I'm a self-taught programmer, and I got my first job in the industry in 2012. Now that I've been interviewed as a candidate and interviewed candidates for jobs at my company, the thing that stands out most to me in the software industry, whether engineers are self-taught or not, is that networking and personal connections really matter.
The hardest part about getting your first job as a self-taught engineer is getting companies to take you seriously. A lot of companies will just throw out applications from candidates without CS degrees, unless those candidates were referred by someone inside the company. Like most job requirements, the degree and experience are flexible if you can get past the bureaucracy, and knowing an insider helps you do that.
So, I agree with the author of the article that a good portfolio is necessary, but I would rate networking just as highly.
The hardest part about getting your first job as a self-taught engineer is getting companies to take you seriously. A lot of companies will just throw out applications from candidates without CS degrees, unless those candidates were referred by someone inside the company. Like most job requirements, the degree and experience are flexible if you can get past the bureaucracy, and knowing an insider helps you do that.
So, I agree with the author of the article that a good portfolio is necessary, but I would rate networking just as highly.