1
baewulf
6y

Advice/input welcome:

I’m nearing the end of my first year of a 2 year SE program at college. I’m considering leaving at the end of this year and looking for a job, but I don’t have much of a portfolio and feel insecure about my ability to make it in this industry. I know it’s probably just impostor syndrome, but it’s a really hard feeling to shake. It’s a trade college, so the program is designed to have students work ready by the end, but there is a certificate for having completed the first year even though most students do both years.

I’m competent with java, web dev including JavaScript vanilla and bootstrap, ok with python and a lil c++, and I used c# over last summer in unity to develop a game I never finished. 2nd year is mostly more of the same, just more in depth. I’m feeling like idgaf about school anymore, and there are some things happening in my life that would benefit from a full time salary and a decent health care plan.

I spoke with an alum of the program who left after one year to work, and he strongly suggested I stay for the 2nd year, but wasn’t clear on why he thought that.

So what I wanna know is, from folks in the workforce, do you think I should stick it out for the last year and then look for work? Or would I be ok to just... go and start looking for a job now?

Comments
  • 0
    I would say finish what you started personally, but it really depends what work is available around you.
    I work for a large company and they wouldn't take anyone that didn't either have some solid qualifications they can train up or some decent experience.
    If you can keep yourself motivated doing some personal work while finishing the course you might have a little portfolio and a qualification... Or you could leave now and land yourself a great job, but that's a little more risky.
  • 2
    The workforce can be a pain to get into without a degree or certifications. (Self taugh dev here),

    my recommendation would be to build up a portfolio of work, weekend freelance on small gigs for a while while you do that second year just to have something to say “I built this and it’s in the wild”

    If you had the portfolio to back your claims, it would be somewhat easier, although you would be competing with graduates.
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