a candidate like you is at least competent. If you don’t have a degree qualification or real solid experience, an employer may see that as a risk to consider you for the given role.

Because employers want someone who will stick with the company and stay in the role for a longer time. Not someone who will stay for three or four months and just quit the job. You see, recruiting new staff is a pain in the ass, and it’s expensive as well.

So, as a candidate when you are applying for jobs, who has pursued a degree for three or four whole years proves on paper that they can withstand tough times in the company and keep going.

This is why a degree is expected to be a basic requirement. Most companies have an HR department, short for human resources.

And typically, a college degree is kept as a threshold for all candidates that are applying must meet. This is followed in almost all companies, whether it’s a mid-level company or a large company and even many small companies. So, you are expected to meet that threshold, otherwise, your resume is not even going to make it in front of the hiring manager. The candidates who don’t have a college degree are filtered out of the recruitment process.

Differences in this requirement in several countries

Now, in certain countries, just a college degree might not be enough. If you’re from a different country like India or Pakistan or Turkey or France or Germany or wherever they may expect a degree in computer science or engineering. So, some degrees might just not be enough for the HR requirement in these countries. In the meantime, you can confidently state that you have a four-year college degree on your application if you have some additional education.

Then it’s up to them to filter out and typically most countries out there, as long as you have that four-year degree, you should be able to get into the spotlight of these recruiters and if you have a good portfolio to show off, they’ll hire you or they’ll at least call you for the interview. And then it’s up to you to prove yourself and you should be able to get a job.

Busting myths on No degree requirements

In recent news, it was reported that several tech companies are eliminating the college degree requirement. But the candidates who can get those jobs without a degree are prodigies, to begin with.

Prodigies

They’ve probably been coding since they were four. And have already had quite a bit under their belt and have a very good portfolio to show off It is not uncommon for these people to get hired by corporations and end up not going to college because they are already in the spotlight of the companies they work for. And then maybe later they do continue with their education.

That’s so rare and you shouldn’t be comparing yourself with other people, anyway.

Personal experience in Tech & learning journey

Now, that I have shared the reasons and busted this myth about the college degree.
Why should you believe any of this? Why should you believe it hearing from me?
Well, I’m a living example who does not have a computer science degree.

I graduated with an accounting degree many years ago. But through coding on the side and learning this stuff myself. One year after graduating college I was able to get my foot in the door in a software development type role, it was a data role. I learned SQL first. My first job was as a SQL developer with whom I learned how to work with databases, then I got an introduction to the tech industry, including how software development is managed, how project management is done, the company culture, and technical terms. And then I started learning about software development, and different programming languages like Python, Java, JavaScript, and Ruby.

I learned all of the necessary skills and then I started applying for full-stack software development jobs. Later, I got my foot on that and then the rest is all history. I worked for various large companies, small companies, and tech startups; you name it. I’ve been there and done it. It’s possible for anyone and you can trust me because I am sharing my personal experience.

Don’t give up, get your degree. If I can do it, so can you.

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