I knew a guy, who started his career as a backup tape boy at Bell labs, right after his high school. As he started to learn more about computers, he became a sy

I knew a guy, who started his career as a backup tape boy at Bell labs, right after his high school. As he started to learn more about computers, he became a system administrator at Bell labs. Later, he became a developer at AT&T research labs, Florham Park, NJ. His boss, who is a MIT Ph.D, encouraged him to get some online undergrad degree so that he can be bumped to the right salary level. I believe, he still works for AT&T labs in Middletown, NJ. These are the old days, where managers encourage people to learn and give them opportunities. Now we have a different set of managers, whose only aim to tick off credentials, leetcode questions, pedigrees, pleasing upper management, etc.