Like scotty79 says, at least you know what you&#x27;re doing in those ten years. Perhaps an easier analogy would be a lawyer or engineer (ABET degree + coop)? For programming, you get the following &quot;advice&quot;:<p>* Get a degree<p>* Don&#x27;t get a degree, go to a bootcamp&#x2F;teach yourself<p>* Do side projects<p>* Get an internship<p>* Network and go to meet ups<p>* Learn algorithms and data structures<p>* Practice brain teaser questions<p>* Learn these languages<p>* Learn these languages&#x27; frameworks<p>I&#x27;m exaggerating and people can get hired by not know all (or any!) of these, but you get my point. It can be a confusing and overwhelming path both for people who want a career change or are graduating from university.<p>For some, the path to being a doctor is &quot;easier&quot;.