Breaking into Software Dev after Years of Meandering

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  AustriaBargain on 06/11/2022 - 05:04

  +1

  Will finishing the degree actually give you the motivation to get into software dev that you don't have now?

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  Quantumcat on 06/11/2022 - 07:20

  +1

  Do you enjoy programming? I was similar to you with failing some subjects, but excelling in some others, it just depended if I found them interesting or not. If I didn't it was like climbing mount Everest to get myself to actually do the work (often didn't manage to and pulled out of the subject or failed it). I managed to finish it eventually with a lot of support from my partner, now I have a good career and am very happy. If you enjoy programming it is definitely worth the mountain climb to get it done and get into a more fulfilling career. If you were similar to me (found it impossible to do any of the subjects you didn't find interesting, but the interesting ones were a breeze), think about whether you have adhd, see if you have other symptoms. If it turns out you do, and you get yourself tested and treated, the last year of your degree won't be so hard. Also consider doing the degree face-to-face instead of online, I found being online a big motivation sucker. Much more fun to talk about it with others, help each other during tutorials etc.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 06/11/2022 - 11:31

    think about whether you have adhd… get yourself tested and treated

    Did you do the same? how much was the spending?

    • 

      Quantumcat on 06/11/2022 - 11:46

      Not yet - I have a first appointment coming up on Wednesday though that I have waited a couple of months for. I hate to think how much it will cost but need to get it done

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 06/11/2022 - 13:41

        +1

        I think its just a placebo man 💀👺I personally think I’m just undisciplined and as a result “easily distracted”…
        If possible let us know how the Wednesday session goes…

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  try2bhelpful on 06/11/2022 - 07:32

  +3

  I would finish the degree, but get yourself motivated to kick up your final marks. I would look into what, part time, programming positions are around even if they are volunteer. Maybe look into writing Android apps. Right now the important thing is to work on your attitude and motivation. When you go for a job that is what they are looking for. Someone who can hit the ground running and work well with others.

  Maybe you could use Covid as the excuse for not completing your current degree quickly. However, being that bit older can be an advantage if you are also that bit more mature. You have some real world experience dealing with people.

  See if your University has counsellors to discuss your current situation. Also see if they have a group that advertises employment opportunities for students.

  Me, I did two degrees. The first I did finish because I started it; my marks were not great. The second was in IT. I retired pretty comfortable from that.

  Best of luck with it.

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  barge-in hunter on 06/11/2022 - 08:56

  +4

  Are you genuinely interested in software development, or doing it for a different reason? (Eg, you like the idea of the industry/pay cheque)

  If yes, start by doing some hobby projects that use the languages/theories you enjoyed and see if that helps with your motivation to return. These will be great to have in your portfolio anyway

  Otherwise, there are a lot of roles in IT that are related and could get you some tech experience- things like business analysts or data analysts, which would leverage any customer service skills you’ve got.

  Anyway, good luck

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  ktvibes on 06/11/2022 - 13:59

  +1

  As others have asked - do you actually enjoy it?
  It's a good question, because you'll be finding it really tough to find that motivation if you don't find anything you like about it.

  In any case, going ahead I wouldn't worry at all about your age - I've interviewed people looking for associate/junior positions who are older than you.
  What I think most engineering teams are looking for in those roles is self-resourcefulness, a willingness to learn, and demonstrating initiative. I've never personally seen one candidate rejected purely based on not having a degree, in fact most of the time it's the attributes that I mentioned above, and showing at least some/any knowledge in the field.

  Also in regards to not knowing what specific field you might want to get into, I'd look at what you have some knowledge on already - plenty of jobs going for JS devs to work on all sorts of things from front-end to back-end. Maybe look at microservice development and architecture given your history with JS and REST?

  TypeScript is another language that's popping up too, if you've had any sort of experience with JS, you might find it really nice to work with.

  Good luck either way!

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  whatwasherproblem on 06/11/2022 - 18:18

  +2

  I feel like I am hanging on by a twig when it comes to my employability (older, no degree yet, low work experience, failing grades etc)

  For an entry-level software dev specifically, none of those are dealbreakers. In fact, being slightly older puts you in the tech-literate millennial 'sweet-spot', where you grew up surrounded by computers but not handicapped by them to the extent that the younger generations are (seriously, read this if you want to immediately feel better about your prospects).

  If you're set on finishing the degree (which can only ever improve your employability), you should spent that year getting a portfolio of work together, too. This gives you something cool to show employers, but you can also use it to help you decide what sort of programming you want to do.