Google: Why did a 26-year-old become a director of engineering at Google Cloud without a college degree? | John Hesterberg | Programming | Spain | Mexico | Colombia | technology

The current engineering director of Google Cloud He is John Hesterberg, a young man of only 26 years old. Without a college degree under his belt, California has achieved one of the highest positions within the company thanks to his skill and free programming courses.

“Jon Heisterberg, 26, leads a team of software engineers at Google Cloud. He spent his youth playing with electronic devices, but he doesn’t have a college degree. Thus, he came to occupy his current positionBusiness Insider confirms.

Heisterberg’s skills are in high demand these days. “According to LinkedIn, AWS and Microsoft Azure expertise among the most in-demand skills in 2021. Californian He capitalized on this demand and now leads a team of engineers within Google’s cloud computing division.“, Add.

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The salaries offered by the tech giant can be quite high. “Cloud engineering produces a highly profitable high-tech business. An analysis of overseas employment data showed that Google Cloud Unit Managers typically earn a base salary of around $200,000 [al año]Excluding stock bonuses and other add-ons‘, he adds.

However, these positions are usually offered to people who have a lot of experience and titles under their belt. “But Heisterberg has been an unusual case since then Got the job without a college degree. Google equivalent job listings typically require applicants to have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, or a related field.Gate confirms.

According to a spokesperson, in an interview with the media, for similar positions, the company is usually “We expect a master’s or doctoral degree in computer science With over 3 years of leadership experience and 5+ years of engineering experienceHowever, the young man was interested in technology from an early age. By the age of twelve, he was already recreating video game avatars. It is called, At that age, and at that time, he was already making what we know today as “skin”.. “At the time, I didn’t know that video game companies would end up making money from what I did‘,” Heisterberg points out to the North American media.

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The Californian even set up a small business during his adolescence. “My friends would come to my house and say, “Hey, I want it!” aI started a side business to modify, repair, and resell things: game consoles, smartphones, and computers… whatever. Little by little, I increased my client portfolio as well as my prices‘,” adds the director of engineering at Google Cloud.

Despite his great ability, he never had it in his plans to go to university. “He wasn’t very diligent. I spent the day playing with the computer“This job turned into a full-time job,” he adds.Assisting with on-site tech solutions for SMEs in the Gulf region, where he moved to live with his teenage grandmother“.

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The young man notes that ‘Year Up’, a free national training program in the United States for the underprivileged, helped him find his way in life. “They are trying to solve what they call an “opportunity gap” So that people of lower socioeconomic status can have access to this kind of employment optionsHeisterberg says.

Later on, he joined a company to practice and hone his skills. “In the second half of his year-long residency, he trained at cybersecurity firm Symantec (renamed NortonLifeLock in 2019), He received an intensive course in dealing with high-level threats‘ states the gate.

On the other hand, he also started studying programming virtually. “Hesterberg too I started using Learn X in Y MinutesFree online tool for learning programming languages. There he mastered his knowledge of Pythonadds the mediator.

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However, the convergence with Google happened earlier than expected. “Prior to the expiration of his employment at Symantec, A Google recruiter contacted Heisterberg via Linkedin to ask if he would be willing to participate in the company residency programwhich is a 26-month cycle in which new employees move through the entire Alphabet portfolio‘, he adds.

This did not interfere with his work at the time. “As part of the programme, Google says that successful candidates learn “basic coding and debugging, simple data structures, and how to work with large code bases” while working with other companies.‘, confirms the gate

Although companies often look for highly qualified professionals, who have extensive degrees and experience, this does not mean that those who have the necessary skills and do not have a resume to support them, cannot reach top positions. “There are plenty of opportunities if you want to be more creative. Over time, you can find your way in any companyHesterberg concludes.