How Education and Experience will transform you from a skillful programmer into an IT Specialist

The "Long Path" is usually the shortest one.

It was 5:30 AM. I woke up, took a bath, had breakfast, and ran to find a place in the crowded classroom. Nothing bad for an 18-year-old. That was my second month at university, and I was already tired.

My tiredness didn't come from what I went through but from what had to come.

That was only the beginning of a 6-year career (at least). I had planned (and had the opportunity) to focus entirely on my studies. My plan was to seek a job only after completing some years, to avoid relegating the university when my work demanded more time.

Some of my friends were already making decent money. Something that, according to my maths, I would experience only 6 to 8 years from then. That seemed like an eternity to me.

A few years later, that feeling repeated after I began working at a big company. Smaller consultancies offered higher salaries, and most of my colleagues joined them.

But I kept going (in both situations) because I was convinced that time dedicated to proper education and continuous experience at my job would pay better.

I think I made the right decisions.

Education

Education for working in IT is like salt for baking bread: It's not mandatory, and you can't perceive it, but the result tastes better with it.

I dispense stacking certifications and specialization courses for IT workers. However, I particularly respect the skills you gain at university. There, you get foundational technical knowledge and cultivate your self-discipline.

Leverage those 2 skills, and you will build a thriving IT career.

Technology changes continuously:

• We must be up-to-date and learn new tools, frameworks, and paradigms.
• We need to adapt to new environments by applying our experience and being open to receiving new concepts.
• We need to change the way we work and interact with each other.

Some years at university won't give us all the technical answers or hard skills. But they will provide us with a good foundation and the character to find them independently.

Again, Education is optional, but it will make it easier for you to become a specialist.

Experience

Experience, on the other hand, is the flour of your bread.

Introduce yourself as an IT specialist before completing 5 years in your area, and you will come across as arrogant at best. That's not only about time; you must go through different situations (experiences) to reach that level. And it does take time.

Skillful people can solve problems at an excellent level. Experienced people can see the problems coming and their possible solutions almost unconsciously.

The only way to:

• Apply the best practices
• Come up with and weigh different alternatives, identifying pros and cons
• Use shortcuts in problem resolution because you were already in this situation

is by carrying a good amount of experience with you.

The good news? It's simple to build your experience:

• Dedicate time and focus on your work.
• Be open to learning.
• Assume responsibilities.

Conclusion

An outstanding set of skills can't make all the work for you. Complement them with education and experience, and you will become a specialist sooner than you think.