What to study to become Software Developer

One of the things I enjoy about debating this topic on MyBB over the years is it often ends up in some member/members arguing that they got so far in their (young) life without a degree, earning a premium salary and don't need it. Only then to see them actively participate in the "UNISA thread" a few years later. Its great to see these member convert to graduate side as they complete their qualifications and start to motivate others to do the same.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
One of the things I enjoy about debating this topic on MyBB over the years is it often ends up in some member/members arguing that they got so far in their (young) life without a degree, earning a premium salary and don't need it. Only then to see them actively participate in the "UNISA thread" a few years later. Its great to see these member convert to graduate side as they complete their qualifications and start to motivate others to do the same.
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I would do a degree, except that what I do now (development) is just a means to an end, I would honestly not do it if I didn't have to.
 
Genisys said:
I'm actually considering doing an MBA, and then my master after that. MBA seems like a fairly major thing these days.
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I wanted to do my MBA 15 years ago but ended up changing my career path shortly after that. Its very valuable, especially the networking part. I enjoy working with MBA's and none of them throw it in my face, actually many don't mention it.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
One of the things I enjoy about debating this topic on MyBB over the years is it often ends up in some member/members arguing that they got so far in their (young) life without a degree, earning a premium salary and don't need it. Only then to see them actively participate in the "UNISA thread" a few years later. Its great to see these member convert to graduate side as they complete their qualifications and start to motivate others to do the same.
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Yup, I've studied for a few years now. Started in 2012. Finished my first qualification in 2015. Started my second in July. Hoping to start my third in 2018.
 
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Randy_The_Squirrel said:
I would do a degree, except that what I do now (development) is just a means to an end, I would honestly not do it if I didn't have to.
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Best thing a friend (he had just done his Phd) encouraged me with regards to studying was study what you love, what you want to learn, not what you feel you have to. There are very few industries that require specific qualifications. To be honest while I've worked with a lot of BSc graduates, most are not computer science BScs - I've even worked with guys who did degrees in music.

I took that advice, did a BSc Informatics and I enjoyed it.
 
As you know by now, I have Aspergers... so the job thing is a problem for me. A major one. Always has been. I have rage quitted, I have walked out. My last job I was given 23 minutes to vacate the building.

I work because I have to put food on the table, school fees, internet, rent, electricity. Not because I want to. So yeah, accuse me all you want of being lazy, but I am not.

I am currently trapped in a box where I have to earn X to be able to live. People think I get a massive salary, but quickly eat their words when they see what that buys. after you've paid the medical bills and school fees (Discovery have told me to go f**k myself with my medication- they won't pay for it). My computer is old, I cannot afford a car, and I do extra jobs on weekends to afford essentials such as computer parts.. Sometimes I get lucky at the pawn shops, picked up a nice machine there for R200.

If I could, I would jump at the chance to be creative. Sadly in SA.. those jobs pay absolute peanuts.. they want to pay a graphic designer like R8000/month... are they kidding me???

So what do I do? I could go for a BA, and then *hopefully* find something decent at Media24 or the likes... or try the impossible, and try and get into the US and try somehow to get in with Pixar. Pretty much impossible, US don't want saffas, especially not in that industry... and the degree would likely be worth nothing there.
 
@Randy_The_Squirrel firstly the reason why a graphic designer gets R8K (I think it's more like R6K) is because of supply and demand. Just because every second bored housewife has been given an iMac, they now think they are graphic designers - the other half think they are photographers.

This is not just a unique South African problem. The mistake we make is we focus so heavily on what a single international company pays that we don't see what the rest of their local industry pays.

I'm a PHP developer by trade, one the lowest paid languages not only in SA but the world. Yet I cannot complain, why, because I've got experience that has allowed me to become more than just a developer. And even though my language of choice pays poorly on average because of supply and demand, it also pays extremely well if you are highly skilled.

This is true for all industries.

So focus on what you love, become good at it and one day people will pay you lots of money for your skill.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
@Randy_The_Squirrel firstly the reason why a graphic designer gets R8K (I think it's more like R6K) is because of supply and demand. Just because every second bored housewife has been given an iMac, they now think they are graphic designers - the other half think they are photographers.

This is not just a unique South African problem. The mistake we make is we focus so heavily on what a single international company pays that we don't see what the rest of their local industry pays.

I'm a PHP developer by trade, one the lowest paid languages not only in SA but the world. Yet I cannot complain, why, because I've got experience that has allowed me to become more than just a developer. And even though my language of choice pays poorly on average because of supply and demand, it also pays extremely well if you are highly skilled.

This is true for all industries.

So focus on what you love, become good at it and one day people will pay you lots of money for your skill.
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Php, the lowest paying language?... Sir I disagree very hard with that statement.
 
Thor187 said:
I know frontend developers that make quite a penny I'll have you.
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Frontend doesn't mean just html and css.

Thor187 said:
Quick search on jobs and indeed it would appear of the popular languages Ruby pays the less

Then php have a few of these I would not mind http://www.indeed.co.za/m/viewjob?jk=b7d3b2bc62370dc7&from=serp
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That's because Ruby isn't that big in SA, .Net and Java. Most of the newer languages are used by start-ups and you'll get start-up salaries.
 
Still prefer php cause shait just works, but ruby is nice.

Looking at those jobs seems C is where it's at.
 
Thor187 said:
Quick search on jobs and indeed it would appear of the popular languages Ruby pays the less

Then php have a few of these I would not mind http://www.indeed.co.za/m/viewjob?jk=b7d3b2bc62370dc7&from=serp
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Thor187 said:
I know frontend developers that make quite a penny I'll have you.
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Thor187 said:
Like the add says

Ching ching

http://www.indeed.co.za/m/viewjob?jk=8ab4b31626e6e5eb&from=serp


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Thor187 said:
Still prefer php cause shait just works, but ruby is nice.

Looking at those jobs seems C is where it's at.
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I found this to be an interesting read:
What-kind-of-jobs-do-software-engineers-who-earn-500k-per-year-do

The big takeaway here is that language really isn't much of a factor at all, but rather what you actually do.
 
Thor187 said:
I know frontend developers that make quite a penny I'll have you.
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You must think R5K is a lot of money then. Reason why I left the digital agency scene very quickly.

The only frontend developers I know who earn an acceptable income are all fullstack but that requires them to write actual code using javascript, react, etc.
 
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