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The other fields have various ways to filter out people. * Accounting has CPA exams/certifications * Law has the bar exams/law school * Medicine has the USML

The other fields have various ways to filter out people. * Accounting has CPA exams/certifications * Law has the bar exams/law school * Medicine has the USMLE/medical school Tech prides itself on the fact that "anyone" can be a great tech worker regardless of how you get there - read some books, attend a bootcamp, go to college, or even just start banging out code on the keyboard until you gain experience Unfortunately, that means that the companies have to have some filter

bluedino 6y ago
"Complete a university computer science degree"
- cableshaft 6y ago
  Did that. Doesn't seem to matter for shit in any interview I've had, except maybe to pass an initial HR filter. Waste of fucking money that was (I'm kind of joking, I did learn some valuable things in college).
- chillacy 6y ago
  Parent poster is pointing out that _in addition_ to your degree you must pass a professional exam as well. This is common in professional fields where there is a licensed title (e.g. M.D. or P.E.). Btw there is a Software Engineering PE exam but I don't know anyone who has taken it: https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SWE-Apr-2013.pdf https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SWE-Apr-2013.pd... If you take and pass it you can add the title PE to your name in the US.
- michaelscott 6y ago
  I know people with a computer science degree that couldn't write a function of production code if their life depended on it, and I know people without one that are gods on a keyboard. I think a better alternative is some type of bar-like or CA-like test that anyone can take regardless of qualification, but which you must pass in order to be considered a competent software engineer.
  - simonkafan 6y ago
    Well, the same is true for lawyers. I know attorneys that have to look up everything in books. And I know attorneys that can cite basically any supreme court verdict from the last 10 years out of their head.

bluedino 6y ago

"Complete a university computer science degree"

cableshaft 6y ago
Did that. Doesn't seem to matter for shit in any interview I've had, except maybe to pass an initial HR filter. Waste of fucking money that was (I'm kind of joking, I did learn some valuable things in college).
chillacy 6y ago
Parent poster is pointing out that _in addition_ to your degree you must pass a professional exam as well. This is common in professional fields where there is a licensed title (e.g. M.D. or P.E.). Btw there is a Software Engineering PE exam but I don't know anyone who has taken it: https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SWE-Apr-2013.pdf https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SWE-Apr-2013.pd... If you take and pass it you can add the title PE to your name in the US.
michaelscott 6y ago
I know people with a computer science degree that couldn't write a function of production code if their life depended on it, and I know people without one that are gods on a keyboard. I think a better alternative is some type of bar-like or CA-like test that anyone can take regardless of qualification, but which you must pass in order to be considered a competent software engineer.
- simonkafan 6y ago
  Well, the same is true for lawyers. I know attorneys that have to look up everything in books. And I know attorneys that can cite basically any supreme court verdict from the last 10 years out of their head.