How to become a software developer without a degree

If you’re new to programming, or if you’ve been doing it for a while and aren’t planning on going to university, we’ve got some great news for you. Most IT companies do not require an IT degree to become a software engineer, so you can become a developer without one. We bring you a guide on how to do it.

Junior software developer working on his assignment
You don't need to go to university to work as a junior developer.

In the article you will learn:

The profession of software developer is a great career choice, especially for newcomers to the IT sector who enjoy programming and want to start their career in the field of information technology. The job description of a programmer varies depending on the position, focus, occupation and programming language, and a job as aprogrammer brings with it many of the benefits that make it so popular not only among employees but also employers.

The most important aspect is the knowledge of programming languages.

To get a job as a junior programmer, you will primarily need a basic knowledge of programming in at least one programming language. Before choosing a career, consider what you want to program and what area you want to focus on. You’ll use a different programming language for software programming, artificial intelligence or as a PHP programmer for websites and applications, so make sure you meet the criteria and then tailor your further education to meet them.

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Currently, Java, Python, and JavaScript are among the most popular programming languages. As a junior Java developer, you should have some experience with Java programming, be fluent in English, and be willing to learn new things. In return, you can expect an attractive Java developer salary and additional benefits. So if you don’t know where to start and what direction to take, choose a programming language that is in high demand on the market.

How can I get professional training without going to university?

As we mentioned above, you don’t need a degree to work as a junior programmer in most IT companies. Today, you can learn to program with the help of fast internet and the right resources, and there are many ways to master the basics of programming, there are indeed many.

Junior developer without university degree
You don’t need a university degree to learn programming.

If you prefer a classic education through textbooks, visit your local library or bookstore. If you prefer an audio-visual form of education, you can find practical and free online tutorials and tutorials in software development on the Internet, with precise procedures and often voice commentary. Developer communities, mobile apps for developers, and educational programming courses for beginners are also good alternatives.

Nothing beats hands-on programming experience

A great advantage of the university is the fact that during your studies you have the opportunity to try out several programming languages, different areas of programming or even practice in an IT company, thanks to which you will learn what you enjoy most and what you would like to avoid in the future. If you are a developer without a degree, you have to figure it all out by trial and error, which is not only time consuming, but also financially difficult.

How to become a developer or a Java developer? You can get hired without previous work experience, college or internship, but it doesn’t mean that theoretical knowledge is enough. So don’t forget to put the skills you’ve learned into practice and start working on your own projects during your self-study, which you can then present when applying for a job, for example. Whether it’s your own website, a blog, or a simple mobile application, your passion for programming won’t go unnoticed in a potential job.

Keep coding

Repetition is the mother of learning, so the only way to improve your programming skills is to program more. Your possibilities are unlimited in this regard. It will definitely help if you can get a job or work experience as a developer in the programming language you are learning. As a developer, you’ll learn programming much faster, thanks to the help of experienced colleagues, feedback, and the need to keep up with senior engineers.

Remember that a developer job comes with a lot of responsibility and hard work. However, if you enjoy coding and see a future in the industry, you can look forward to excellent financial compensation, work on interesting projects, and career growth. At msg life Slovakia we provide our employees with attractive company benefits and we care about further education as well as the health of our employees. So if you want to be involved in custom software development at a leading international IT company, check out our current jobs for programmers and become one of us.

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