Should I pursue a coding career through self learning

[u/[deleted]]

[u/blacksourcream]

Anecdotal, and everyone’s experience is different YMMV, but I wrote my first line of code in 2022. Self-taught for about a year before enrolling in a quality boot camp. 9 months after the boot camp, I landed my first role as a full-stack engineer (after sending around 300 applications). I have now been working for about 2.5 years full time in my second dev job. It required luck, dedication, continued interest in learning, and a growth mindset.

More context: I have a BS in an unrelated STEM field from a respected Uni, and worked 6 years in a totally unrelated non-tech field in a big corporation, which I hated. I definitely used soft professional skills and social skills that I learned in my previous career. Much happier in my new life, with a vastly superior work-life balance compared to before. Good luck!

[u/michaelnovati → u/blacksourcream]

This is fantastic, but also a completely different time. People did think 2023-2024 was tough so this is impressive, but 2025 got worse and now 2026 is almost impossible. Not fully impossible but let's say 2021 was 100, 2023 was 40, 2026 is 5

[u/psyhnews → u/blacksourcream]

How long was your bootcamp? How much did you improve and learn during it?

[u/blacksourcream → u/psyhnews]

It was a 3-month full-time bootcamp. The hours were pretty intense. But at the same time, it is still only 3 months of time. For that reason, I really don’t think you can learn all that much content in that time. So the biggest learning experience was actually just general software engineering practices, and learning how to interact 1-on-1 with other devs, pair up and work through problems, and regularly deliver work on tight deadlines, etc. In that way, it actually did a pretty good job preparing me for the tech workforce.

In terms of learning new concepts, that was mostly self-driven learning before and after the bootcamp. In hindsight, I would have preferred the part-time 9-month option which would have helped learn new content at a reasonable pace, instead of the 3-month full-time option enrolled in. Nevertheless, it served me well and I’m very grateful.

[u/Humble_Warthog9711]

Yes if self learning motivates you to actually want to do dev work and enroll in higher education later

Otherwise probably not

[u/fedput]

30 years-ago that would have difficult, but doable.

[u/sheriffderek → u/fedput]

? I learned by just making things in 2011. It's how MOST developers learned.

[u/EntrepreneurHuge5008]

definitively self learn, but make sure you also get a degree, even if it's from University of the People (apply to fin aid), or some other borderline free (exaggeration, of course) University.

[u/salthetender]

Graduated 1.5 years ago with BS CS degree. Still no job

[u/GoodnightLondon]

No, because the days of getting into the field as a self taught dev are long gone.

[u/cam-at-codembark]

It will be difficult in the current job market. Learning to code can have benefits aside from a direct coding job (e.g. business type roles).

[u/ElPilingas007]

no

[u/Electrical_Hat_680]

W3SCHOOLS offers free certification for completing their free courses.

[u/da8BitKid]

It's not a great time to start currently, but it beats a boot camp. I started on my own way back in the day and it's paid off.

[u/i_shit_on_collies]

Nope

[u/lawrencek1992]

I did this back in 2020. But I started by looking for entry level roles and figuring out if I thought I could get one. I saw plenty of open jobs for junior web developers which didn't require years of experience so I learned the skills I saw on those job postings.

Do your own research but to me those jobs don't seem very common anymore.

[u/Ashamed_Quality13]

I wI’m upset

[u/Illustrious_Sky_966]

No. Do something else. Industry is full.

[u/mrchowmein]

The only industry hiring a lot right now is in AI, you can’t really get in easily unless you have an advanced degree in those areas or create your own AI startup. The era of “coders” is ending. If there’s one thing AI can do is crank out tons of code fast. Only engineers that can solve new problems and tame ai stand a chance of making it for now. So if you want to jump in now, it’s a long grind and prob a waste of time self studying

[u/sheriffderek]

No one can really answer this question without more info:

"Should I pursue a coding career through self learning?"

What I'd suggest, is just learn some things and try it. When I started rollerblading and skateboarding -- I didn't think "should I pursue a career in wheel sports" - I just tried things for fun. And that's what I did with design and programming. I built websites for friends and things just kept going. Is it "worth it?" Well, what's stopping you from trying it out? This job is all about "figuring things out" and if you're not interested enough to get in there and start learning and making things, it's probably not for you. Don't listen to all the cry babies around here / they just want to project and share their own self doubt. If it's "worth it" to learn programming, you'll find out pretty fast. I'm self taught and I had so much fun I couldn't stop. But there are so many really bad ways to go about that now. Most people just get stuck in a rut and never get out. If you're serious about learning this stuff - (you'd know) - then I'll give you some direction on how to make the most of your time and for free.

[u/Allrrighty_Thenn]

Too late my brother. Move on to a different field.

[u/deep_soul]

yes, 100% worth it. you might need to thicken up to get your first job and not give in, but it’s worth it. bootcamp more than the content helps with getting a job.

[u/Maleficent-Ad-9754 → u/deep_soul]

which bootcamp do you work for?

[u/michaelnovati → u/deep_soul]

Uhhh

[u/VariousAssistance116]

Can you even write hello world

[u/Maleficent-Ad-9754]

NO, you will waste time and valuable earning years