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Ask HN: What's the minimum software experience required for a real dev job?

8 points by jjallen ↗ HN
I have a few friends that have been to web development school and now have a few months of programming under their belt. I'm curious as to the minimum amount of time learning to program it would take to get hired at a software-focused company, whether it's a credible startup or major tech company, and whether they went to a school or just learned on their own.<p>Measured in days, or perhaps hours if someone kept track or had a reliable way to estimate hours.<p>Something like: "I know this guy who did a three month development program, spent three more months programming and then got hired by XX".

6 comments

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[dead] lerdorfsghosts
I've spent at least a year after a 3 month course until I've felt that I wouldn't get lost in a programming job. But my own standards are rather high and I wasn't looking for a job where I also need to do dirty deeds like photoshopping and fixing windows boxes. It did quite a lot freelancing in my first years. I got my first paid position after 3 years iirc. After around 8 years I got my first senior position. Someone more progressive can get there faster.

I wouldn't expect any company with a serious software department to hire someone with less than 2 years of experience. Internships are possible, of course.

Things that may change that:

* awesome references (hobby projects, github etc.)

* background that overlaps the companies domain

* proven uber talent

* FoaFs

Either look for companies with low standards or paid internships. Also freelancing is a good opportunity to get yourself started.

HeyLaughingBoy
Depends on the job, depends on the business.

Here at a medical device manufacturer, a minimum 4-year degree in a technical subject with enough experience to show you know what you're doing. Or a CS or Engineering degree and no experience and having good software dev. skills coming right out of school.

In theory if you don't have a degree but do have the experience we're looking for, we might hire you, but I have yet to see a resume with no degree cross my desk. Even for a phone screen.

If only I could get back all the time I've wasted interviewing people who couldn't even write a for... loop properly I'd probably be adding years to my life!

phantom_oracle
>"I have yet to see a resume with no degree cross my desk." >"If only I could get back all the time I've wasted interviewing people who couldn't even write a for... loop properly I'd probably be adding years to my life!"

Putting these 2 together tells me that your company is hiring CS or Engineering grads who don't know the basic foundations of programming?

Something doesn't add up there.

HeyLaughingBoy
Close, but not quite.

We interview people at all levels of experience, many of whom can't program their way out of a paper bag. Happily, those generally don't actually get hired.

phantom_oracle
Okay, I guess the word hiring wasn't a good fit there. However, aren't CS grads supposed to know what a for loop is? That seems like first semester CS100 to me.
eddyparkinson
be able to write 1000 line of good quality code. have seen enough code to know what good code looks like. able to learn how to use a new api without any help.

although the best way is to get a friend with good coding skills to recommend you.