Degree or prior knowledge required for IT specialists in the field of application development?

Question

What is more important?

I spoke to someone with a bit more professional experience and he was also self-employed for a while.

Now he said that it would be better to catch up on school and aim for a high school diploma because that is what all employers look for.

I don't think it's wrong, but he also said that prior knowledge doesn't matter.

Is it true that I won't be able to get an apprenticeship if I have enough knowledge but a poor degree?

uwe65527 · Answer

What matters are the skills, which are documented by a good high school diploma. Specific prior knowledge is less important. Technology is advancing rapidly. Adaptability is of utmost importance. Your friend is right.

rubezahl2000 · Answer

Good secondary school leaving certificate or Abitur
good grades in math and English

…that's what employers usually value.
You learn everything else during your training.

And since there are always a lot of applicants for this training, employers naturally pick the best from all the applicants.

but poor finish

For example, if you have a bad math grade on your school leaving certificate, you have little chance.
The math grade says a lot about the applicant's logical thinking skills and comprehension; that's why employers place great value on good math grades, among other things.

norbertk62 · Answer

Your friend's experiences are not unrealistic at all: Attention is paid to school education (and a few grades), because it makes a difference to the future employer whether someone had the guts to persevere until they graduated from high school or whether they gave up after secondary school. Added to that, of course, is the entire workload that one has learned. Prior knowledge—that's a slippery surface. I'm a FiSi instructor. It feels like 8 out of 10 applicants claim to be computer literate. After the first few hours of (early morning) training at the company, you realize that nobody learns anything except games and the like. Everyone thinks they know enough—but there are statistical studies for that. Look up the "Dunning-Kruger" effect. It explains what's behind it.

anson12 · Answer

Previous knowledge is always important. I have never had a trainee admit that they have never been involved in this industry or have had similar experiences privately.