Ask HN: Breaking into low-level programming work with o a CS degree?
When I attended college, I was undecided for a year and a half. Then I majored in Design and my career took a less artsy path as I was more drawn to making websites. I took my own "personal bootcamp"- read books and tutorials on web programming.
I now have several years of experience as a web developer, but I fear that I would pigeonhole myself in websites and mobile apps (not really interested in that) if I never have an engineering-based background. Especially because there are several fields in low-level programming I'd like to go into that emphasize math and engineering.
My first hunch was to read books on low level programing and brush up CS theory and then apply to entry level or internships (if possible) as a "self made student"- an analogue to a college student taking undergraduate classes.
But I fear that my made up credentials might not matter. This doesn't fare well for people that change their minds about their career.
As another caveat, I'm unemployed. I have all the time in the world but living like a broke college student because I've used up my severance and emergency savings. So I'm broke as a college student, but without the internship opportunities of a college student. Worst of both worlds.
I don't know if I'm asking for the impossible but I want to get at least a grip of where I should even begin looking for a trial of low-level programming work. Any ideas of where to start?
I want to make it clear I am not looking for work at Google or Facebook. AMD, ARM and NVIDIA are more my speed. Since I can't get an internship at a place like this then something as "internship-like" as possible. Something that gives you a chance to try something you haven't done before committing to a full time job.