How do I get work without a degree? Have any of you accomplished this?
Do I have to make a startup?
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Anonymous2013-03-08 15:26
No, you make a finishdown.
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Anonymous2013-03-08 15:29
No idea. I myself trying to get a job, but still without success, despite reading SICP, mastering Symta and writing various crud, like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k8jkeFfnl0
I've been wanting to start making apps. Maybe with microtransactions and facebook integration. From what I can tell, those can make some money. Maybe you can try that. Too bad I'm so uncreative.
>>6 I don't care whether I'm useful or not, just so long as I make some money! JEWS
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Anonymous2013-03-08 16:24
>>1
Have you actually been turned down for interviews? You could just apply, you know?
Otherwise, getting some unrelated job experience may net you points. And you could always try to freelance. It'll probably not sustain you very well, but it'll be income, and experience, and possibly reputation.
Your best bet here is to try to get contacts from people you know and need, e.g. a website (in most likelihood). Try to see how much money/effort you can get away with; most people only need a well-styled CMS.
>>3
That's because us Jews are keeping you down. That's what you get for rebelling against your masters!
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Anonymous2013-03-08 17:25
>>9
I love JEWS for making Nikita's life a living hell.
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Anonymous2013-03-08 17:50
>>8
I doubt a person with zero experience and even less self discipline can do freelance - a very competitive job, requiring enormous discipline and concentration.
>>13
Well, in his pictures he does look like a self-important hobo. Maybe he goes like that to interviews?
Hey Nikita, can't you at least try not to appear insane during interviews and such? Do you let them know that you have your own language and have a working WCII clone to show for it?
It's in all our best interest that Nikita gets a fucking job, and possibly a girlfriend, so that he doesn't have time to shitpost on /prog/.
And if there aren't jobs in your town, why don't you move? Secure a few interviews and go to a bigger city.
>>14 Hey Nikita, can't you at least try not to appear insane during interviews and such? Do you let them know that you have your own language and have a working WCII clone to show for it?
one word: LISP
when they hear "Lisp", any interview ends in a second.
>>13
From the /q/ thread. https://boards.4chan.org/q/res/456617#p466110 But I don't have any marketable skills or education whatsoever! And I refuse doing menial jobs, cuz I'm interested only in programming. My mom knows this well.
Basically he's an arrogant, entitled faggot.
>>3
Post your resume you worthless piece of shit. I'll fix it up for you.
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Anonymous2013-03-08 21:30
>>17
Sorry, but burger flipping is for bydlo (yeah, Jews taught me this polish word).
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Anonymous2013-03-08 21:59
How I got work without a degree was that I spent two years as a damned game tester at 12 hours a day, then went home and programmed. Sometimes I would check job postings, usually not. Sometimes instead of programming I would play games. Eventually I got hired for shit wages at a small conslutting company because a personal project I had done had some overlap with a project they were working on, stuck with it for a couple of years (shit wages, shit hours). Spoiler alert, no company is making money off SICP except McGraw-Hill.
So if you want to get work without a degree, be prepared to sacrifice your pride for shit jobs at shit wages and doing some stuff that is not programming in order to make money in the interim. Hell, be prepared for that either way, half the other game testers in the building had degrees and were making the same $10/hour as everyone else. And while doing shit work at shit wages, educate yourself in your spare time. Do something real. Working through SICP isn't real. Reading a Rails tutorial isn't real. Make something that's useful, because it raises the odds that you'll have some relevant skill that a company might want.
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Anonymous2013-03-08 22:02
How I got work without a degree was that I spent two years as a damned game tester at 12 hours a day, then went home and programmed. Sometimes I would check job postings, usually not. Sometimes instead of programming I would play games. Eventually I got hired for shit wages at a small conslutting company because a personal project I had done had some overlap with a project they were working on, stuck with it for a couple of years (shit wages, shit hours). Spoiler alert, no company is making money off SICP except McGraw-Hill.
So if you want to get work without a degree, be prepared to sacrifice your pride for shit jobs at shit wages and doing some stuff that is not programming in order to make money in the interim. Hell, be prepared for that either way, half the other game testers in the building had degrees and were making the same $10/hour as everyone else. And while doing shit work at shit wages, educate yourself in your spare time. Do something real. Working through SICP isn't real. Reading a Rails tutorial isn't real. Make something that's useful, because it raises the odds that you'll have some relevant skill that a company might want.
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Anonymous2013-03-08 23:13
How I got work without a degree was that I spent two years as a damned game tester at 12 hours a day, then went home and programmed. Sometimes I would check job postings, usually not. Sometimes instead of programming I would play games. Eventually I got hired for shit wages at a small conslutting company because a personal project I had done had some overlap with a project they were working on, stuck with it for a couple of years (shit wages, shit hours). Spoiler alert, no company is making money off SICP except McGraw-Hill.
So if you want to get work without a degree, be prepared to sacrifice your pride for shit jobs at shit wages and doing some stuff that is not programming in order to make money in the interim. Hell, be prepared for that either way, half the other game testers in the building had degrees and were making the same $10/hour as everyone else. And while doing shit work at shit wages, educate yourself in your spare time. Do something real. Working through SICP isn't real. Reading a Rails tutorial isn't real. Make something that's useful, because it raises the odds that you'll have some relevant skill that a company might want.
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Anonymous2013-03-08 23:28
Alright, I work freelance because I choose to. Here's a couple of real-life examples that worked for me to secure employment/contracts:
1. Find your local Craigslist, look under /cpg/ for Computer Gigs. Reply to as many as possible without falling for scams, scummy recruiting companies (basically data mining organizations), or shit wages. Fuck, forget the last one. Right now I'm coding in VB for a real estate client. I got the gig off of CL, and I'm probably at less than $20/hr because I'm putting my name out there to real estate clients. I'm also getting some good experience, which I will make her post on my LinkedIn profile. So...
2. Start a LinkedIn profile. Yeah, I know, social media is data mining, but this is where employers are. Just grit your teeth and do it, as there's tons of opportunities on this shit. You're basically marketing yourself, so make it look good. Recruiters typically use LinkedIn to scan for new talent. As someone with an actual skill, you can not appreciate how much the normalfaggots love this shit.
3. Start a Twitter. Yeah, I know, social media is data mining, but this is where people post freelance opportunities and new jobs. Yesterday, I walked into an art studio and asked about a freelance job position that was posted on Twitter. No job, but she's got my info. You can also use your Twitter to...
4. Start your portfolio. Get a Github and just dump any stupid thing you've ever done that wasn't a blatant copy. It makes you look like you know how to code. Program something for the Twitter API and post it (normalfags love Twitter). Get a website and make that shit look nice (not hard with a Wordpress Theme).
5. Go to Meetup.com and register for as many meetups as possible. They're free and you might actually be able to network through it. Shit, my bi-monthly Wordpress meetup starts by asking if anyone if looking for work or if they need work done. It also has free pizza and beer, so I can't complain about sitting through an above-average lecture/sales presentation.
6. Learn web development and forget traditional software programming. No more C++ and Lisp, you now need to learn HTML/CSS/Javascript/a server-side scripting language. Shit's easy, and you'll make more than you would being an ENTERPRISE Java codemonkey. You actually might like it!
7. Figure out what is trendy. That's what pays the most. Right now, people want iPhone/Android apps and responsive designs for their website. It's bullshit, but I wouldn't turn down $50/hr.
8. Contact as many 'computer' people as possible. Take them out for lunch/coffee. Don't suck dick, don't be arrogant, and listen to whatever they say. People like it when you stroke their ego and will be more willing to help you out. Ask if they know anyone who needs work done. Repeat as many times as you need to until you secure employment.
There's more, but I have to finish up the Excel thing.
OP, there's no reason to go into programming. My suggestion for someone in your position would be to learn something like welding or HVAC or electricity and get some certification for it. It won't take you too long, it won't cost much. Get a union gig and you'll make twice what a non-managerial programmer will ever make. If you think that's boring, well programming jobs are hardly challenging or interesting.
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Anonymous2013-03-09 3:20
>>30
This is tempting, but I would rather not do something so unrelated to my interests. Perhaps IT or Computer Networking/Security, though.
>>31
Join EIG? We are still hiring. There are lots of Rice customers abroad looking for WEBsites. You pick your spot, test for it, and if you are great, we will move you there.
I did, and got my Ph. D.
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Anonymous2013-03-09 4:50
You need a portfolio. Get a github, submit some patches to open source projects, oh, and, you will go mad. Having to code in ENTERPRISE JAVA or c++ or some other shit. So make sure that you have something to take your mind of programming in shit-languages.
>>37
I got a minor in that too. I just needed that bang on the degree name for my boss. If not, we would not have our awesome sales AI. Thanks to our work, we keep buying competitors on the dimes.
I can care less for a degree or my name, what matters is the portfolio. I will still read your papers, and If I can apply them, I will.