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Ask HN: I'm a SWE without a CS degree. Will online certs help me get into FAANG?

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Re: Ask HN: I'm a SWE without a CS degree. Will online certs help me get into FAANG?

#11
post #5

I remember a time when online certificates was an anti signal. I think it still is in many startups. (Most people just hire on skill.)

I don't remember the time that online certificates from MIT, Berkeley, etc would have been anti signals.

https://www.edx.org/learn/computer-programming/massachusetts...

Re: Ask HN: I'm a SWE without a CS degree. Will online certs help me get into FAANG?

#12
If you are shooting for some sort of cloud technical support / technical sale kind of role, I do think cloud certainly in the relevant cloud provider will help, but they are not necessary.

I think the carts mostly exists to satisfy corporate clients

Re: Ask HN: I'm a SWE without a CS degree. Will online certs help me get into FAANG?

#15
I'm UK based, went to an arts university, I work as a SWE at a company in the US. I think most tech companies, especially startups, would be more impressed by an unfinished but interesting side project than any certs or qualifications.

Re: Ask HN: I'm a SWE without a CS degree. Will online certs help me get into FAANG?

#17
Like others are saying, Leetcode is enough to get into a FAANG.

The only place where having a CS degree would be important is if you want to move to a different country and the company would have to sponsor your visa.

That said, FAANG seems to be pretty tight with headcount these days, hopefully it’s better in a year or two.

Re: Ask HN: I'm a SWE without a CS degree. Will online certs help me get into FAANG?

#19
post #3

Dude I got into a FAANG company with no CS degree (or any other degree). Unless you're going into research, where is PhD is almost required, they'll hire you based on your skills.

Same. I still have zero certifications of any kind beyond HS, despite the pressure to start collecting the useless company certs.

Re: Ask HN: I'm a SWE without a CS degree. Will online certs help me get into FAANG?

#20
I worked at a FAANG company. My co-worker hadn't graduated High School.

I recommend applying and grinding leetcode if you aim for a SWE role. Two years SWE experience is enough for them to give you an interview with a cold application through their job board in my experience.

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