What Myths About Programming Specialties Do Beginners Encounter?

Introduction

When we begin talking about becoming a programmer, it’s worthwhile to address some of the main myths that can influence someone dreaming of this specialty. Even now, there are articles in major news and media outlets claiming that there is a huge shortage of IT specialists and programmers. But on the other hand, whether you’ve just graduated from university or switched careers after hundreds of hours of courses, starting in this field turns out to be not so simple. How can that be possible?

Myth #1: It’s Easy to Find a Job in IT

Having actively hired people for over five years, I’ve noticed that the same applicants send their CVs year after year in response to job ads, trying and trying. That means not only we, but many other companies do not respond to them. When attempts drag on for even three to five years, it shows how widespread this myth really is.

For entry-level or junior programmers or IT specialists, getting a job now is more difficult than ever because in 2025 the market has somewhat stalled, and artificial intelligence is automating away demand for simpler tasks — exactly those tasks that these specialists built up their initial experience on.

Also, companies must understand that hiring the youngest specialists is not the most expensive in salary terms—but in terms of mentorship, extra time invested, risks of mistakes and low-quality work. Companies waste significant material and energy resources, and naturally they want to optimize and save.

How to Bust This Myth

• Beginners often overestimate their abilities and haven’t even developed a basic foundational knowledge.
• A simple way is to complete many personal projects that can act both as examples and learning sources, so that your CV looks more solid and convinces an employer that hiring you is worthwhile — not someone who still needs to be taught even the basics.
• Finishing courses or university alone is not enough. Show that programming is your life and hobby.

Myth #2: Everyone in IT Earns a Lot

Yes — compared with retail, unskilled labor, or non-technical jobs, IT roles probably offer higher pay on average. But that is not always the case. The highest earnings go to the top specialists — those with the most experience — and they skew company averages and medians upwards.

I remember hiring a beginner who was extremely talented in history. He told me he passed the national history exam with a top grade without much study. Yet in university, he lagged behind, didn’t understand what programming was, but he wanted to get into it because he heard that even a “bad programmer” makes more than a historian.

So my question is: after completing programming studies, do you want to work in a mall talking about the newest iPhone? Probably not. And here’s the point: not everyone in programming truly earns a lot. It’s a craft — creative, complex, and requires a long journey of learning and experience before you can become one of the best and earn high pay.

How to Bust This Myth

• Check whether you have natural personal aptitudes for this field.
• Move into it only if you are sure you are truly systematic, organized, and have analytical and logical thinking.
• Reflect: how did you do in math or physics? Were those sciences a struggle, or did they come easily? If they were easier, you can feel more confident that you might make good progress — and possibly earn well eventually.

Myth #3: There Are So Many Specialists Needed — News Portals Always Say That

This myth used to hold more weight. What we need now are good specialists. The first two myths connect here: no one wants poorly performing and inexperienced specialists because they consume resources. The market is competing for the best.

News outlets used to promote the idea that IT roles are always needed and will never be filled — until artificial intelligence came along. Also, twenty years ago programming seemed so foreign and strange to many people that generating hype about a shortage was one of the few ways to attract broader attention.

Today, we no longer need to spread myths that programming is only for weird, energy drink-drinking, basement-dwelling enthusiasts who never leave their rooms and speak in ones and zeros. News sites have done their part: they’ve shown that programming is fundamentally a normal profession open to anyone who is good at math, organized, logical — that it’s not an incomprehensible or intimidating monster. But that’s where the myth ends.

How to Bust This Myth

• Understand the personal traits and character that businesses demand.
• Strive to be a better employee than AI tools or automation.
• I encourage reading Darius Pietaris’s article on Substack about what kind of person you need to be today so that people enjoy working with you.

Myth #4: All IT Companies Have Very High Standards

Yes, in our field there are perks like free pizza, snacks, social events, and teambuilding. But that doesn’t mean that every IT company you join will teach you best practices, build your knowledge foundation on strong values, or operate with maturity.

Many smaller companies still function on principles like “make it work” or just “patch until it works.” If you end up in such a company, you not only will not learn good practices that are needed in bigger or international companies, but you may also form poor habits — being “just a quick-fixer” rather than a quality-focused professional. And changing habits, as we know, is very hard.

Company culture matters too. We at PrestaRock weren’t always ideal, and as an inexperienced leader early in my career, I made many mistakes. So it’s crucial to choose your workplace wisely.

How to Bust This Myth

• Don’t rush into just any job.
• Check whether the company works with large, well-known brands, whether they organize free internships or academies, or have established best practices.
• From one side, starting in a large international company is great. But there are hidden gems like PrestaRock, where from internship you can grow into a partner or a team lead.

Conclusion

There are probably more myths out there, but these, in my opinion, are the most commonly encountered.