I have no formal education. YES! Side projects are the best way to demonstrate you know what you know. 1) YES! A million times YES! When recruiting people I d

I have no formal education. YES! Side projects are the best way to demonstrate you know what you know. 1) YES! A million times YES! When recruiting people I don't care about their degree I know how academia works I know its all talk no walk, I want proof and a public repo is the best way to do that. 2) When searching for jobs search your skills (php / javascript) not a job title. Your biggest selling point is that you are a self starter. If there is something you don't know you will just learn it, while the academics sit on their ass waiting for some one to show them. Its hard to understate how much of a massive advantage this is, especially to business minded people. 3) Yes Your biggest obstacle will be self doubt or over confidence, don't bull shit if there is something you don't know just stick to your winning attitude.