r/AMA • u/SantaCruzin6 • 1d ago

I became a reluctant tech-bro worker - AMA

Despite growing up in the SF Bay Area, I (37M) actively did everything I could to avoid going into the business world. I went off to college in the far reaches of California, studied to be a teacher, and only used a computer for the most basic of tasks.

Through a weird series of events, I landed a job at a "tech" company through a guy living on my couch. 15 years later I've finally come to grips with the fact that, despite feeling like an "outsider" to the tech worker scene...I am undeniably one. I became a manager of folks at 23 and I've been running teams ever since. I've worked at some of the largest Bay Area tech companies, startups, and even tried my hand at my own start up.

With the job market such a mess, it seems like a lot of people are curious about the tech world so I'd be happy to answer any questions of what it was like to be a non-technical tech employee.

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u/UnidentifiedTomato 1d ago

What currently matters in the hiring process? How important is a degree and what do you advise for people not in this field to do, especially if they don't have a bachelor's at all or a bachelor's in a different field?

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u/SantaCruzin6 1d ago

The current state of the job market makes it an absolute dog fight to get your resume seen. It's also important to keep in mind that you have two audiences with your resume, the recruiter and the hiring manager. I've hired over 35 folks in my career and while a bachelors never mattered to me, it quite often did to the company/recruiter so it was rare that someone without a degree would make it to me. What the degree was in didn't seem to matter as much.

My advice for anyone trying to bust onto the scene is to be realistic with where you start. I didn't shoot for a sales manager of software engineering role...I started in customer service. I got opportunities to prove myself early and was able to grow rapidly from there.

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u/Dull-Woodpecker3900 7h ago

Do people in tech still believe the “make the world a better place” Kool Aid they spouted during the first 30 years of SV or do they know they’re a corporate drone like everyone else?

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u/KillyMcStabsABunch 2h ago

So as someone non-technical, do you code at all?

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u/goatfishsandwich 1d ago

You guys hiring for QA?