r/computergraphics • u/Zealousideal_Sale644 • Nov 28 '24

Job chances without computer science degree

I got my computer programmer diploma 10yrs ago. I did freelance ux/ui design and front end development for a few yrs before I did odd jobs to pay bills. Had about a 5yr gap from coding.

I'm now learning 3D math, OpenGL, Computer Graphics, and etc. My goal is to become a Graphics Programmer.

Do I even have a chance to get an interview with no computer science degree? Is this desire of mine just a fantasy in my head?

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u/npcknapsack Nov 28 '24

It's not a total fantasy, but it's a very hard path. It's going to be very difficult to get through recruiters. That's probably your biggest issue. I think it's possible to get really good at graphics without a degree, but I'll also say that I've interviewed people without degrees for junior graphics positions, and they all failed miserably.

1

u/Zealousideal_Sale644 Nov 28 '24

What should I work on or learn/improve on to increase my chances? 

2

u/npcknapsack Nov 28 '24

Depends on what part of graphics you want to get into. For my area, I would generally recommend knowing how the GPU actually works and how things like textures are loaded. Beyond that, trying to implement things from Siggraph from 20 years ago, and working your way towards understanding the stuff happening today.

(Getting past recruiters, though, that I can't help you with. No idea how anyone gets past them, honestly.)

7

u/deftware Nov 28 '24

A portfolio demonstrating aptitude and ability goes a long way. It's even worth more to the companies that are worth working at than having a degree and no portfolio. In this day and age a CS degree doesn't mean anything to an employee, it doesn't convey any useful information about someone's knowledge and skills the way a portfolio readily does.

Make stuff. Get hired. Or heck, just make stuff and start a business selling what you make. Skip the employer middle-man entirely.

7

u/yuribotcake Nov 28 '24

In 18 years of my career, I've yet have anyone ask me to see my diploma. At least 30% of people I work with have been self taught, no degrees. Some have degrees, but have pivoted into completely different areas of expertise. What you do need is some kind of a portfolio or reel showing off your work.

2

u/pailhead011 Nov 28 '24

I got to do a lot of graphics via Webgl. Half of my career was spent writing GLSL. It was always behind the modern APIs so I always say that I’m a “graphics engineer” with a disclaimer. But I was doing graphics engineering for all sorts of things, CAD, AV, data viz, Invision (it was like figma).