Should A Start-Up Hire A Developer Without A Degree?

Degree, degree, degree! I hate degrees, and thus I avoid them! But, companies like degrees, so I can’t avoid them.

—KGF (The Developer)

Honestly speaking, even kids can code. (we aren’t kidding) However, for obvious reasons, you can’t hire kids. By the same logic, developers without degrees just look like kids on paper to organizations.

Here’s why we said this statement:

• Developers without degrees cannot prove their skills.
• Degree holders come with a level of training. (hint: internship experience)
• Getting a degree in computer science takes a level of cognition and skill.

However, we have to keep in mind that some of the biggest corporations in the world were founded by people without degrees.

So, should Start-Ups even consider hiring developers who have no degrees?

The Pros of Hiring a Developer Without A Degree

The Cons Of Hiring A Developer Without A Degree

• Your developers may have no kind of verifiable background in terms of skills.
• Collaboration with your existing teams may be a challenge.
• Your turnaround time for your resource may be longer than expected.
• It is hard to determine whether your resource will perform.
• It may raise internal issues within your organization.

Understanding Why Hiring Developers Should Not Be Based On Degrees

People who are fresh into college don’t have degrees. People who started in the early 80s with coding didn’t have formal degrees in coding.

Or, for that matter, people who don’t have traditional degrees in coding excel too.

In our personal experience, we have seen that organizations are very reluctant to hire developers who don’t have degrees in Computer Science or anything with Computers. However, that goes out the window when people without degrees hold some work experience.

We have had the pleasure of knowing many developers who come from varied backgrounds yet are excellent coders.

Thus, if you are a start-up looking to hire developers, and have gotten stuck at the degree part, ask yourself this question:

Will this candidate be able to execute what I need of them?

How To Hire Developers Without Degrees?

In simple terms, let’s throw two assumptions out the window right now:

• A Degree Does NOT Ensure Knowledge.
• Ability Trumps Degrees.

If your developer without a traditional degree can communicate, deliver and meet your requirements, why not hire them?

Moreover, it’s only natural that an individual without a degree in computer science will try harder to prove their mettle. (harder than your devs with experience)

Of course, you will be hiring them after holding coding tests.

However, what do you do when coming across a talented individual in their college years who want to work for you?

This is what most founders forget to do:

• Firstly, the individual’s understanding of your brand should be checked.
• The natural second step is to see what they can do in terms of coding.
• Thirdly and ideally, it’s always a good idea to offer them a role based on their knowledge.

Simply offering candidates opportunities to prove their mettle may actually surprise you. In this process, you end up building assets that may work for you in the long term.

How To Handle The Cons Of Hiring A Developer Without A Degree?

It doesn’t take much to bring changes that last in the workplace. Hiring a developer without a degree is not a form of practising kindness. Instead, it’s a way of making sure you create assets!