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There's a lot of red flags here. Why were you in Uni for 7.5 years for only one degree? I don't know what specializations are, if they added to your CV maybe it was worth it, but usually someone who takes more than 4-5 years for a single major doesn't look great.
You keep saying IT - are you a software engineer? IT makes me think of the guys who install printers and network software. Important jobs, but don't pay as well as software dev.
Why do you fail your interviews when it comes to group work? Communication is very important in this industry, and collaboration is key. Even if you want to work for yourself as a contractor you have to be able to work with your clients, so there's no escaping it.
Sounds like you're more interested in a high salary than being a dev. You don't have to spend 20+hours outside of work to keep up, if you are pushing yourself at your work you will keep up naturally.
Not trying to be hard on you, just pointing out areas to improve if you want. Good luck. -
@jdebs Specializations, are post-graduation, like a master degree or something similar in a specific area, like Software Engineering, or Security/Forensics, etc.
It took me 4 years for CC Bachelors Degree.
Currently I work as a developer. Before I also had worked as IT support. When I say IT, I mean tech in general, developers, IT support, network, etc.
I know that communication is important, and I try to do my best!
Those interviews I mentioned were years ago and they actually were group work, but all the time the work to do was not related to IT, it was more related to finance and business management. Also people in my group usually said some dumb thing that I think ruined it for the others.
I'm interested in having a good life, being able to save money and at least buy an apartment, so that when I get old I have a place to live. -
I am sorry but your attitute is not so great. I also work as an developer and for me this job is not just an paycheck. It is an hobby and I make it for fun.
I mean the sallary is important for sure, but complaining that you have to improve your knowledge beside your job sounds ridicoulus for me.
I read blogs and posts about development all the time, because I want to learn new things and stay in the game, I do it with fun. I know many people that share this opinion. I am sorry, my intention is not to hurt your feelings, but it sounds for me that you are doing your job against your will, that is hard and unproductive at all, with all things. -
Seems like IT was not a good fit for you. If you dont have passion for what you are doing then master one language and go to corporate, find a cozy place and sit there. Stop sitting on reddits such as cscareerquestions and stop comparing yourself with silicon valley idiots. I spent 4 years in uni and then 3 years travelling around and working in europe. Now my salary is around 40k euro a year but where I live cost of living is low, I have loving family and feeling much better then when I was making 60k in another country where I was always an expat without actual roots.
It boils down to your priorities in life as well as finding your strong side. I had this colleague who was a mechanical engineering graduate, was hired as a junior embedded systems dev but was not fit for that position, so his only responsibility was managing our inventory instead of coding. Later he switched to management in a warehouse company
Dont buy into fake software fairytale. Find what fits for you.
This is real rant, not one of these funny stories!
So, I spent 4 years to get a Computer Science degree, and did two specializations, 3.5 years more in Uni. I have 6 years of experience working in IT, from support to programming. I also speak 3 languages.
I'm from a South America country, and now I'm living in EU.
I'm 30 now and earning a little more than a MacDonald's cashier earns in the US. I have to live in a shared apartment like a fucking Uni student. I have nothing, no car, no house, no girlfriend. WTF!
IT is a fucking lie! Profession of the future my ass!
In Uni they said that finding a good job was easy, that companies would literally grab us by the neck to work for them. LIE!
I did found a low paying job though, where at least I could learn a lot more.
People were really satisfied with my work and I even received a proposal of one of our clients to work for them, but the offer wasn't good enough.
I tried entering some big companies as a Trainee, but it was so ridiculous, they said they were looking for an IT person, but they asked things related to economy and other stuff that had nothing to do with IT. I always failed in the group work/interview, it was so ridiculous, I remember one candidate saying her dream was to work for the company since she was a child, SERIOUSLY!
When the opportunity came, I moved to EU and now I'm working as a dev. But as I said, I'm not satisfied with it! In the US the yearly average software engineer salary is about 100K, I earn less than 1/4 of it. And don't come saying that US pays more because of the cost of life, here the cost of life is the same or even more expensive, a super small apartment/loft is at least 180K, a simple new car 18K and a Big Mac costs 4€.
In the US, the average salary of someone that just graduated from uni is 60K to 70K! LOL
In EU, it's super hard for someone to earn 100K, that's why many companies are creating offices here, good workforce, 2 to 3 times smaller salary!
IT also sucks because it's too volatile, there's new stuff all the time. Someone always has to come with a new language, new framework, new library, etc etc. And you have to keep learning new stuff all the time.
Also job openings always ask for experienced people, like you must have at least two years of experience with VUE.js, or something.
Do you remember the last time you went to a doctor for a checkup, did they use a new tool, or did something different during the checkup? Probably not, the medic don't have to learn new stuff all the time, he is still using a stethoscope, he is still placing a wooden stick in your mouth to check your throat...
But in IT, almost no one nowadays is going to create code using CoffeeScript, they instead will use TypeScript.
I read an article saying that an IT professional must study 20 hours a week to keep up with new trends. So I must work 40 hours and study another 20? LOL
It's not that I don't like learning new stuff, but this sucks, I want to maybe learn something different or have a hobby.
Today I regret going to uni, I feel it was a waste of time and money. They taught things like calculus and physics that I never had to use professionally, and even programming stuff like linked lists I never had to use.
If instead I had studied dentistry or studied to be a ophthalmologist I think I would be earning more, would be working more independently and wouldn't need to keep up learning new things so much.
Also to work in IT you don't need a diploma, I read an article by a dude that learned programming by his own, did some software for his portfolio and got a job at Google.
When I read these kinds of story I regret even more going to uni, It really feels I wasted my time.
For these reasons I can't recommend going to uni to study IT, if you want to go to uni go study something else!
If you want to study programming do it on your own, there's everything you must know online for free, create a portfolio, and look for a job or even try working for yourself!
Living the life I have now, there's just no incentive to keep going.
Should I keep learning new stuff so maybe I can get a better job that will still pay low, or quit and try creating something on my own?
Or even ditch IT all together and go back to uni? LOL NO!
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