Posts: 601
Threads: 5
Likes Received: 305 in 206 posts
Likes Given: 3,400
Joined: Nov 2021
09-29-2023, 12:36 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-29-2023, 04:50 PM by origamishuttle.)
(09-29-2023, 11:58 AM)nomaduser Wrote: My portfolio already includes many companies that are features on Yahoo Finance, Forbes, and Wikipedia websites.
I'm confused by this statement. For a prospective software engineer, "portfolio" typically refers to a website, often hosted on GitHub Pages, that shows the projects you've worked on. This allows hiring companies to see your body of work. Ideally, it will include one or more recognizable open-source projects. Do you have this kind of portfolio, and are you actively working on it?
For applying to companies, are you getting first/second/third interviews? You may also want to try reaching out directly to recruiters at companies in your area that don't have active job listings, along with any/every consulting company and third-party recruiter who will talk to you. There are also lots of non-profits that would be happy to have a software/IT volunteer, which you can add to your resume.
Pierpont Community & Technical College 2022
Associate of Applied Science - Board of Governors - Area of Emphasis: Information Systems
Western Governors University 2022
Bachelor of Science - Cloud Computing
Charter Oak State College 2023
Bachelor of Science - General Studies - Concentration: Information Systems Studies
Thomas Edison State University 2023
Bachelor of Arts - Computer Science
Associate in Science in Natural Sciences and Mathematics - Mathematics
University of Maine at Presque Isle 2023
Bachelor of Applied Science - Minor: Project Management
Posts: 124
Threads: 1
Likes Received: 42 in 37 posts
Likes Given: 82
Joined: Jul 2023
09-29-2023, 01:08 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-29-2023, 01:09 PM by Tomas.)
Those 200, are you sure they are same level applicants (ie. from US and with IT degree or matching skills?).
Just so that you don't get discouraged by those numbers, I have overheard local (not from US, but it's likely same elsewhere) recruiters talking about how they often get like 90%+ applications from India and other countries, even if they don't clearly qualify (visa or residency, language, skills,..).
Sure some companies hire by the degree. But, see the admission criteria for Gatech masters, they are looking for proof that applicant will be able to succeed in their program. Same with recruiters, they are looking for a sign that the junior applicant will be able to succeed, and degree alone is not exactly that sign. Research for what is currently in demand in place where you are looking for employment, where there is a lack of skilled applicants, also consider what you actually like most to do, then choose something to specialize in. And to display your skill in that specialization, become contributor in some open source or get a local side-gig or volunteer work while studying.
Posts: 136
Threads: 20
Likes Received: 114 in 44 posts
Likes Given: 93
Joined: Feb 2022
09-29-2023, 03:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-29-2023, 03:47 PM by frankc.)
I'm not sure about the current job market, as I've heard it's really bad, but I have a bit of personal experience as a software developer. I got a job as a software developer after completing a coding bootcamp a few years ago. You really don't need a CS degree to break into this field (But I'd say you do need a Bachelor's degree at this point). I've seen people in my bootcamp slack channel still landing jobs even with degrees in unrelated fields, even like right now.
When I finished my bootcamp, I went on the job hunt as a college dropout. Initially, the response rate was almost none. Then, I tried to beef up my resume with three projects, one backend project with a focus on horizontal scaling, another as a full-stack application demonstrating my team collaboration skills, and a mobile project that was unfinished.
I also reached out to everyone I knew and asked for referrals. Luckily, one such referral panned out, and I landed a job with one of those companies.
So, in my opinion, another CS degree may not really help you much as you already have an IT degree. Instead, focusing on building a strong portfolio on GitHub and network is way more important. There's also an affordable option like the OMSCS program from Georgia Tech if you really want a master degree (After you get the job). The key here is to showcase your skills and build connections.
Edit: You already have an IT degree, which is more related to CS than most applicants.
In Progress
Georgia Tech OMSCS
Enrolled: 01/2024 (2 down, 8 to go!)
Completed
TESU BA Computer Science & ASNSM Mathematics
Conferred: 09/2023
Excelsior University BS Psychology
Conferred: 02/2023
Posts: 719
Threads: 86
Likes Received: 237 in 157 posts
Likes Given: 601
Joined: Aug 2020
09-30-2023, 11:42 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-30-2023, 02:28 PM by nomaduser.)
(09-29-2023, 03:41 PM)frankc Wrote: When I finished my bootcamp, I went on the job hunt as a college dropout. Initially, the response rate was almost none. Then, I tried to beef up my resume with three projects, one backend project with a focus on horizontal scaling, another as a full-stack application demonstrating my team collaboration skills, and a mobile project that was unfinished.
I also reached out to everyone I knew and asked for referrals. Luckily, one such referral panned out, and I landed a job with one of those companies.
I'll complete several Udacity bootcamps along with WGU's BS in CS and Georgia Tech's OMSCS. Hopefully, that'll solve the problem.
Horizontal scaling is easy these days.. you have AWS EC2 autoscaling and AWS Lambda that will solve the scaling problem easily.
After I complete all programs, I'll try to get into big tech companies like Amazon or Microsoft.
•
Posts: 129
Threads: 8
Likes Received: 54 in 40 posts
Likes Given: 3,291
Joined: Jan 2021
Why not go straight to the OMSCS?
Posts: 719
Threads: 86
Likes Received: 237 in 157 posts
Likes Given: 601
Joined: Aug 2020
(10-04-2023, 08:02 PM)Pikachu Wrote: Why not go straight to the OMSCS?
That's a great idea. However, my IT degree is really a junk. The only math course I had to take was statistics. There was only one introductory Java course. The rest of them were about Python and SQL.
I don't think I'll qualify for OMSCS.
I'm missing: Calculus I, II, Multivariable Calculus, Java Objected Oriented Porgramming, Java Data Structures, Discrete Math.
Basically, all BS in CS course requirements are missing.
That's why I was considering WGU's BS in CS.
•
Posts: 11,060
Threads: 153
Likes Received: 6,003 in 3,997 posts
Likes Given: 4,205
Joined: Mar 2018
Apply anyway? They say no, you can apply again later. If they admit you, that saves you time/money.
In progress:
TESU - BA Computer Science; BSBA CIS; ASNSM Math & CS; ASBA
Completed:
Pierpont - AAS BOG
Sophia (so many), The Institutes (old), Study.com (5 courses)
ASU: Human Origins, Astronomy, Intro Health & Wellness, Western Civilization, Computer Appls & Info Technology, Intro Programming
Strayer: CIS175, CIS111, WRK100, MAT210
•
Posts: 18,301
Threads: 969
Likes Received: 6,044 in 4,555 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Feb 2016
Hmm, I wouldn't apply, waste of energy/time as you haven't got the minimum requirements for entry into the degree... Having a Bachelors and a little experience, without the core courses, wouldn't flow with them. If you have the prerequisites, and a little more experience, then that would be a good option, I would apply then... You really don't need another degree though, I would think about your options, and see what would be best... Here's an idea, take all the ACE/NCCRS CS related courses that hit the requirements for GT OMCS, apply to TESU to get an evaluation, have TESU create a transcript, then apply to GT.
•
Posts: 1,101
Threads: 41
Likes Received: 356 in 240 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jun 2020
(10-05-2023, 11:22 AM)bjcheung77 Wrote: Hmm, I wouldn't apply, waste of energy/time as you haven't got the minimum requirements for entry into the degree... Having a Bachelors and a little experience, without the core courses, wouldn't flow with them. If you have the prerequisites, and a little more experience, then that would be a good option, I would apply then... You really don't need another degree though, I would think about your options, and see what would be best... Here's an idea, take all the ACE/NCCRS CS related courses that hit the requirements for GT OMCS, apply to TESU to get an evaluation, have TESU create a transcript, then apply to GT. Ding ! Ding ! Ding ! Ding !
•
Posts: 2,859
Threads: 143
Likes Received: 1,701 in 1,000 posts
Likes Given: 825
Joined: Jun 2017
Is your IT degree junk or were you trying to use it for something it's not designed for? My IT degree didn't even "directly" have any python or java courses but I wasn't trying to become a software engineer. Through independent studies/projects, certs, and professional networking I was able to make some creative jumps to my goal career field of cybersecurity.
WGU BSIT Complete January 2022
(77CU transferred in)(44/44CU )
RA(non WGU)(57cr)
JST/TESU Eval of NAVY Training(85/99cr)
The Institutes, TEEX, NFA(9cr): Ethics, Cyber 101/201/301, Safety
Sophia(60cr): 23 classes
Study.com(31cr): Eng105, Fin102, His108, LibSci101, Math104, Stat101, CS107, CS303, BUS107
CLEP(9cr): Intro Sociology 63 Intro Psych 61 US GOV 71
OD(12cr): Robotics, Cyber, Programming, Microecon
CSM(3cr)
Various IT/Cybersecurity Certifications from: CompTIA, Google, Microsoft, AWS, GIAC, LPI, IBM
CS Fund. MicroBachelor(3cr)
|