How did u start your career?
Share real stories. Share your successes and failures. and stumbles and failing down and getting up. share how u achieved the impossible. how u were the first in family to attend college. or how u came had a comfy ride. share any story real. I think it can be an inspiration to so many new grads here starting their careers or vets from other fields looking for change.
Dad grew up poor (Vietnam vet). Mom is from another country. Both parents did low skill jobs their entire life. I grew up playing video games and not knowing what to do with my life. After high school worked as a cashier and went to community college. Decided to pursue computer science cause I did some programming in the past for video games (StarCraft 1, Warcraft 3, medal of Honor Allied assault). My code was shit but in CS classes I was ahead of everyone just from learning on my own since 8th grade Struggled in school, did well enough to transfer to 4 year and get my BS. At this point I was first and only person in my family to get a 4 year degree, if I stopped here and worked as a receptionist or something, my life would be considered a success to them. Got programming jobs at no name companies. I far surpassed everyone's expectations. 7 YOE later I'm about to enter FAANG. My problem is I had a LOT OF potential, I showed initiative and talent when I was 12, but because no one in my life was an engineer, no one could guide me, mentor me, push me to my potential. So I've accomplished alot but it's only because I've been able to set goals to challenge myself (and I haven't always done that, I've coasted alot) I get jealous when I see people have parents that show them the way, tell em what they need to do to get to the top, have all the resources to get there. I had nothing, had to figure out everything, pay for everything, etc. My first full time job i earned $8.50/hr. Now I'm about to make +$200k a year. I know I've accomplished alot but I just wonder how much better my life would be if I had someone to mentor me when I was 12 and showed promise learning how to program and modify existing software
I think u have done quite well. Maybe your life is great cuz u had to figure everything for yourself. It for sure thought u something. Things that no one can learn without life expectancies.
Born in tech hub but parents aren’t tech. I saw my city transform from normal city to tech hub. We were solid middle class until my junior year of HS, when parents started making more. We never lived wealthy though, I’ve never left the US for example. No big vacations, cars aren’t fancy, etc. I did a top 10 CS BS in CS, paid for by parents. Did several internships at small shops, then a couple at a few FAANG. Walked into 180k MLE position at FAANG after my BS. It’s notable that while I’ve always been good at tech, it isn't my passion. I’d rather be doing YouTube or politics for a living. But I have structured my life towards prestige and promotions and TC because it’s the only way to afford the middle class lifestyle I grew up with in the city I grew up in. My parents’ mortgage for a 8ksqft lot with 6BR and a bomb view was cheaper than what a studio apartment rents for today. Crazy. I wish tech never came here.
Background: academic probation in college. Then suspended for failing out (I never went and i never withdrew). Got my foot in the door at a start up datacenter/colo as noc tech. $11/hr. Fast forward 10ish years. Got hired on at AWS. L5 TC. Makes me feel real humble and not take anything for granted. I was such a shit head back then. Pure luck I even got my foot in the door. Not sure where I would be without that experience.
Kuddos for making it through !