[tsingy]

I'm trying to break into SE (at 32 from an accounting background), but not having a US/EU passport and living in a third world makes it hard. So I will say that depending on where you are from, things can get tricky. But the usual still stands, you get jobs by knowing the right people.

[gumballindie]

If it helps, the tendency is to shift software development to other countries. It’s reached a stage like manufacturing in many aspects - including worker rights, status and job satisfaction and is about to be decimated in a similar fashion. Probably better than looking for a SE job in the west at the moment. In case you haven't noticed there are job cuts, people barely afford housing, crime is on the rise, and so on.

[tsingy]

Yeah I see it a lot, but most part of Africa are still not seriously considered. And if they are, it's probably through some agency that will make most of the "cut" while paying the locals minimum wage. I can still go back to EU if things don't work out, but I'll try this way for now.

[jacknews]

Exactly, the fact that you're based in a developing country automatically means you'll get a peanut salary, whether you're local or expat, code-mill or rockstar, etc, etc.

SE is not moving to these places for better quality.

[gumballindie]

It really depends. Jobs that refer to you as a worker and your peers as the workforce will pay peanuts. They pay peanuts in the west, they pay peanuts in the south.

But if you slap an identity on your profile then where you are may not matter that much. There will still be a pay gap but pay will be worth while.

Guess what i am trying to say is that it is worth giving a shot but that shot needs to be given your all you have. I dont have specific examples but it is doable.

[codegeek]

I don't know you and don't mean to insult but I advise you to change your mentality. Victimhood is a choice. Yes, you live in a 3rd world country where things are harder. But SE is one of the only fields where you don't need a degree, could work from anywhere in the world and still make decent money especially depending on the cost of living in your country.

Plenty of poeple live in 3rd world countries and have found ways to break into SE and make a decent living. If they can do it, so can you. All the best

[NikolaNovak]

Empathy. It's a thing.

But seriously, there 8 billion of us on the planet and things can be massively different for different people.

First, software engineering is NOT necessarily well paid anywhere. A lot of that is a usa thing! Even in Canada, developers are far less on the crazy side of bell curve than in usa. None of my friends can make any sense of usa salaries. And in many other parts of the world, IT worker is an office worker. No special unique magic dust attached to profession.

Second, why do you assume you don't need a degree anywhere? That's true in many companies in usa. It's not necessarily the case in all companies everywhere.

Et cetera et cetera. Being In The right city, family, ethnicity, religion, group, caste can also make a massive difference in many places. There's just a zillion aspects to being successful in various situations that not all of us may be aware of.

Sorry if I'm harsh, but having lived in places outside of the North American continent and still remembering their reality / having contacts around the world, the willing, arrogant and patronizing HN bubble sometimes really grates me :-/

(if on the other hand / benefit of doubt, your intent was to encourage the op, I think the message slightly missed the mark... Better luck next time :)

[codegeek]

"intent was to encourage the op"

It certainly was. I do realize though that my style is too crude and seems to lack empathy.

[vitno]

Being condescending is also a choice.

Nothing about the GP indicated victimhood, only striving for a better life with real challenges in front of them.

[tsingy]

No worries about my life, I'm good. Just wanting to do something different as a job. Thanks for defending me :)

[tsingy]

You don't mean to, but you actually do. Come off your high horse and stop assuming things you don't know. Please do not misinterpret what I wrote, I think it's clear enough.

[codegeek]

Fair enough. My point didn't come across the way I intended. All the best.