Shifting Paradigms in Tech Employment: A Study on Non-Degree Jobseekers
While the number of computer science degrees appears to be deflating, possessing a qualification remains advantageous for aspiring engineers and developers. Nevertheless, diverse pathways exist, each yielding disparate outcomes.
A recent scholarly treatise* from Ivey Business School revealed that job seekers lacking formal computer science degrees, irrespective of age or experience, encountered heightened challenges in securing software development roles as their portfolio development prolonged.
This research is predicated on interviews with 74 candidates who had completed a coding bootcamp or an equivalent affordable educational endeavor in technology.
The findings delineated three principal strategies employed in job applications, yet only one proved successful.
Particularly, aspirants without degrees who commenced their job search prematurely fared markedly better.
Those who initiated their job hunt before concluding their educational programs, or finalizing any personal projects (‘early’ applicants), reported an employment success rate of 76% within a three-year timeframe.
Conversely, those deemed ‘standard’ applicants—who completed their course prior to applying and crafted a basic portfolio—achieved a mere 37% employment rate, with ‘late’ applicants who dedicated even more time to portfolio assembly faring the worst.
Psychological factors are undoubtedly involved. Candidates delaying their applications often imposed higher merit standards upon themselves, gravitating toward coding positions that closely matched their skills.
In contrast, early applicants adopted a broader approach, fostering opportunities by engaging potential employers. A significant number of these early seekers were career changers leveraging experiences from previous employment.
The study also posited that acquiring technology certifications might not substantially bolster employability. One interviewee recounted his frustrations with a cybersecurity certification that yielded no lucrative employment, stating it “didn’t assist me as anticipated.”
Another candidate opted for three smaller certificates over a more comprehensive program, but subsequently struggled to locate full-time work.
A third had been laboring on a Linux certification for months, only to recalibrate his strategy upon consulting a peer who successfully secured a position through networking.
This investigation extended beyond finance, suggesting that greater emphasis on open-source contributions could be beneficial.
Jose Pedro Magalhaes, Standard Chartered’s head of core strategies, affirmed in 2023 that such contributions could be “equally valuable [as a degree] in candidate evaluations,” having hired individuals devoid of formal qualifications based on their open-source work.
Donal McCarthy, a data lead at hedge fund Millennium, echoed this sentiment, advocating for substantial commitments to recognizable open-source projects as avenues for enhancing one’s professional reputation.
Source link: Efinancialcareers.com.
