When someone decides to become a software developer, it’s the same as studying any other career.
The first thing we need to understand is that effort and dedication are what will determine whether you become successful or not in this field. Society has been the one to label everyone who works in software development as a nerd, geek, gifted person, or mathematical genius.
Because of this mistaken idea, many people avoid venturing into a world that is perfectly adaptable to different kinds of people. You can’t imagine how many people miss out on success in the development world because they think they don’t belong or don’t have the necessary skills.
Let’s analyze a few myths, and then draw your own conclusions…
False: You have to be a genius to become a developer
True: Anyone can learn to be a software developer
Not all software engineers, developers, software architects, or whatever you want to call them, are computer geniuses. Like any professionals, their skills and abilities range from very good to very bad. The most interesting part is that you will find people just like you succeeding in this huge industry. Everyone has had to learn technology and its theory and then implement it in projects to gain the necessary experience.
False: Learning to code is like learning to operate on brains
True: Learning to code is easy. Perfecting it is more complicated
Learning to code is simpler than many people think. Learning to code is learning to speak with computers. The main difference is that you’ll speak in a language the computer, and other developers, will understand. You’ll learn to tell the computer how to perform tasks and how to follow instructions step by step. If a person knows how to communicate with other people, they will learn how to communicate with computers. The only thing they need to do is learn the special language that only computers understand.
False: You need a university degree to become a software developer
True: Developers without university degrees are more common than you imagine
There are many software developers who are self-taught and have never gone to university. I’m not saying you should stop going to university, but not doing so is not a limitation. Many people learn to code and use the tools they need to get a job, and then they realize that continuing their education will help them grow more in the long run. There are so many online communities and extensive documentation for different languages that it won’t be difficult for a disciplined person to learn well on their own or with help from others. The best example is the different “boot-camps.” A developer coming out of a boot-camp can easily get a job that took others years of study to achieve.
So, do you need a university degree to become a software developer? The answer is “no.” Having one could help you move up within a company.
False: It’s too late to become a software developer
True: It’s never too late to start a new career
People of all ages and with any professional background join boot-camps. Many didn’t manage to become developers at a young age because it could only be done by attending university, and in many cases it was very expensive. Nowadays it’s more accessible.
Personally, I know many people who have changed direction and ended up becoming developers. I had a student who was a successful biologist and today is a successful developer, with a different lifestyle.
There’s a hidden reality in all of this: many people have what it takes to be a developer and don’t even know it.
Aimé
… and remember : A Challenge a day, keeps failure away.