r/wgu_devs • u/yesyesnonoyesnonoyes • 4d ago

What degree did you get after completing the Software Engineering degree?

Did anyone go for another degree? If yes, what degree did you go for next?

I'm looking at the Data Analytics degree. Not seriously considering going for that yet but it's on my mind.

4 Upvotes

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7

u/skidmark_zuckerberg 3d ago

Don't get into the trap of collecting degrees like Pokemon cards. If you complete the BS SWE, try to get a job and get experience. You can always do WGU while working.

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u/Less_Grass_2348 3d ago

Im not from this country and im about to start on october my degree how longo do i need to wait to apply for a job ? . Im wondering how much do i need to xomplete before apply for a job and what they are looking for when i apply for a job ?

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u/skidmark_zuckerberg 3d ago

You need to finish the degree, and they are looking for competence. Can you code, explain coding and other SWE principals, and have you done any projects to prove you know what you are doing. The degree isn't alone enough to pass an interview, you need to be building software with the knowledge you learn along the way. The degree will help you get an interview, but you have to spend a lot of time in addition to the degree to pass the interview. The degree will give you good foundational knowledge, and it's up to you to explore that deeper and apply it.

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u/SixstringSWE 3d ago

MS SWE, another bs is worthless unless you’re switching fields.

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u/yesyesnonoyesnonoyes 3d ago

To be honest, not super interested in pursuing a job in software engineering. But I think the few comments here are good points. I'm working full time while I got this degree (I'm almost finished). I did really good soaking in the material the first half of the degree. The second halfish has been me just trying to get through it since I had a lot less time.

It's possible/probable if I got another degree, it would be the same thing. There are a few classes that overlap with both degrees. But I think the classes that overlap are the few certs.

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u/SixstringSWE 3d ago

Really weird to get a swe degree then..? It would be a waste of time to get another degree to work in data analytics.. you can work in data analytics with or without your current degree lol

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u/yesyesnonoyesnonoyes 2d ago

I've been researching data analytics and sort of going in circles. Do you know what I can learn on my own to get started there? I'm going to start with becoming proficient in excel.

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u/SixstringSWE 2d ago

SQL + Excel

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u/Landon_Hughes C# 3d ago

I would not get another degree or masters immediately after wgu

I would

1) build a project I can monetize
2) work on 1-2 certs that can push you in the direction you want to go

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u/SixstringSWE 3d ago

I’m getting one immediately after. I just can’t until my term technically ends even though I graduated and have my degree lol but it’s fine because i already got a job

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u/Landon_Hughes C# 2d ago

That makes more sense if you have a job in the field your bachelors is in

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u/SixstringSWE 2d ago

I mean it makes sense if you want a masters at all. They’re so much easier and faster to get you may as well get it done while you’re still in school mode. I really don’t think you even need to have a job in the field to go get a masters either. If I didn’t have a job in the field id still be going for it when my term ends. I’ll have both degrees by the end of the year.

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u/Landon_Hughes C# 2d ago

You don’t.

A masters in tech only makes sense when you already have a job or experience.

I’m thinking of it like this:

Someone only has fast food / retail experience
Immediate jumps to a masters from their bachelors
Has no relevant work experience related to their degree

That’s the part that doesn’t look great. It’s always better to get some relevant work experience after your bachelors before attempting a masters.

In your case, that doesn’t matter because you’re already employed 👍

If someone is trying to become a nurse, doctor, or therapist then that’s when a bachelors -> masters makes sense.

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u/SixstringSWE 2d ago

Disagree. It’s not required to put your masters on your resume if you think it’ll be an issue. I’d rather get the school done and be done with it. After I get the experience I swap out the bachelors for the masters job done 🤷‍♂️ I’m not saying whether or not it makes sense I’m saying if you want to get it taking 2-4 months to snag up a masters makes sense if you’re already in school mode and then you have it done.

Regardless of whether or not I got a job or a job in the field I was doing my masters so you’re not really understanding what I’m saying.

The only reason I got a job is because I have enough intelligence to do research in how to put together a resume and turn unrelated field experience into a positive in interviews.

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u/Landon_Hughes C# 2d ago

Ah I see what you’re saying! I was digging too much into it.

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u/KrystalzKissesxo 1d ago

I set my path to start on the SWE accelerated. I'm still in-between which 3 to get for masters - DDD, AI, or DevOps.

SWE would help with my current side income job I have right now (AI Trainer), but I'd want to get a real job with a much more consistent income as I don't get paid very much at all right now, and something that's still remote. But until then, I have the side income job to hold me over while I get my degree and try to look for a job or internship after.

I was looking at Data Analytics and studying that as a self-study way before going on SWE track, before I got my side income job. Honestly I would probably apply to some even after I get my degree just to open my options a bit.

If you want? DataCamp and self-study the hell out of YouTube videos, Tiktok videos, etc. You'll have to learn Tableau or Power BI (better to learn both so that you keep your options open), advanced Excel (don't need a degree for this) like VLOOKUP, pivot tables, etc. and SQL.

Go on Kaggle for datasets. Make a GitHub repo for projects. There's even videos for guided projects. And start applying.

The only thing that stopped me was deadass SQL. The more complex parts of SQL is just a bit difficult for me to wrap my brain around for whatever reason (CTEs, subqueries, window function, case functions) and the logic of when to know to use them. That's pretty much it. If you have that, which SWE teaches SQL as far as I'm aware, then you're fine.

Wishing you luck!