I was hired by Google without a high school diploma. Here are my 3 tips for others with unusual backgrounds.

I dropped out of high school and polytechnic

I left high school when I was 17. I was born in the UK but I was living in New Zealand at the time, and for me, school was just a place to find out what everyone where did you hang out on the weekends.

I started a computer science course because I have always loved computers, especially hardware. I quickly realized that the focus was on programming, and I remember looking at endless flowcharts and thinking, “There’s no way I can do this for the rest of my life.” I didn’t want to be in the classroom and I just wanted to start earning money, so I dropped out after less than six months.

I wandered for about a year, not knowing what to do. In 2002, when I was 18 years old, a good friend of mine got a job at a mobile phone store in my local shopping area. I spent a lot of time hanging around the store, waiting for my friend to finish work, and I got to know the manager of the place.

The manager gave me a job at a booth selling prepaid cell phones and basic phones. This was my first experience with using my network to find a job.

I realized that I have a passion for the technology industry

I spent a lot of time reading articles on the internet about phone data, email, and browsing the web, building my industry knowledge beyond what was needed for my job.

I found myself curious about what these devices could do for people with increased mobile data. I showed clients all the features available, such as receiving email through their phones or PDAs (personal digital assistants).

I started designing a site to help businesses connect their devices to the internet and understand the opportunities it presented.

My relationships and experience have helped me overcome my unusual background

In 2005, when I was 21, I decided to return to the UK. Thanks to a referral from a colleague, I got a job at a private telephone company. My ability to speak technical language helped the employer to trust my ability even though I had no cultural background.

I stayed with the company for eight years, starting as a business development manager and eventually becoming a sales manager.

In 2014, a former colleague of mine who had moved to Vodafone approached me about the opportunity to manage a large number of global customers with complex data and connectivity needs, more than anything else. that I’ve had before.

A bachelor’s degree was usually a prerequisite, and I was afraid I would fail at first. Fortunately, I never had to explain to the interviewers why I dropped out, as it was never brought up. I think my attitude, the strength of my network, and my experience on the ground helped me contribute.

I was promoted twice at Vodafone, eventually becoming a global account manager, managing one of their biggest clients: Cisco.

After six years, I applied to work with British Telecom to manage their major partnership with Cisco. I was able to establish myself as a good candidate by using referrals from my colleagues and letting my experience do the rest.

I never thought I would have the opportunity to work at Google

In 2023, after three years working at Cisco’s British Telecom partnership, I was approached on LinkedIn by a Google recruiter to apply for a role in setting up one of their strategic partnerships.

This blew my mind. I had worked in and on the fringes of Big Tech for most of my career, but due to the lack of academic and professional qualifications and how competitive the applicant pool is, I never thought I would stand a chance. of having a role there.

I was reading about Google’s aggressive hiring process and I was worried that my cultural background would hurt my chances of getting the role. For the first time in my career, there was no internet introduction or suggestion for me to use it; I had to stand on my feet.

I researched and prepared interviews. It was hard work, but the fact that I had no degree or schooling never came up. Instead, it seemed that the interviewers also valued my skills and the skills I learned through practical experience more than my lack of a degree.

I have been with Google for over a year now and my experience has been amazing so far. There are many opportunities, especially with the growth of AI, which makes me very excited about my future here.

I never thought I could live as well as I did. Society puts a lot of weight on going to university if you want to be successful, but it is by no means a guarantee of success or the only path you can take.

I still get a little embarrassed when my colleagues talk about what they learned at university. I’m also often surprised by people’s positive and surprised reactions when they find out that I didn’t graduate – and even more so when they hear that I started my career selling prepaid mobile bills from a kiosk in a mall of shops.

Here are my three tips for anyone with an unconventional way of thinking about getting into Big Tech

1. Use your network, no matter how small you think it is.

All my jobs, except the current one at Google, have come from using my network – from just hanging out with a friend at the mall, using colleagues’ names, or connecting with people. old acquaintances.

Typing is difficult. This is why many businesses have referral programs; they understand the power of human networks. Use your own.

2. Open up opportunities by asking questions about what people are doing.

Being interested and enthusiastic makes people remember you and can open doors. I have never been a believer in blessings; I believe you make yourself lucky by being open to opportunities.

I was curious as I looked for all my parts, showing genuine interest in the part I was hoping to get into. While interviewing for my role at British Telecom, in which I had little experience, I asked serious questions about the challenges I would face, the priorities of the business, and how I can affect those in that area. This made me talk to them during the interview as if I was already part of it.

3. Continue to strive to learn and improve your skills.

I feel more fulfilled when I am in a difficult situation and I have to learn my way out of it. That constant sense of learning started when I was in that retail store, reading about new and exciting technological advances and applying that knowledge to customers, and has stayed with me ever since. that.

At Vodafone, I had to learn about the world of data centers, fiber, and IoT to sell products and services. I went beyond the provided training materials and reached out to content experts, engineers, and service managers to gain deep insights and translate this knowledge into anecdotes and testimonials when dealing and customers.

Doing this can make you aware and lead in new and unexpected directions, both internally and externally. This helped me get noticed by Google and brought me to where I am today.

If you have taken an unusual educational path and wish to share your story, email Jane Zhang at janezhang@businessinsider.com.