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0 pointsTimothee13y ago0 comments

I think I know what you're saying: times and times again, unknown people with no diplomas have found success in the tech industry. However that just means that it's possible to succeed without credentials or education.

But that doesn't mean the industry doesn't care about them. Look at how many stories mention "founded by ex-Googlers/Facebook", "YC-backed", etc. Sure, these are just from tech blogs, but if they add it in there it's because the readership reacts to that information, most often positively.

Besides, I don't think any industry doesn't care about credentials, since at least someone's reputation is their credential. For example, I don't know much about John Resig besides the fact that he created jQuery. That fact would open him many doors. It's not about education, but it's still credentials. Don't you think YC would instantly back him?

More to the point, I'm totally convinced that adding "YC-backed startup" to your resume, even if said startup never really went anywhere, is a very strong credential in a lot of places and I wouldn't be surprised if people use it that way. I'd even say that I'm sure many YC applications are "YC or nothing" in that if they don't get in, they won't start a company. It doesn't hurt to apply but the upside is fantastic: you get access to a great network, media coverage, some automatic seed money… and that YC stamp you can put on your resume.

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rayiner13y ago

I don't disagree with you. But the post I replied to said YC would replace traditional credentialing mechanisms. I don't think it necessarily follows, because YC plays in an industry that didn't care much about traditional credentialing mechanisms to begin with.

Using things like YC for credentialing depends on the relatively unusual characteristic of the internet startup industry that you can do "real work" in the field with no little to no startup capital or association with a big company. For this reason, software companies have always been impressed by project credentials. Aside from a short burst when Google was really focusing on Stanford/Berkeley PhD's, traditional educational credentialing never really took root in the industry. I have a hard time seeing how things like YC will replace traditional credentialing mechanisms in other fields. Is Lockheed-Martin going to look at your jetenginegithub.com account to decide whether to hire you?

jboggan13y ago

I'm still searching for the blog post I was thinking about; I apologize for not being able to yet locate it.

The statement about doing "real work" is right on the money for why and how this experiential model might transfer into other industries and economic spheres. The aerospace example is rather a wonderful counter-example for those very reasons. But wherever the ragged red edge of the world is (at the border where software is eating it) I think that this model of education and experience will trump existing forms of credentials.