It was on one of these nights, in the soft red glow of computer fans, that Jake considered his future. He wasn’t your average engineer because Jake didn’t have a degree in computer science or engineering. His way into technology was unconventional, born out of a passion for problem-solving and an incessant curiosity with the inner ways of things. As a child, Jake loved taking apart gadgets and learning how to put them back together. But it wasn’t until he discovered online coding tutorials that he realized he could turn his hobby into a career.
Jake’s is not unique. Around the world, more people are skipping traditional education and teaching themselves the skills to become an engineer. Self-taught engineers, like Jake, usually start with wanting to know how the technology they use works. They go through several hours of online courses, tutorials, and forums, building up the skills bit by bit. But the motivation for most is pretty obvious: a better job, a new career path, or simply the satisfaction of solving such problems yourself.
Although difficult, the road of a self-taught engineer can be highly rewarding. Tech is an ever-changing field, and now more than ever, skills and experience hold massive weight compared to formal education. Jake eventually landed a job at a startup where his diverse set of skills and unique perspective easily made him invaluable. In this post, we will take a tour through the journey of self-made engineers in terms of required skills for success, challenges, and how they shape the future of technology.
What is a Self-Taught Engineer?
A self-taught engineer is a person who develops the necessary skills and knowledge that will enable them to work in engineering roles without attending formal education or getting a degree in the field. Otherwise, they would have learned the principles and practices of engineering through self-study, online courses, tutorials, coding boot camps, and practical experience. Since these resources are aplenty on the internet and generally inexpensive compared to a university education, self-directed learning has become a valid way of learning the trade in software engineering in particular.
Self-Taught Engineering Becoming the Trend
The other fast-emerging trend in technology isthe proliferation of self-made engineers. In 2020, a survey conducted by Stack Overflow showed that nearly 30% of professional developers considered themselves partially self-taught, while about 10% had no formal training in computer science or related fields. This is due to the following reasons:
- Accessibility of Learning Resources: The internet has made free and low-cost learning resources unlimited, and thus, any person with access to the internet can learn how to be an engineer. Websites such as Coursera, Udemy, Khan Academy, and Codecademy provide comprehensive, in-depth courses on programming, data science, and engineering principles that make it easier for would-be engineers to self-learn.
- The tech industry is highly demanding in terms of technical skills. The main areas that this industry places its strong emphasis on are software development, cybersecurity, and data science. Most companies, especially now in this sector, have shown a willingness to hire based on prior skills and experience rather than formal educational background. As such, this has opened a leeway for self-taught engineers who have the skill but not the degree.
- The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the remote work culture that enabled every company to look for talent from any part of the world. This modern shift also made it easier for self-taught engineers to find job opportunities since companies are looking forward more to the results rather than where or how one has acquired the skills.
Essential Skills for Self-Taught Engineers
The self-taught engineer must possess some sort of skills to achieve this goal. Of course, this set of skills may evolve through studying, practice, and field experience. Given below is a brief breakdown of some important skills required:
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| Programming Languages | Proficiency in languages such as Python, JavaScript, C++, or Java is crucial for most engineering roles. |
| Problem-Solving | The ability to approach complex problems logically and devise efficient solutions. |
| Continuous Learning | Staying updated with the latest technologies and tools is essential in a rapidly changing industry. |
| Communication Skills | Being able to explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders is valuable in any role. |
| Project Management | Understanding how to manage time, resources, and team dynamics effectively to complete projects on schedule. |
Pros of Being a Self-Taught Engineer
The pros for being a self-taught engineer are numerous, and among the most prominent are:
- Varied problem-solving approaches: Because they do not study along conventional curricula, most self-taught engineers figure out unconventional problem-solving techniques. The result is to think of creative solutions that might not be considered by traditionally trained engineers.
- Resilience and Adaptability: Self-learning requires tremendous self-discipline and motivation. Self-made engineers are pretty resilient, adaptable, and that is an asset in the fast-moving environment of technology when projects and priorities may change in one night.
- Cost Efficiency: Traditional engineering education may be expensive and time-consuming. By teaching themselves, individuals save on tuition fees and avoid student debt, which makes this track more financially viable for many.
Challenges Faced by Self-Taught Engineers
Despite the advantages, self-taught engineers also face some unique challenges of their own:
- Lack of Formal Credentials: Without a degree, it is more difficult for self-taught engineers to get their foot in the door at companies where formal education is key to entry.
- Networking Opportunities: Traditional education gives one the opportunities to engage in networking with peers, professors, and industry contacts. Self-taught engineers have to look elsewhere in building a professional network.
- Structured Learning Environment: Without the structured environment provided by a traditional education, some people struggle to stay on track. Without having that external motivator of deadlines and direction, it’s difficult to be continuously motivated and focused.
- Imposter Syndrome: Many self-taught engineers have negative feelings about their ability to think their skills will not measure up, especially compared to formally educated peers. Overcoming these feelings requires confidence and support.
Companies Embracing Self-Taught Engineers
More and more companies are beginning to realize that skills outweigh some paper with a degree on it, and for this reason, they open their arms to self-taught engineers. Companies like Google, Apple, and IBM have gained far-reaching attention by rescinding requirements for a college degree in many technical roles, instead paying greater attention to what a candidate can do and has done, not to their degree status. It also shows that, as per a survey conducted by HackerRank in 2021, 32% of the hiring managers have hired a developer sans a formal degree. The primary reason being that coding skills and practical experience matter a lot.
- Lay a Strong Foundation: Start by learning to program and study engineering principles. Online resources such as tutorials and free courses are a great place to start.
- Build a Portfolio: In order will be the creation of projects that demonstrate your skills. Whether it is a personal website, an app, or even a contribution to an open-source project, having a portfolio showcases your abilities to potential employers.
- Contribute to the Community: Contribute to online forums or communities where other engineers are discussing projects and sharing their knowledge. Websites such as Stack Overflow, GitHub, and even Reddit enable you to develop commonly with others, and your work will be reviewed.
- Seek Mentorship: Find yourself a mentor who can guide and advise you on the way to go. It could be someone close to you, or you can look for mentorship programs online. Having a mentor will really help bring a lot of insight into your being self-taught.
- Stay updated: The tech industry is pretty fast, meaning you are supposed to keep yourself updated. Learn new languages, new tools, new frameworks every now and then to be relevant in the job market.
- Practice consistently: To be a true engineer, one has to practice consistently. Devote some time every day to learn and work on projects. Don’t be afraid to commit mistakes because these are important parts of learning.
Success Stories of Self-Taught Programmers
But many self-taught engineers have contributed meaningfully and importantly to the technology world by proving that formal education is not imperative for success in this field. A couple of such examples are as follows:
- Elon Musk: Physics and economics were his grounds, but Musk self-learnt computer programming and engineering. These self-made skills were important in some of the early developments of companies like Zip2 and X.com.
- David Karp: founder of Tumblr, never finished high school but taught himself to code. Falling in love with technology at such a young age, plus being an autodidact, helped him build one of the biggest social networking platforms.
- Jan Koum: WhatsApp co-founder Koum grew up poor, learned programming by reading manuals and trying out things himself. Acquiring development skills through self-training allowed him to develop a messaging application that changed the way people communicate with each other.
Statistics on Self-Taught Engineers
The number of self-taught engineers is increasing so much that their contribution is redefining technology development. Following are the key statistics.
| Statistic | Source |
|---|---|
| 30% of professional developers are at least partially self-taught. | Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 2020 |
| 32% of hiring managers have hired developers without a formal degree. | HackerRank Developer Skills Report, 2021 |
| 69% of developers say that education is not a major barrier to becoming a developer. | GitHub State of the Octoverse Report, 2020 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Self-Taught Engineers
Does top tech hire self-made engineers?
Yes, many leading tech companies including Google, Apple, and IBM have employed self-taught engineers. What matters most is how you present your skills and experience with a great portfolio and practical projects.
What skills are absolutely key for the self-taught engineer?
One very important aspect is to know at least one programming language, problem-solving, continuous learning, communicational skills, and project management skills.
How would the self-taught engineer network?
Self-taught engineers can build a network by joining online communities, attending tech meetups, participating in hackathons, and contributing to open-source projects.
Do self-taught engineers face any discrimination in hiring?
Though there are companies that still stress formal education, many other companies give more importance to skills and experience. Building a good portfolio and gaining practical experience can overcome any kind of bias.
What are the best resources for self-taught engineers?
Resources such as Codecademy, Coursera, Udemy, Khan Academy, and Stack Overflow provide learning materials. Other excellent resources for self-learning include books, podcasts, and YouTube tutorials.
Conclusion
The trend in self-taught engineers is part of a greater trend in technology to give more value to skills and practical experience over higher education. Being a self-taught engineer has great opportunities of growth, innovation, and success if one can look past the challenging road to getting there. Thus, by utilizing every online resource abound and working relentlessly for continuous learning and practice. Any person who is enthusiastic and resolute enough can easily become a self-made successful engineer. For those seeking a new career or trying to advance further in their current one. The self-taught road is more flexible and accessible toward your goals in the engineering world.
