I was planning on going back to school to study data science, but everyone online is making it out like the tech field is dead and people are getting laid off and now you need eight year experience just to get an entry level gig. Worried I missed the boat on being able to get a good job in the field, should I just accept I’m stuck in retail?

  • python [undecided, they/them]@hexbear.net
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    1 year ago

    Those doomers that say CS is dead are just straight up wrong. They’re either not in Tech at all or expect the big boi Companies to be representative of all Tech.

    Truth is, every single Company needs CS people nowadays. Most commonly Sysadmins and Consultants/Help Desk people. Those companies might not pay out 7 digits for doing shitall all day, but they exist, they’re reliable and most of the time working conditions are significantly better than in any other field of work.

    Now idk if it’s like that in other countries, but here in Germany we have an apprenticeship system set up so that people can get into the CS field exactly how they’d get into a trade field - they apply to be an apprentice at a company (with 0 experience, straight out of high school in some cases) and then the company is responsible for giving them appropriate and supervised work 2-3 days a week while they go to a specialized trade school the rest of the time. (You do get paid a small, but mostly livable wage) After 2-3 Years you’re done, get a certificate that you’re qualified to work in CS on almost the same level as people who went to college for it and most of the time the company you did the apprenticeship with will pick you up as a Junior. The plan after that should be to stay with them until you get a good footing in the field and then hop over to another company - the fact that you have worked in a real environment will put you higher on other companies radars and make hopping much easier than getting an entry-level position right away.

    It is the absolutely easiest way to get into CS imo and if there is an equivalent to that in your country I highly recommend it!