Self Taught - When should I start applying for jobs?
Hey guys and gals,
I started learning coding around 2022, before AI tools were everywhere. Did a bunch of courses online and I’d say I have a pretty decent understanding of software architecture now.
I’ve worked with .NET, SQL Server, ASP.NET MVC, Xamarin/.NET MAUI, REST APIs, Identity, Entity Framework, and a bit of React. On the DevOps side I know my way around Azure, CI/CD pipelines, and Windows Server. I’ve also built a few websites and side projects for fun.
My issue is that nowadays I use AI a lot for the repetitive/boring stuff. I can definitely code on my own, but I still lean on AI pretty heavily during development.
Because I don’t have a SWE degree, I sometimes feel like a “vibe coder” (which I honestly hate), and it makes me feel weird about applying for dev jobs ( I currently work in tech support)
What’s the best way to realistically assess my skills and know if I’m actually ready to apply for developer roles?