I didn't had a degree, didn't had formal education. But heck, had my software on the cover of paper magazines and was a recognized expert for a niche field of

I didn't had a degree, didn't had formal education. But heck, had my software on the cover of paper magazines and was a recognized expert for a niche field of technology. Smart companies hire for talent more than academic credentials or "years of experience". If you are unable to show your work portfolio from those years, there is really no evidence for people to judge your work quality in development. This helps to distinguish between those who are developing software only as a 9 to 5 job, or those who love it and develop code on their free time as well.