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Ask HN: Do Udacity nanodegrees get anyone a job without academic background?

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Re: Ask HN: Do Udacity nanodegrees get anyone a job without academic background?

#31

Post by ralusek »

theorique wrote: post #10
mowingscooter wrote: post #4

When I come across an applicant with a nanodegree, it almost sends a negative signal. If anything, do the course, leave it off your resume, and if you get an interview, you might impress your interviewer with all this unexpected technical knowledge.

almost sends a negative signal. Could you expand on that? Is there some common feature of people who have completed nanodegree courses?

I think the negative signal is that they think it's worth mentioning. It's like if you go on a date with someone and say "you know, I have to tell you, I've kissed someone before." They're probably going to be concerned that this is notable information.

Re: Ask HN: Do Udacity nanodegrees get anyone a job without academic background?

#32

Post by edshiro »

I completed the self-driving car nanodegree last year and currently doing the computer vision one. I did not seek a job at the end of the SDC one but I learned a lot and that could be helpful in the near future, either for my startup or if I decide to look for a new job.

Re: Ask HN: Do Udacity nanodegrees get anyone a job without academic background?

#33

Post by TuringNYC »

etmhpe wrote: post #30
syntaxing wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm surprised that it sends an negative signal. Is there a reasoning for it? Does completing an online course signify unwanted behavior/personality? I feel like if you leave it off your resume, you probably wouldn't be able to land the interview to begin with.

The problem is that there is almost no barrier to entry for nanodegrees.

>> The problem is that there is almost no barrier to entry for nanodegrees.

I'm a hiring manager and have also been in senior manager roles (directing overall department build-outs) and I dont see it as a negative. It is a slight positive for me:

- Barrier 1: Interest (positive)

- Barrier 2: Sufficient motivation to complete, however easy (positive)

This said, I've encountered some managers who see it as a negative because they think individuals who sharpen their saw are 1. more likely to progress and move on and 2. distracted from working 24/7 on the job. I think this is positive -- you probably want to filter out such managers anyway!

Re: Ask HN: Do Udacity nanodegrees get anyone a job without academic background?

#34

Post by mindcrime »

mowingscooter wrote: post #4

When I come across an applicant with a nanodegree, it almost sends a negative signal. If anything, do the course, leave it off your resume, and if you get an interview, you might impress your interviewer with all this unexpected technical knowledge.

I, on the other hand, treat it as a positive signal, albeit a weak one. But at the end of the day, for me at least, a hiring decision is never about any one feature on a resume... you have to look at the whole thing holistically and try to get a complete picture of the candidate.

Somebody with just a nano-degree maybe doesn't impress so much. Somebody with a couple of interesting open source projects, a nano-degree, and some other miscellaneous education may well impress me depending on the details.

But really, it (should) all come down to the ability to demonstrate competence in your claimed skills, regardless of where/how you acquired the skills you claim.

Re: Ask HN: Do Udacity nanodegrees get anyone a job without academic background?

#35

Post by TuringNYC »

mowingscooter wrote: post #15
syntaxing wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm surprised that it sends an negative signal. Is there a reasoning for it? Does completing an online course signify unwanted behavior/personality? I feel like if you leave it off your resume, you probably wouldn't be able to land the interview to begin with.

I’ve done online courses myself and found them immensely useful. Unfortunately, I think that to some extent, it signals that “I’m interested, but not committed enough to get a full degree.” Your nanodegree realistically will never come close to competing with a formal CS degree. So don’t bother with listing it. List your github projects and apps you’ve released. Get the interview. “Oh and by the way, in my spare time…

>> Unfortunately, I think that to some extent, it signals that “I’m interested, but not committed enough to get a full degree.”

Commitment is rarely the barrier to a full degree. More likely barriers:

- Person wants grad degree but does not want to risk getting off career track and losing momentum (e.g., consulting, banking, etc)

- Person wants grad degree but cannot afford it

- Person wants grad degree but cannot afford child care

- Person wants grad degree but needs salary to support family

- Person wants grad degree and can afford it, but has competing time commitments such as children

- Person wants grad degree but has visa issues locking them into an inflexible job

- Person wants grad degree but work hours do not allow it

- Person wants grad degree but cannot afford to downgrade healthcare plan (in the US)

Speaking from personal experience, i did my graduate degree 15yrs after my undergrad. I finally semi-retired from Wall Street and was doing a personally co-founded startup which allowed me the flexibility to do a graduate degree in the evenings. My wife had to focus intensely on taking care of the kids in evenings and late evenings while I studied.

Re: Ask HN: Do Udacity nanodegrees get anyone a job without academic background?

#36

Post by etmhpe »

TuringNYC wrote: post #33
etmhpe wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is that there is almost no barrier to entry for nanodegrees.

>> The problem is that there is almost no barrier to entry for nanodegrees. I'm a hiring manager and have also been in senior manager roles (directing overall department build-outs) and I dont see it as a negative. It is a slight positive for me: - Barrier 1: Interest (positive) - Barrier 2: Sufficient motivation to complete, however easy (positive) This said, I've encountered some managers who see it as a negative b…

Yes but the problem is that barrier to entry is proportional to prestige so there is very little prestige associated with nanodegrees. Whether it's right or wrong companies care about prestige. Not all of them of course but I have found this to be true for the most in-demand jobs.

Re: Ask HN: Do Udacity nanodegrees get anyone a job without academic background?

#37

Post by maxxxxx »

Alex3917 wrote: post #11

No one is going to hire you because you have a degree, whether from a university or from Udacity. They'll hire you because: A) your overall resume is impressive B) you either have a portfolio of things you've built, or else you agree to do a take home assignment and successfully complete it C) you can pass both technical and non-technical interviews To get hired you need A && B && C. Doing Udacity will probably help…

In a lot of companies you will NOT get hired without degree. It's pretty much the barrier to entry before you can show your skills or experience . Not sure if Udacity degrees count for this.

Re: Ask HN: Do Udacity nanodegrees get anyone a job without academic background?

#38

Post by etmhpe »

mowingscooter wrote: post #4

When I come across an applicant with a nanodegree, it almost sends a negative signal. If anything, do the course, leave it off your resume, and if you get an interview, you might impress your interviewer with all this unexpected technical knowledge.

My advice would be to leave it off your resume but put the projects on your resume (or include a link to them on your github)

Re: Ask HN: Do Udacity nanodegrees get anyone a job without academic background?

#40

Post by kirpekar »

I did a nanodegree, it was a complete waste of time for me.

It was impossible for me to get a job with those (basic) skills. A lot more is needed.

I have been on the other side also as a hiring manager. I would never screen (let alone hire) anyone just on the basis of the nanodegree

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