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Ask HN: What has been your experience with self-taught engineers?

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Ask HN: What has been your experience with self-taught engineers?

#1

Post by freework »

I'm a self-taught engineer. I took a programming class my freshman year of college, but that's been it. Everything I know I've learned on my own building various things over the years.

Most of my co-workers (90%+) are not self-taught. Most of them have CS degrees. In my 5 years of professional programming, I've only worked with one person who was self-taught.

I'm currently looking for a new job, but I'm not sure if I should downplay my status of a self-taught developer or display it prominently.

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with self-taught engineers?

#3

Post by coreymgilmore »

I'm all for it. You learn by your own method. It is just hard for people to understand when they spent years of their lives earning a degree they can place next to their names.

That being said, formal education can teach a wider range of skills and provide guidance to understanding larger concepts.

All in all, I am self taught and respect people heavily for it.

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with self-taught engineers?

#4

Post by canterburry »

lukeholder wrote: post #2

I would suggest not focusing on it either way. Just focus on the projects you have built, the technology you used, and your skills in delivering.

I agree. How you got there is completely irrelevant. What you have accomplished is.

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with self-taught engineers?

#5

Post by giblaz »

lukeholder wrote: post #2

I would suggest not focusing on it either way. Just focus on the projects you have built, the technology you used, and your skills in delivering.

This. Focusing on it will make you seem like its an area of concern for you. If you can produce well at the job, make that clear by showing evidence (projects).

That would be plenty enough to convince me.

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with self-taught engineers?

#6

Post by underwater »

I wouldn't call attention to it. Not because it's bad, but because it sounds like bragging.

We all learned to code. Calling attention to your self taught background makes it sound like you think your way was more a more legitimate experience.

Focus on what you've built instead.

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with self-taught engineers?

#7

Post by xyzzy123 »

I didn't go down the traditional CS route either. My advice is to state your and accomplishments and demonstrate your abilities without making a big deal of being "self taught".

Learning doesn't stop once one leaves university, and you've probably noticed your CS educated colleagues taught themselves a lot over the years too.

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with self-taught engineers?

#8

Post by j45 »

Ultimately where you are going to be happy is a place that accepts you for who you are, how you are and how you're always learning and improving yourself.

It's not about what your degree makes of you, but what you make of your degree. In your case, being self-taught, and remaining self-taught in having a body of knowledge that you're always learning is in some ways, as a developer, more relevant than a degree.

There are just as many CS devs who think they're done learning and stay stuck and don't push themselves. The difference makers are always the ones who are building in their own time. Build your body of work and keep it public.

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with self-taught engineers?

#9

Post by geetee »

I used to be biased towards self-taught engineers--probably because I am one--but now I am indifferent. For an entry level job, I'll probably still lean towards the self-taught candidate. But, mid or upper range? I don't think it is relevant anymore at that stage in their career. I place more value on someone who actually has a passion for the field over one where it's simply a means to pay the mortgage.

Re: Ask HN: What has been your experience with self-taught engineers?

#10

Post by nostrademons »

It'll depend on who's on the other side of the hiring table.

I'm largely self-taught, but I have a CS degree from a good school. (It's a long story...the CS degree came after the self-teaching, for the most part.) If I were the hiring manager, someone who's self-taught would be a mild bonus: it shows initiative and passion. Other people think differently - some won't hire any without a degree, some would rather not hire someone without a degree, many don't care. You can to some extent choose who you work with and what they value by how you position yourself.

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