I need advice

[Artem Polovin]

Hello everyone. I am 29. I have moved from Ukraine to USA 3 years ago. I learn Java and I want to become an Android developer. I decided not to go to college, I am going to use a mentor. Also I need to improve my eanglish, I do not have much time and chose to spend time for studing programming. Could you please give me advice if it is good idea do not get an education in college and use a mentor? It is very important for me to know if I am on right way

 

[MoodyBlues]

Hi @Artem Polovin, and welcome to Android Forums and the US!

Your question is hard to answer. I did have a college education, but in a completely unrelated field (medicine). I taught myself programming and UNIX system administration. I had mentors, but not in the way you're describing. They were there for me if I was really stuck on something, or just to talk shop.

My employers didn't care that I didn't have an IT-related college education; it was my knowledge, and ability to do the job that they cared about. But that was in the late 1980s. I don't know if that would fly now.

I think the best thing to start with is looking at employment sites, searching for jobs in your area of expertise. See if they require a college education (and I'm pretty sure they will), and specifically if it has to be related to your field (I think so there, too).

You may be able to find jobs at small companies whose requirements may be less strict. But big tech companies? I don't think so.

We need input from people whose knowledge about this is more current than mine.

 

[svim]

Development and programming are currently really big job markets and while there's a lot of demand, there's also a lot of competition from other job seekers.. That's what you will need to contend with, a lot of people with college degrees, numerous professional certifications, and often previous job experience. It can also help if you have an existing network of other people with direct contacts into various workplaces -- a word-of-moth recommendation between two people who trust each other's opinions can often overcome a resume full of certs and work experience. This isn't a rant trying to discourage you, but it is important to approach what you're taking on from a realistic perspective. The matter to be mindful of is the competition looking for good jobs will be daunting -- if you're applying with little advanced education, no certifications, and no job history vs. applicants who do, plus their own collections of previous Android app developments posted in Github, if you were going to hire someone which would you choose?

Where are you living now? Is there a local community college? Local colleges are usually cheaper and most are accredited (be sure to check on this) so transferring credits to a regular four-year college can be helpful if you do decide to further your education. Also are there any nearby user groups? Those will be volunteer-based with participants who have similar interests and often work in similar job settings, and will be a good source to build up a like-minded network of associates. Getting more familiar with your community will also help you get more comfortable with the language issue. Don't rush things unless you have to, the competition already have some advantages.

 

[Artem Polovin]

Hi @Artem Polovin, and welcome to Android Forums and the US!

Your question is hard to answer. I did have a college education, but in a completely unrelated field (medicine). I taught myself programming and UNIX system administration. I had mentors, but not in the way you're describing. They were there for me if I was really stuck on something, or just to talk shop.

My employers didn't care that I didn't have an IT-related college education; it was my knowledge, and ability to do the job that they cared about. But that was in the late 1980s. I don't know if that would fly now.

I think the best thing to start with is looking at employment sites, searching for jobs in your area of expertise. See if they require a college education (and I'm pretty sure they will), and specifically if it has to be related to your field (I think so there, too).

You may be able to find jobs at small companies whose requirements may be less strict. But big tech companies? I don't think so.

We need input from people whose knowledge about this is more current than mine.

Thank you for answer. That's what I am going to do, I want to get enough knowledge for junior position and try to find some small company with not big salary.

 

[Artem Polovin]

Development and programming are currently really big job markets and while there's a lot of demand, there's also a lot of competition from other job seekers.. That's what you will need to contend with, a lot of people with college degrees, numerous professional certifications, and often previous job experience. It can also help if you have an existing network of other people with direct contacts into various workplaces -- a word-of-moth recommendation between two people who trust each other's opinions can often overcome a resume full of certs and work experience. This isn't a rant trying to discourage you, but it is important to approach what you're taking on from a realistic perspective. The matter to be mindful of is the competition looking for good jobs will be daunting -- if you're applying with little advanced education, no certifications, and no job history vs. applicants who do, plus their own collections of previous Android app developments posted in Github, if you were going to hire someone which would you choose?

Where are you living now? Is there a local community college? Local colleges are usually cheaper and most are accredited (be sure to check on this) so transferring credits to a regular four-year college can be helpful if you do decide to further your education. Also are there any nearby user groups? Those will be volunteer-based with participants who have similar interests and often work in similar job settings, and will be a good source to build up a like-minded network of associates. Getting more familiar with your community will also help you get more comfortable with the language issue. Don't rush things unless you have to, the competition already have some advantages.

Thank you for answer. I have two people who can help me get a job. One of them is recruiter, he told me that it is good to have an education but it is not so important thing for getting a job, the most important thing is knowledges. He told me that for getting job without an educatio I need to have more knowlegdges than person who have education.He can help me to get a job but he lives too far away from me. Another one has a good job position, he is a vice president of company. He says that an education is not important if I have knowledges. He lives near me but their company works in another field, they program hard drives some modules, that is anather field.

 

[svim]

Good to hear you already have established, personal contacts. Getting even an entry-level job is a big plus -- you'll be learning more and more just from the work experience.
Stay focused on your goals, and don't get discouraged. Most of us have been through struggles and been through rough patches at some point in our careers so don't ever think you're alone. Keep engaged in your community, more people than you can imagine are willing to help if you just ask.

 

[Artem Polovin]

Good to hear you already have established, personal contacts. Getting even an entry-level job is a big plus -- you'll be learning more and more just from the work experience.
Stay focused on your goals, and don't get discouraged. Most of us have been through struggles and been through rough patches at some point in our careers so don't ever think you're alone. Keep engaged in your community, more people than you can imagine are willing to help if you just ask.

Thank you so much for motivation.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Thank you for answer. That's what I am going to do, I want to get enough knowledge for junior position and try to find some small company with not big salary.

You're welcome.

Good luck, and keep us posted if you'd like!