#CodingEntryLevel #BreakIntoCoding #CareerChange
Are you looking to break into coding but don’t have a degree? You’re not alone! Many people have successfully entered the tech industry without a traditional education. In fact, there are plenty of roles you can consider to kickstart your coding career even without a degree. From web development to data science and machine learning, the possibilities are endless. Let’s dive into some of the best roles to break into coding without a degree!
**Web Development: A Popular Starting Point**
Web development is often touted as one of the easiest roles to get into when starting a career in coding without a degree. With the demand for websites and online applications steadily increasing, web developers are in high demand. Here are some reasons why web development could be a great entry point for you:
– Web development requires a blend of technical skills and creativity, making it a versatile and engaging role.
– There are plenty of online resources and bootcamps available that can help you learn the necessary skills to become a web developer.
– As a web developer, you can quickly build a strong portfolio by working on personal projects or freelance gigs.
**Data Science and Machine Learning: High-Paying Fields**
If your ultimate goal is to work in data science or machine learning, you may be wondering if starting with web development is the right choice. While web development is a solid entry point, you can also consider jumping straight into data science or machine learning. Here’s why:
– Data science and machine learning are high-paying fields with plenty of job opportunities.
– Many companies are actively looking for skilled data scientists and machine learning engineers, even without a traditional degree.
– There are a variety of online courses and certifications available that can help you build the necessary skills in data science and machine learning.
**Other Entry-Level Roles to Consider**
If web development, data science, or machine learning don’t quite align with your interests, there are still plenty of other entry-level roles to consider in the tech industry. Here are a few options to think about:
– Software Testing: As a software tester, you’ll be responsible for ensuring that applications are functioning correctly. This role can be a good starting point for those interested in quality assurance and problem-solving.
– Technical Support: Technical support roles are essential in helping users troubleshoot and resolve technical issues. This can be a great entry-level role for those who enjoy working with people and problem-solving.
– IT Help Desk: Working on an IT help desk can provide valuable experience in troubleshooting technical issues and providing support to users. This role can help you develop a solid foundation in technical skills.
**Tips for Breaking Into Coding Without a Degree**
Regardless of the entry-level role you choose, breaking into coding without a degree will require dedication, hard work, and persistence. Here are some tips to help you succeed in your coding career journey:
1. **Self-Study**: Take advantage of online resources, tutorials, and courses to learn new coding skills. Build a strong portfolio of projects to showcase your abilities to potential employers.
2. **Networking**: Attend tech events, meetups, and conferences to connect with professionals in the industry. Networking can open doors to new opportunities and provide valuable insights into the tech world.
3. **Internships and Freelancing**: Consider taking on internships or freelance projects to gain real-world experience. These opportunities can help you build your skills, network, and establish a track record of success.
4. **Continuous Learning**: The tech industry is constantly evolving, so it’s important to stay current with industry trends and technologies. Invest in your education and professional development to expand your skill set.
In conclusion, there are plenty of entry-level roles you can consider to break into coding without a degree. Whether you start with web development, data science, or another tech field, the key is to stay motivated, continue learning, and build a strong portfolio. With dedication and hard work, you can successfully launch your coding career and achieve your goals in the tech industry. Good luck on your coding journey! 👩💻🚀
Just here for responses
You should double down on what you want to do eventually. That gets you the furthest long term.
You can get into web development, but I don’t think you will transfer a lot of skills to data science. Especially for entry roles.
For coding jobs without much of advanced mathematics, a high school student might be sufficient. Nevertheless, you NEED to prove you are capable of doing such jobs. Sample code, private project, etc. You get a entry level job first. Afterwards with years of experience, it is possible to promote yourself to higher positions.
I do recommend you read some books about basic computer algorithms : like “Introduction to Algorithms (3rd Edition) by CORMEN, et. al”.
I wouldn’t say ML and data science are a good field to break into without post secondary education. They are no longer “programming” or creating software, they are using advanced principals in maths and statistics. There are really no parallels between web dev and data science or ML. Doing web dev stuff won’t help you knowledge or career wise if ML and DS are your goal
Edit: well work experience in general helps advance your career. so if you do webdev then learn the required skills for data science/ML you’ll be better off than if you didn’t do webdev I suppose
Tester or tech-support. You will be so angry after short time, which will motivate you to learn coding and find a job.
But really some tester positions require just basic tech skills and may offer options to touch little-bit of code, but you need to find the right one.
Since tech roles right now, generally speaking, are difficult to crack into with or without a degree I suggest you build and learn what interests you. I love web development but it comes with quirks a lot of folks don’t want to deal it.
root
Jokes appart, just code as much as you can. Open source, pet projects, simple automation. If you have knowledge and practical experience – you’ll be hired without a degree.
You don’t. You still need a degree
It depends. If you’ve worked in a domain that has more technical roles, maybe some programming but short of SWE work, then the easiest way is to use that knowledge and eventually transfer to more and more technical positions.
Without a degree though, and lets just assume no knowledge in a relevant field where you can get hired doing analysis/BI or something like that: you’re biggest chance is to just code nonstop for a few years and learn the skills you need to be productive. Best to target languages like php/wordpress first, as their are slightly lower barriers to entry, and lots of small job and contracting work.
This is pretty hard. One way to think about it: you need to self teach yourself about a college degree worth of material, and have better skills to account for your lack of degree.
Still, if you want to learn, be deliberate, and take a long view of it. Programming is not something you learn in 1 year, but more like 10 years. A habit of daily learning, compounded over a decade, makes an incredible difference.
Traditionally front end web dev was considered the easily to land a role in without any CS degree/exp, like 5-7 years ago a lot of companies only required 1 years worth of exp with html/css/JS and 6month exp in react and if you had a nice portfolio they’d interview you. Now it’s a little harder since the market is heavily saturated so a lot of companies want full stack devs with 2-5 yoe and some basic QA testing/devops skills.
Without a degree it’s going to be very difficult but if you can’t get into a SWE position I think id look for a non tech position that requires or wants someone with basic coding knowledge like data analysis, business intelligence, QA testing or automation testing.
Another thing I’d recommend trying and something I’ll probably do if I can get a SWE job when I graduate is get a non tech job at a tech company and network with the engineering managers/engineers and see if I can make a move internally once I’ve proven myself or bare minimum I can convince them to let me do the easy tedious work so next job I apply for I can say I have SOME engineering experience.
I assume “best” means “quicker and paid well”. Check out what courses bootcamps offer. (I don’t mean taking those courses.) Those courses are for jobs not requiring a degree. Then, research what is the average salary for those jobs.
Having these data should help answer the question.
Junior Full Stack Developer maybe? Junior implies the company are to a degree desperate, and full stack being they don’t want to hire specialists (not saying full stacks aren’t specialists). Build a website, build an api, connect to a database, and your portfolio should be good enough.
Data Engineer… Doesn’t require any maths like a Data Scienists. Not as much focus on Algo’s like the Software Engineers. Pay is still high and they’re in demand.
Finance or Insurance industry is a great place to start. Especially smaller firms that have lots of data and regulations. Look for analysts jobs that use Excel. These are perfect for applying programming to automate manual tasks.
I did a UK gov funded bootcamp, programming mainly in Python. I learnt a lot, and they can assist with next steps and networking. I havn’t moved onto the next steps yet but I would def recommend it. Its a good introduction and probably through a local college rather than online ones that can be hit or miss. Plus it’s funded, so you’ve got nothing to lose. I heard other students started apprenticeships etc.