Self-Taught Programmer's Journey: Learning to Code on a Cracked Phone and Facing Hiring Barriers
By
boyter
Pure flour-power. Hearty enough to carry you through lunch.
Summary
A self-taught programmer shares his journey of learning to code on a cracked Android phone after dropping out of school due to financial constraints. Despite developing significant programming skills through self-education, he faces persistent challenges in getting hired due to lack of formal education credentials and the competitive tech job market. The article explores the barriers faced by self-taught developers and the systemic issues in tech hiring that prioritize degrees over demonstrated skills.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledI taught myself to code on an Android phone with a cracked screen. I know, this probably sounds like an exaggeration, but it's not.
I dropped out of school after writing my grade 9 exams because my mum couldn't afford to pay for my school fees.
I've never even been to high school. I taught myself to code on an Android phone with a cracked screen.
They usually say something like, 'which college/university did you study from?' assuming I went to college or university.
Now I can't get hired despite developing significant programming skills through self-education.
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