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Comment by RSchaeffer | Hacker News Reader

> For these reasons, people should consider the possibility of starting a career in tech without going to college, and employers should consider the viability of hiring such candidates.

How does this differ from the status quo?

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That's a good question.

I believe that a lot of people see not having a degree as an impediment to getting a job "in tech", and therefore never set out down that path. In my experience, the reality of that is much different: I don't have a degree and I know many others in my situation. What I do have is professional experience. I don't think my lack of a degree has held back my career or limited my earning potential.

The problem is that many employers will toss resumes without a degree on them without a second thought.

First, why would you want to work for an employer like that? Second... why would you just submit a resume and do nothing else? If you're looking to land a job you need to be networking and making yourself known. The path here isn't to find a way through the HR filter, but to simply go around it.

This isn't just an HR filter, or something you can email your way around. Not having a college degree looks like risk, so unless you get lucky, your resume will not be considered. It sucks, but that's how things are at the moment.

Kind of how IBM stuck around for so long because 'no ones ever been fired for buying IBM'.

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