[ianstallings]

Easy actually. You continue doing what you're doing and showing the world you can program by writing open source projects of value, having a github profile with examples, writing articles that help others, chiming in on places like stackoverflow, keeping up by reading places like HN, and generally just constantly keeping active by doing things you love. Understand the process of building software inside and out. Not just software, but the process. What tools, what steps.

After you have a little portfolio of work you then create a nice small resume where you are honest but show your ambition. Put your projects on there. Put the articles you write on there. Craft it well.

Next step is to target companies looking for juniors. Search every job hunting website you can find. Establish relationships with good recruiters. Explain what you want to do and have them help you find a good spot to start. You'd be surprised how important this is. Recruiters, love them or hate them, are the lifeblood to new ventures. Find good ones and stick with them.

When you arrive at the interview be ready to show you are looking to learn. When hiring junior developers I look for that trait first and go from there. Show them you know how to build software by demonstration of your projects. Show them you can work with tools.

Once you do all this you are in there. It's just more and more of the same throughout your career. I know because I broke in myself with no college degree and no experience.