Degree Necessity in Tech

Based on your description, why wouldn't you? If those are your requirements, and a degree is not, then I don't see the problem.

I have no college degree, yet work in jobs surrounded by Ph.D.s. My expertise is valued just as a much as theirs is, and we don't throw titles or degrees around as status symbols. I've been mistakenly addressed as "Doctor ..." on several occasions, either by professional societies or by colleagues who didn't know I didn't have a degree.I'm 41 and started programming when I was 10, doing assembly language by the time I was 15. I have played with digital and analog electronics since I was 5. I

Getting a degree is only partially about learning. A degree signals that you were able to complete a curriculum that, frankly, will almost always have parts you don't like.So some perspective for you to consider. The first is that as I have advanced in my career (its been solid if not extraordinary) the core curriculum stuff I thought was going to never apply working as a technologist has ended up being suprisingly useful. I wasn't a fan of linear algebra in undergrad, but now I

If you don't have a degree then simply leave an education section off your resume and don't bring the topic up. Ignore degree requirements for jobs; apply regardless. Doing this, your lack of degree will probably have little remaining impact on your career. This strategy works because a CS degree has small actual value to an employer, and most employers know it.

Is it a lack of a degree or a lack of a relevant degree? Like, if you had a BA in History but were a very competent programmer, would your lack of a STEM degree be held against you as much?

I don't have a degree and I've never had a problem getting multiple job offers when I've been on the market. I've held some very high posts as well. I think people use the degree as a road sign or indicator of possible quality, among other indicators, to come to a hiring decision. When the candidate is demonstrably talented, the degree becomes worthless (not negative, but just not contributing to the decision anymore).

Even if you had a degree, working in this field should teach you it's not a requirement.

The analogy I use is degree is to career what weight is to fitness. It's an indicator, and moving towards it helps your goals, but it's at best an imperfect marker and shouldn't be mistaken for the goal.People who have degrees find it easier to get jobs than people who don't. But... The #1 person I've ever met in technology (by a large margin) doesn't have a degree. Neither did his CEO, or the CEOs of two of his largest competitors. But his firm and most oth

I imagine you're going to get a lot of "I don't have a degree but I have a great job!" responses, but that's largely because tech is a super weird industry, and not indicative of the rest of the job market.

When signing up for my current job, I didn't even bother bringing them my master's degree. Too bad because it's from one of top two tech unis in the country. Not to downplay the benefits of higher education, but it's certainly not a prereq for good employment these days.