How to Thrive in Tech without a Degree: Insights from a Google Engineer—Diamond Forbes | E186

The NoDegree Podcast – No Degree Success Stories for Job Searching, Careers, and Entrepreneurship

High school didn’t interest him much and his grades reflected that. That was until Diamond Forbes found something that was engaging. In this episode, he details how he transitioned from working in Help Desk to a Security Engineer at Google. He details his career journey from earning $14/hour to a six-figure salary, his transition from network engineer to senior security engineer, and his job application experiences at top companies. Diamond also provides insights on handling finances, dealing with workplace politics, overcoming challenges, and offers advice on career growth and self-improvement.

Key Points

- Having a hunger for knowledge and being curious are key traits for success in the tech industry.

- Hyper-focusing on specific skills and areas of expertise can lead to career advancement.

- Realistic salaries in the industry can vary based on experience and specialization.

- Strategic initiatives, soft skills, and documentation are important for over-delivering in a role and building visibility.

- Tech is a high-growth field that offers opportunities for financial success.

- Continuous learning and self-improvement are essential for career growth in tech.

- Overcoming failure and building resilience are key to achieving long-term goals.

Timestamps:

• (0:00) Introduction and Diamond Forbes' journey
• (5:19) Diamond's journey from $14 per hour to a six-figure salary
• (14:37) Diamond Forbes talks about his early struggles and decision to join the military
• (24:06) Diamond Forbes shares his interview experiences and lessons learned from failures
• (33:59) Jonaed Iqbal and Diamond Forbes discuss navigating office politics
• (39:08) Jonaed Iqbal and Diamond Forbes on the importance of continual learning and growth in a 6-figure role
• (43:39) Feel stuck updating your resume?
• (45:24) Diamond Forbes talks about AI-proofing himself and his plans for the future
• (51:47) Diamond Forbes talks about how his childhood shaped his response to failure
• (58:42) Diamond Forbes reveals what he would tell his younger self
• (1:04:11) Jonaed Iqbal and Diamond Forbes discuss the importance of thinking differently in cybersecurity

Support/Contact Diamond:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diamondforbes/

Books and resources mentioned in this podcast:

- Resume course: https://bit.ly/podcastpca

Need career or resume advice? Follow and/or connect with Jonaed Iqbal on LinkedIn.

- LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/JonaedIqbalND

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Remember, no degree? No problem! Whether you're contemplating college or you're a college dropout, get started with your no-degree job search at nodegree.com.