In a sense, you boss might be right.
I have almost 8 years of professional programming experience though I'm doing something else(selling women's clothes,;-). but I'm still doing programming as my hobby) in S.Korea after dot.com collapse.
Anyway, what I've found out is proper balance between theory and experience.
If you have lots of experience without proper theory, you reaily get stereotyped and you don't find anything creative.
But if you know lots of theory without experience, 9 cases out of 10, you'll make a huge and dangerous mistake since the world( or even computer programs) doesn't work as you perceive with your brain.
There is a huge gap between theory and reality and I think EXPERIENCE is a method of filling the gap.
Probably, you boss saw too many experienced programmers without proper theoretical background.
With proper & fresh theory, you'll get more creative in inventing solutions.
Also with you experience, you'll get far more efficient and less dangerous in implenenting your idea.
That's what I've found after those hellish 8 years of programming.
Take care~
Slashdot Mirror
In a sense, you boss might be right. I have almost 8 years of professional programming experience though I'm doing something else(selling women's clothes, ;-). but I'm still doing programming as my hobby) in S.Korea after dot.com collapse.
Anyway, what I've found out is proper balance between theory and experience.
If you have lots of experience without proper theory, you reaily get stereotyped and you don't find anything creative.
But if you know lots of theory without experience, 9 cases out of 10, you'll make a huge and dangerous mistake since the world( or even computer programs) doesn't work as you perceive with your brain.
There is a huge gap between theory and reality and I think EXPERIENCE is a method of filling the gap.
Probably, you boss saw too many experienced programmers without proper theoretical background.
With proper & fresh theory, you'll get more creative in inventing solutions.
Also with you experience, you'll get far more efficient and less dangerous in implenenting your idea.
That's what I've found after those hellish 8 years of programming.
Take care~
What the hell is this?
Is it really worth it?
Anyway we all are gonna die someday. So don't worry much about that!
Just tell the truth but show them you're keeping up with current tech issues and you are confident despite the gap in your career!
But also, if you are pretty confident, just lie! And at the work, show your ability. Then, they don't care whether you lied or not!
In worse case, if you don't get a job, go to a strip bar, hire a few girls, and open a porn site.
Paradoxically, in my opinion, the worst case is the best case!