Ask HN: Self taught programmers without CS degree working at one of the big 5? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Self taught programmers without CS degree working at one of the big 5?

#21

Post by skylark » Wed, Jul 05, 2017, 5:35 AM UTC

ud0 wrote: post #19

skylark wrote: post #3

I don't have a CS degree and currently work at Google. I used a bootcamp to get my foot in the door. I studied college textbooks in my spare time for a few years to fill some of the gaps in my knowledge, and then hardcore interview prepped for a few months leading up to my interviews. I got accepted into all of the tech giants and ultimately decided to go to Google. This is by far the best job I've ever had, and I co…

Are you into frontend/backend? Also, Do frontend interviews require that the algorithms be done in Javascript?

I used JavaScript because I'm most comfortable with it - I believe you can use any language you want, but you're better off if it's one the interviewer knows (Java/C for back end, JavaScript for front end.)

I personally applied as a front end engineer, but the only difference is that the system design interview question gets swapped with a front end focused one. Within Google my official title is still "Software Engineer" and I'm expected to work across the stack.

Re: Ask HN: Self taught programmers without CS degree working at one of the big 5?

#22

Post by codesternews » Wed, Jul 05, 2017, 6:34 AM UTC

skylark wrote: post #3

I don't have a CS degree and currently work at Google. I used a bootcamp to get my foot in the door. I studied college textbooks in my spare time for a few years to fill some of the gaps in my knowledge, and then hardcore interview prepped for a few months leading up to my interviews. I got accepted into all of the tech giants and ultimately decided to go to Google. This is by far the best job I've ever had, and I co…

What you feel is the most important thing on your Resume to get the interviews in these companies? Is any of opensource work or any other thing which can be helpful to get the interviews (portfolio etc)? Thanks for sharing.

Re: Ask HN: Self taught programmers without CS degree working at one of the big 5?

#23

Post by skylark » Wed, Jul 05, 2017, 7:03 AM UTC

codesternews wrote: post #22

skylark wrote: post #3

I don't have a CS degree and currently work at Google. I used a bootcamp to get my foot in the door. I studied college textbooks in my spare time for a few years to fill some of the gaps in my knowledge, and then hardcore interview prepped for a few months leading up to my interviews. I got accepted into all of the tech giants and ultimately decided to go to Google. This is by far the best job I've ever had, and I co…

What you feel is the most important thing on your Resume to get the interviews in these companies? Is any of opensource work or any other thing which can be helpful to get the interviews (portfolio etc)? Thanks for sharing.

I'm not part of the recruitment process, so I can't speak at all about how resumes are screened and what might give you an advantage.

My personal resume consisted almost entirely of my work accomplishments with a few lines for my education. No side projects.