Landing Your Dream AI Job Without a Degree

ai jobs without degree I’ve been working in tech for over 15 years, and when I first started my career back in 2007 at IBM, I really had no clue what I was getting into, but luckily, I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of lots of opportunities like ai jobs without degree. In this article, I want to share a roadmap for people who are interested in ai jobs without degree or getting started with software engineering, and more specifically, those who are interested in AI or machine learning engineering.

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Level One: Start

Ai jobs without degree At this stage, the main goal is to get moving for ai jobs without degree. This is the stage where you break through your own barriers, get out of your own way and start coding. You need to dive into building projects and get coding, even if the first few lines of your code turn out to be not so great for ai jobs without degree. At level one, you won’t know how to be a good AI engineer yet, and that comes at level two, but starting is the key here.

My advice is to overcome the fear of blank screen and start coding, and start with baby steps. Build your first mini project. It doesn’t have to be grand. No one has to see it for the first time. Stop watching tutorials and start building. Things will start making more sense when you start being really hands-on, and trust me, the more you do, the better you’ll be.

At the end of level one, you have three options:

Choice One: Give Up

It’s okay to acknowledge that and engineering may just not be the thing for you. The important thing is that you gave it a shot.

Choice Two: Switch Tracks

Maybe this particular thing that you tried is not really your thing, and you want to explore a different type of software engineering, which is completely fine as well.

Choice Three: Keep Going

Are you ready to commit to AI engineering and take it really seriously? If that is something that you are interested in moving forward to level two now it is time to level up.

Level Two: Level Up

The goal here is to dive deep because becoming a really good AI engineer is not going to happen overnight. You have a lot to catch up here. At this level, you’re probably going to have to figure things out on your own, and it’s not going to be easy.

You’ll continue to build interesting projects but using different types of algorithms maybe you tried a few different things in level one now it’s time to dig deeper into the same ones or add into your portfolio different types of algorithms. Your goal here is to build up your skill set, and each project that you work on will contribute incrementally, pushing you forward by 1% over time.

Keep trying different things to know what works for you. Keep iterating. Keep improving.

Now you have some options to consider:

Choice One: Be Your Own Boss

You get to work on the projects that you find interesting. You may have the freedom to explore different areas of engineering, but there’s really no guarantee that you’ll ever land a full-time job.

Choice Two: Switch Tracks

There may be more opportunities in different areas of software engineering potentially. You might have a higher chance of landing your first role way more quickly.

Choice Three: Keep Going

Keep trying to become an AI engineer. The competition is going to be really tough and there aren’t a lot of entry level positions in AI engineering but if you’re determined you can probably do it.

Level Three: Strategize

This is where we’re going to talk more specifically about your job search strategy and how to increase your chances of landing that perfect dream job.

Let’s take a look at where you are in your job search. If you’re not getting any calls from recruiters there might be a problem with your resume. Studies show that recruiters only spend about 6 to 8 seconds looking at each resume.

So I encourage you to check out resources to help you find the red flags in your own resumes. There are also programs that you can enroll in to get help on interview prep.

If you made it to this stage getting job offers but not the type of ones that you like, research industry standards and learn negotiation skills. There are also websites to help you know what your value should be.

Good luck on your AI engineering journey! Let me know if you have any other questions.

AI Jobs Without Degree

Getting an AI job without having a tech degree is challenging but definitely possible. Here are my top 3 tips:

1. Build an impressive portfolio

Since you don’t have a degree to showcase your skills, your portfolio becomes even more important. Make sure you have multiple complex AI/ML projects that demonstrate your programming abilities and understanding of AI concepts. These projects will show employers that you have the required skills even without formal credentials.

2. Network and make connections

Attending AI meetups and conferences is a great way to connect with others in the industry. Talk to engineers and hiring managers to learn about open positions. Sometimes it’s about who you know, so build relationships and let people know you’re looking. LinkedIn is also valuable for connecting with the right people.

3. Consider certificates or nanodegrees

Programs like Udacity and Coursera offer AI nanodegrees you can complete in months. While less valuable than degrees, having certificates in AI or machine learning will still make you more appealing to hiring managers. It shows you have formal training beyond self-study.

The main strategy is mastering AI skills, having an impressive portfolio to showcase those abilities, and networking with the right people in the field. It will likely take longer than getting a CS degree but absolutely possible for driven candidates. Keep working on personal projects, building connections through conferences and LinkedIn, and don’t get discouraged. There are AI jobs out there even without a technical degree.

We strongly recommend that you check out our guide on how to take advantage of AI in today’s passive income economy.