3 Myths About Engineering Jobs: You're More Qualified Than You Think

The Experience

Since I started career coaching, I’ve heard the same three myths over and over. Most people are holding themselves back before the market even has a chance to reject them. Let’s bust these myths once and for all.

Myth 1: CS Majors have a massive head start

When I landed my first Java role, I had the degree and the certs. But I quickly realized my coworkers—who came from intensive bootcamps—were making 5,000 TWD more than me!

Why? Because the market values results, not just paper. Bootcamps often teach the exact tech stacks the industry is using right now, whereas universities can be a bit behind the curve.

The Reality: Whether you’re a CS major or a career changer, you’re all starting at the same baseline: “Junior Dev.” What matters is how you leverage your unique background to solve problems.

Myth 2: You need a perfect portfolio to start

A portfolio is just a conversation starter. It’s a way to prove you can do what you say you can do. For my third job (transitioning to Frontend), I didn’t actually have a traditional “portfolio site.”

What to do instead:

• Public Learning Notes: Show your journey. Document how you solved a specific bug. This proves you have the “engineering mindset.”
• Focus on Reflection: Don’t just show the code; explain why you built it that way.
• The “60% Rule”: If you meet 60% of the job requirements, apply. You don’t need to be perfect; you just need to be capable of learning the rest.

Myth 3: Free learning is the only way to go

YouTube and FreeCodeCamp are amazing, but they often give you “knowledge dots” without the lines to connect them.

When I was transitioning, I paid for a structured course. Why?

1. Time is Money: A structured curriculum saves you months of wandering through the wrong tutorials.
2. Skin in the Game: When you pay, you’re more likely to take it seriously and finish.
3. The “Secret” Knowledge: Paid courses often include access to mentors and communities that give you the “inside scoop” on the industry.

The Takeaway

Most “portfolios” are just tools for self-improvement. If you can set up a project, debug a feature, and understand the logic of a framework, you are ready to start the search.

You are never going to be “100% ready.” Real learning happens in the field, not in a tutorial. You are more qualified than you think—so go hit that apply button.

Want a second opinion on your career path? Let’s talk!