The importance of a Bachelors Degree

Question

I'm a Java Software developer, planning to move to Toronto from South America in the next few months. The problem is, I have not finished my Bachelors Degree in CS, but I have a few years of experience working as a full time developer for many companies. Here where I live, the Bachelors Degree is not a must have in order to get a job, and since I had to pay for it myself I could not finish it yet.

Do you guys think I could get a job in Toronto with a incomplete degree, experience and a Java Programmer I certificate? If so, I would receive an entry level salary?

EDIT: Explaining my situation a little bit better, I could finish my degree in one year, although that would be hard and expensive. I can see that not having a degree could make it harder for me to get a job, but the urge to left my country has led me to consider this possibility.

I thought I could go with a working permit, find work there and then apply for permanent residency, and, if possible, finish my degree in Canada.

Answer 1

In my experience, I have found that the international opportunities available to me have been greatly enhanced by having a Bachelors degree. None of the international moves I have made would have been possible without it.

You will want to check the requirements for applying for a work permit for Canada to see whether a Bachelors degree is required for your field of work. (Since there are already many Canadian Java software developers, you may need to show that you bring exceptional skills to your employer.)

Answer 2

I work in a software company in Southwest Ontario. We hire people without a bachelor degree, but the hurdle is high. As mentioned in another response: It's not necessary to get a job, but it will be difficult to get interviews. Your starting salary will probably also be lower compared to an undergraduate. To get interviews you need to pass the filters of the recruiters.

You mentioned that you have 27 years of experience in software development. That can make up for the missing degree. In the end it will be the decision of the hiring manager whether she/he will give you a chance to talk to them or not. As usual: personal connections can help you to stand out from the crowd. Also: You might want to look into other areas than just Toronto.

Good luck! I'm an immigrant to Canada myself and I was lucky to transfer within my company.

Answer 3

I don't disagree with the other answers about getting a job, but your question is missing an important point.

Having a Bachelors degree will be a huge help in acquiring Permanent Residence.

Canadian immigration works on a points system, and you will get a substantial number of points for completing your degree. While not having one won't exclude you, especially with software development skills, it will be more difficult to immigrate without one - even if you have worked in Canada already.

Given the combination of both difficultly getting a job and of immigrating, I would recommend finishing your degree.

Answer 4

What I have learned over the years is that good experience and ability to understand problems and discuss solutions, can get you a decent job.

However, having a degree will get you interviews.

Companies are usually flooded with CVs (resumes or whatever), and the HR department (or recruitment agency, or poor person who got roped into sorting through potential candidates) usually have nothing to distinguish between candidates except for what THEY understand. And they generally aren't programmers themselves. Usually, that means that they look for a degree, and big company names.

Another thing that might be worth mentioning - you say you have experience with MANY companies? That can also make you look like a job-hopper, and it's worth playing down a little on a CV. Focus on the relevant ones, and keep the rest to a minimum.