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Ask HN: Is it possible to get a tech job without a degree?

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Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to get a tech job without a degree?

#21

Post by freehunter »

tptacek wrote: post #7

I have one semester of college, in which I took psychology and political science. I've worked as the lead network architect for a large ISP, as a developer and then lead developer of a network security tool, as a security researcher (I have a pretty decent cite record and a fun list of universities with courses that have taught papers I wrote), as a 2-time startup founder, the first of which was VC-funded, as a lead…

If I were asked for a GPA or an SAT score at any job interview, I would walk as well. It's completely irrelevant, and highly dependent on the school you went to (is a 4.0 at DeVry better or worse than a 3.0 from CMU?)

It sounds like you're a little older than a person who would be debating going to college, though. I had a coworker that trained me at my current job who only had a few classes at a community college. Being hired a decade after him, it was required that I have a bachelors degree. Things have changes rapidly in the past few decades in terms of HR expectations at larger companies. I'm not trying to detract from your advice, because I think you're absolutely correct. I'm just wondering if you would be able to replicate your success today.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to get a tech job without a degree?

#23

Post by freehunter »

asdasf wrote: post #15
tptacek wrote: post #7

I have one semester of college, in which I took psychology and political science. I've worked as the lead network architect for a large ISP, as a developer and then lead developer of a network security tool, as a security researcher (I have a pretty decent cite record and a fun list of universities with courses that have taught papers I wrote), as a 2-time startup founder, the first of which was VC-funded, as a lead…

>Watch out for IT. IT for people without a degree is a trap. What do you mean? You just talked about being in IT without a degree.

Sounds to me like the difference between IT and IS. You're either "the IT guy" or you work in IS doing real things. Not just rebooting a managers PC and installing printer drivers.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to get a tech job without a degree?

#24

Post by tptacek »

freehunter wrote: post #21
tptacek wrote: post #7

I have one semester of college, in which I took psychology and political science. I've worked as the lead network architect for a large ISP, as a developer and then lead developer of a network security tool, as a security researcher (I have a pretty decent cite record and a fun list of universities with courses that have taught papers I wrote), as a 2-time startup founder, the first of which was VC-funded, as a lead…

If I were asked for a GPA or an SAT score at any job interview, I would walk as well. It's completely irrelevant, and highly dependent on the school you went to (is a 4.0 at DeVry better or worse than a 3.0 from CMU?) It sounds like you're a little older than a person who would be debating going to college, though. I had a coworker that trained me at my current job who only had a few classes at a community college. B…

Maybe it's hard to get a job at Google without a degree (at least, if you're not a software security person). Don't work at Google. There's an industry full of small software startups and an open war for talent right now; start your career at one of the shops smart enough not to pay attention to college records. For every successfully-executed role in your resume, it becomes progressively more and more insane to screen you out based on your degree. Since the starting state on screening by degree is already "pretty crazy", it doesn't take long to make college irrelevant.

But again, to make that work, you need to be serious enough about your craft that you can demonstrate ability clearly.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to get a tech job without a degree?

#25

Post by jzf »

I would hire any developer who could point to his or her prior work. Build something I can see for fun, contribute to open source. I would ask you why no degree in the interview just so I don't hear something like "I ain't into no book learning."

One more bit of advice. Own the "no degree" mystic. Make me believe it was by choice, not by happenstance.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to get a tech job without a degree?

#26

Post by [deleted] »

freehunter wrote: post #23
asdasf wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Watch out for IT. IT for people without a degree is a trap. What do you mean? You just talked about being in IT without a degree.

Sounds to me like the difference between IT and IS. You're either "the IT guy" or you work in IS doing real things. Not just rebooting a managers PC and installing printer drivers.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to get a tech job without a degree?

#27

Post by plcancel »

Absolutely. However, be mindful that along with a degree comes a certain amount of potential networking/professional relationships that you may need to push to replicate as well outside of the university environment.

Demonstrate you are a creative and tenacious problem solver and you will be valuable, degree or no degree.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to get a tech job without a degree?

#28

Post by walshemj »

odonnellryan wrote: post #10
dsschnau wrote: post #3

I think the best answer you're going to come away with from here is this: Yes, it is possible, but it is more difficult. YMMV.

That's probably true. Also: Just saying "tech" makes it hard to discuss. Tech ranges from IT (Helpdesk throughout very advanced network architecture), to Software engineering (Websites (html) to integrated systems, to application development), to many more obscure and loosely-related fields.

And not all "tech" relates to computers traditional "engineering" has non degree entrance options.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to get a tech job without a degree?

#29

Post by Dirlewanger »

Yes, but I've seen cases where companies use said fact to their advantage and dock the employee's pay compared to those who did have a degree. At least in the US, there are many places where having a degree not only helps in finding a job but provides a salary baseline.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to get a tech job without a degree?

#30

Post by philbarr »

I stuffed up my education for one reason and another and never got a degree. When I eventually had to do work I started out de-stapling things so that they could be scanned in. I did this for about 9 months - after 3 months my boss actually got me a destapler so I didn't have to use my fingers.

BUT, I saw that he had an Issues list in Excel that he would spend hours fiddling with. I wrote a bunch of VBA for him to make it easier to deal with and he was ecstatic. I managed to use this as a sort of portfolio and got a job that was all Excel and MS Access.

I convinced those guys to let me do their website, and used that as my next portfolio to get into an actual software shop. I worked my way up the ranks there until I was the highest paid guy, before moving to where I am now as head of development.

All you need to do is:

- work hard, which is easy if you're actually interested in it.

- continually think, "how does this benefit me in getting my next job / further my career?" This is a constant exercise.

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