[jameshush]

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.

[jdjdjdjdjdjd]

Thanks! I've started working through LeetCode recently. Struggling to get an interview, but that might be a CV issue. After reading this thread, I think LeetCode + networking is what I need to focus on.

[jameshush]

This is the resume template I've used over the last 8ish years: https://www.careercup.com/resume

It doesn't hurt to get someone to review your resume if you're not getting bites.

If you can find a friend's cousin's sister who works at a FAANG company who's willing to refer you, that'd be ideal. All the FAANG companies I've interviewed have an internal referral system.

I only got into a FAANG company once as an intern. It was pure luck that I didn't have any leetcode rounds. Every other time I tried interviewing for SWE my fall was leetcode. The good news is there isn't much luck required, its 90% just a grind. You can be the unluckiest person on the planet and still get in. That being said, good luck :-)

[grubbs]

I remember watching that Freakonomics documentary on Netflix a decade ago. One of the authors mentions "not getting a HS degree is an economic death sentence". I guess times have changed.

[mywittyname]

I doubt anyone bothers to ask or check about a HS diploma when hiring for software engineering. I don't recall ever being asked about it. So everyone probably just assumes the person has one until they start telling people otherwise.

But let's be real, not having a HS diploma, for most people, means that they can't progress to the next level - no college, no military, and probably no skilled trades. So it is kind of an economic death sentence. The exceptions are if you are extremely smart and talented (and if you are, you can get a GED with almost no effort).

[lordnacho]

It's still generally true though, isn't it?

Football (soccer) players sometimes don't have their high school degrees, but they have training in a high paying profession.

Same goes with people who can code.

[saagarjha]

It's true for software engineers, too. There are a lot that get by without college degrees and do well, but for many others it can limit their initial job prospects (most roles at FAANG with have a CS degree as a soft requirement, with some relenting with "equivalent experience").

[nopcodex90]

Depends on how hard you can grind, and the amount of knowledge you can soak up. I never graduated high school, but I have been asking for programming books for my birthday and Christmas since I was 9.I do very well for myself Making over 6 figures.

[biohax2015]

It generally is. It's best not to base life decisions based on anecdotes of extreme outliers from strangers on the internet.