06-21-2026, 09:42 AM
There are more paths into a tech career now than ever, and everyone seems to have a strong opinion about which one is right. I'm more interested in actual experience than debate.
How did you get your first tech role? What worked, what didn't, and what would you tell someone starting that path today?
I'll share mine: CS degree, which I have mixed feelings about. The theory is genuinely valuable and I use more of it than I expected (data structures, algorithms, networking fundamentals, OS concepts). But the practical job-relevant skills - version control, CI/CD, Docker, how to work in a team on a real codebase - I learned entirely on my own or on the job. The degree opened doors; the side projects are what got me through interviews.
Curious to hear from people who went bootcamp or self-taught, especially those who switched from other fields.
How did you get your first tech role? What worked, what didn't, and what would you tell someone starting that path today?
I'll share mine: CS degree, which I have mixed feelings about. The theory is genuinely valuable and I use more of it than I expected (data structures, algorithms, networking fundamentals, OS concepts). But the practical job-relevant skills - version control, CI/CD, Docker, how to work in a team on a real codebase - I learned entirely on my own or on the job. The degree opened doors; the side projects are what got me through interviews.
Curious to hear from people who went bootcamp or self-taught, especially those who switched from other fields.