Originally posted by Weltchy
Sorry to be negative. You may be better than all of us, but you have to be realistic about the way you'll stack up against the competition.
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Yes, but somebody who didn't even get A-levels is not going to get taken seriously unless they have an awful lot of real commercial experience to make up for it, and then any recruiter/agent/IT manager is going to be very sceptical. Also "my Dad got me my first job" doesn't look that great either.
Sorry to be negative. You may be better than all of us, but you have to be realistic about the way you'll stack up against the competition.Will work inside IR35. Or for food. -
Oh hell, ignore these guys. There's just a bunch of bitter twisted old men. You know ... contractors.
So yes, you won't fit in with this crowd, and it's going to be tough with people judging you by your age rather than abilities. (Come on guys, what the hell did you ever get from A-levels or degree?) If you can stick the ageism you can make it - but you'll need to go by contacts and personal recommendations rather than agencies and contracts.
If it helps any I work with a guy started off just like you. He does a full time contract at this tuliphole, and runs a hosting/coding business in his spare time. He'll be a millionaire by the time he's 35. It's a hard road (this guy hardly sleeps and it's affected his health), but you've always got the option of dropping out and hitting Uni for a degree and 'credibility' if you're not up to it. Good luck.Comment
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I have no A levels. Yet I have an MSc. That confuses the hell out of people...Originally posted by VectraManComment
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There's a huge variety of businesses out there that all need developers - some for crusty old corporate intranets, some for yoof-targeted cool sites, and all sorts in between. You sound like you'll be happy with a rate which is pretty low for a .NET developer with 4 years experience. If what you say about your experience so far is true (and, as you say, there's little point in you making it up) then you should be snapped up. Not by a big corporate employer, no, but one of those places that reckon they've got a "young, dynamic and creative team", that sort of thing.
Do A-levels really make much difference? I can understand that they would for someone with nothing else at all on their CV. But you just sell yourself with what you've got, don't you. Word it right and they won't even think to look for the qualifications section.Comment
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A bucket load of sex.Originally posted by horzaComment
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And you do Java. Hmmm.Originally posted by Cowboy Bob
Will work inside IR35. Or for food.Comment
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Because we are telling him what everybody else is going to assume.Originally posted by horza
You may notice that most of us have said we are not disputing your skills or experiance (seriously why bother lying unless you get a kick out of bigging yourself up on an anon forum). What we are saying is that hardly anybody in the industry will belive you. Big difference and yes it sucks but hey life's a bitch then you marry one and die...Comment
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The younger you are the more important qualifications are. When I was first getting jobs people cared about crappy gcse and A level certificates but at the experience and level I am at now I don't even need a degree.
I've worked with allsorts and will myself take experience over qualifications any day.
I have also found younger coders are happy to slap any old tulipe in that will compile just because they have reached the limits of their attention span.
All that is necessary for evil members to succeed is that good members post nothing Comment
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I think that unless you have a very niche skill you will find things difficult.
When interviewing you will hit a massive credibility issue. Not only your credibility as a 19 year old contractor with no quals but the credibility of whoever recruits you. He/she is taking a risk with their reputation in their organisation that they have no need to take.Comment
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I once knew a girl who did A-Levels.Comment
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