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General Discussion

Posted by Mandi Hamza
Mandi Hamza
2,379 Points

RoR Dev job without a degree?

How hard is it to actually land a RoR Dev job without a degree? I have browsed a lot of jobs boards and it seems that most want you to have years of experience and/or a degree. Can you land a job while you're still learning? I'm just getting started and would like to make a career change as fast as is reasonable. I'm not afraid to work hard and given the right tools can learn quickly. What should I expect?

Thanks for any insight!. -Mandi

1 Answer

Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points
Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points

Job descriptions are the ideal of what a company wants. Apply anyway, the worst that can happen is you don't get a call back. Keep throwing your resume out there. Make it amazing, have it reviewed, build a solid portfolio and online presence. It is possible to land a job while learning but it will need to be the right job. Look for junior developer positions where they will hire you for your potential not your worth. If you have experience in another field that is also a plus, what skills can you transfer over? Learn to leverage your situation and don't assume who they ask for and who they hire are the same.

--Ricky

Mandi Hamza
Mandi Hamza
2,379 Points

I'm certainly working towards having something to 'show' for what I'm learning. Thanks for the encouragement Ricky! It's intimidating for a beginner to see the super long lists of skills and requirements that some employers are seeking. I'll keep coding away :-)

Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points

Exactly! That's the correct mindset! Keep coding!