4 ms·

No one is going to hire you because you have a degree, whether from a university or from Udacity. They'll hire you because: A) your overall resume is impressiv

No one is going to hire you because you have a degree, whether from a university or from Udacity. They'll hire you because: A) your overall resume is impressive B) you either have a portfolio of things you've built, or else you agree to do a take home assignment and successfully complete it C) you can pass both technical and non-technical interviews To get hired you need A && B && C. Doing Udacity will probably help with each of those things, but no one is ever going to hire you because of an academic credential alone.

wheelerwj 8y ago
you forgot one huge factor, you’re network and referrals.
- chaostheory 8y ago
  for technical positions, it may help to get an interview but you still need to handle the technical portion of the interview
- LeifCarrotson 8y ago
  In a lot of industries, the main factor is your network, and you just need A, B, and C to be adequate to check the boxes. If that's the case, and someone's trying to hire you because someone they trust thinks you can get the job done, the question is whether or not a nanodegree can allow your interviewer to check a box for "has training in X" that will make the difference in sliding your resume past HR's desk.
etmhpe 8y ago
I don't think it's quite that simple. For example there are many companies out there who will filter out resumes without particular degrees or degrees from less prestigious universities. But maybe that is subsumed by your A)
maxxxxx 8y ago
In a lot of companies you will NOT get hired without degree. It's pretty much the barrier to entry before you can show your skills or experience . Not sure if Udacity degrees count for this.
- internet_user 8y ago
  Why is this downvoted? The truth hurts?
  - CloudNetworking 8y ago
    Because that's only true for graduate positions.
    - g1991 8y ago
      Not true, I have personally witnessed candidates being rejected for senior (engineering, not management) positions due only to lack of college degree. Obviously idiotic, but it does happen.
stared 8y ago
15 years ago I went to MIT for a 1.5-month internship, while still in my high school. Companies still ask about that. As much as I would like it to be otherwise, signaling (namedropping of famous universities, companies, and people) works a lot. I guess mostly because people prefer to delegate decision making. The backside of that is that unless you finished (or dropped out) from a well-respected univ., you have an uphill battle of proving one's worth.
- georgeburdell 8y ago
  RSI? Well that’s a bit of an exception. I personally interpret it as a more enduring meritocratic signal than attending any specific college.
  - stared 8y ago
    Yes, RSI! :) Though the ones who set "oh, you were at MIT" didn't know about this program.
    - credit_guy 8y ago
      If I see any resume with RSI on it, here's how I read it: * I think less than 1% of the high school students in this country (the US) are aware of summer programs such as RSI. Knowing about RSI, let alone being selected into it, is a strong signal that in your pre-college years you were very invested in math and STEM. * even if you don't have a very prestigious college degree is not a negative signal anymore from my point of view. At 17-18 we are all very fragile beings (and we keep being fragile until at least 25), so lots of things could explain why you didn't get into a top university. I would inquire about that, but I would expect to hear some reasonable explanation (and I wouldn't mind if you simply told me it's personal and you don't feel comfortable going into those details). * I would ask you if you participated in any math or CS competitions in high school/ college. From here, lots of ways to have a pleasant chat for about 30 minutes.
      - stared 8y ago
leesec 8y ago
Counterpoint: People will hire you because you have a degree. You definitely don't need all A && B && C. Sometimes being like-able and knowing someone is enough.
muzani 8y ago
It's really about how much you can convince the employer. I got my first job only because my late father (who was the boss's business partner) recommended me. The degree was enough to convince him I was technically capable, even though I flunked the technical interview (which was all PHP). No resume was needed. I'd say to get hired, you just need to convince the employer of your personality, current skill, and potential.

wheelerwj 8y ago

you forgot one huge factor, you’re network and referrals.

chaostheory 8y ago
for technical positions, it may help to get an interview but you still need to handle the technical portion of the interview
LeifCarrotson 8y ago
In a lot of industries, the main factor is your network, and you just need A, B, and C to be adequate to check the boxes. If that's the case, and someone's trying to hire you because someone they trust thinks you can get the job done, the question is whether or not a nanodegree can allow your interviewer to check a box for "has training in X" that will make the difference in sliding your resume past HR's desk.

etmhpe 8y ago

I don't think it's quite that simple. For example there are many companies out there who will filter out resumes without particular degrees or degrees from less prestigious universities. But maybe that is subsumed by your A)

maxxxxx 8y ago

In a lot of companies you will NOT get hired without degree. It's pretty much the barrier to entry before you can show your skills or experience . Not sure if Udacity degrees count for this.

internet_user 8y ago
Why is this downvoted? The truth hurts?
- CloudNetworking 8y ago
  Because that's only true for graduate positions.
  - g1991 8y ago
    Not true, I have personally witnessed candidates being rejected for senior (engineering, not management) positions due only to lack of college degree. Obviously idiotic, but it does happen.

stared 8y ago

15 years ago I went to MIT for a 1.5-month internship, while still in my high school. Companies still ask about that. As much as I would like it to be otherwise, signaling (namedropping of famous universities, companies, and people) works a lot. I guess mostly because people prefer to delegate decision making. The backside of that is that unless you finished (or dropped out) from a well-respected univ., you have an uphill battle of proving one's worth.

georgeburdell 8y ago
RSI? Well that’s a bit of an exception. I personally interpret it as a more enduring meritocratic signal than attending any specific college.
- stared 8y ago
  Yes, RSI! :) Though the ones who set "oh, you were at MIT" didn't know about this program.
  - credit_guy 8y ago
    If I see any resume with RSI on it, here's how I read it: * I think less than 1% of the high school students in this country (the US) are aware of summer programs such as RSI. Knowing about RSI, let alone being selected into it, is a strong signal that in your pre-college years you were very invested in math and STEM. * even if you don't have a very prestigious college degree is not a negative signal anymore from my point of view. At 17-18 we are all very fragile beings (and we keep being fragile until at least 25), so lots of things could explain why you didn't get into a top university. I would inquire about that, but I would expect to hear some reasonable explanation (and I wouldn't mind if you simply told me it's personal and you don't feel comfortable going into those details). * I would ask you if you participated in any math or CS competitions in high school/ college. From here, lots of ways to have a pleasant chat for about 30 minutes.
    - stared 8y ago

leesec 8y ago

Counterpoint: People will hire you because you have a degree. You definitely don't need all A && B && C. Sometimes being like-able and knowing someone is enough.

muzani 8y ago

It's really about how much you can convince the employer. I got my first job only because my late father (who was the boss's business partner) recommended me. The degree was enough to convince him I was technically capable, even though I flunked the technical interview (which was all PHP). No resume was needed. I'd say to get hired, you just need to convince the employer of your personality, current skill, and potential.