jamin wrote:
It's hard to get a legit first software engineering jobs nowadays unless you have all of the following
* The ability to solve math puzzles on-the-spot, fast
* A Computer Science or closely related degree
* At least 1 internship; 2 is becoming the norm
* Personal projects to show off
* Industry vocabulary to use during interviews (e.g. "quick-and-distry solution", "code smell", "technical debt", etc.).
* You're not old
* You have prior professional experience (I know this sounds like a Catch-22, because it is)
* You are well-versed in an operating system (e.g. you can do everything through the command line faster than with the mouse)
I know someone here is going to say that they know someone who had zero experience and read a book and got hired by Google in a week, but, even if true, which I doubt, it's a rare exception to the rule. Most software engineers underexaggerate the level of experience they had before getting their first job, so as to make themselves seem smarter. The egos of most software engineers are huuuuuuuge and a lot of the Silicon Valley firms are like exclusive clubs or sororities.
Solving coding puzzles on the spot is real, also real stupid, but something almost everyone seems to do these days.
CS degree isn't necessary but helps you get past the HR filter, if one exists.
The rest, I don't agree with jamin. It's very hit-or-miss.
If you are a woman or person of color you will have a much easier time -- many companies I've worked for are desperate to balance out their diversity numbers and take straight from bootcamp grads.
Someone else in the thread mentioned this but the no. 1 thing you'll need is passion. And I don't mean bouncing off the walls in interviews, I mean doing this in your spare time for fun.
You will definitely need a bunch of personal projects to demo since you have no experience. Bootcamp during the day, personal projects at night.
But don't get into coding for the money. Like anything if you don't enjoy it you won't be happy.