Getting my first start up job. I couldn't afford to stay in college. Had zero professional experience in anything related to software. Bought an HTML book and g

Getting my first start up job. I couldn't afford to stay in college. Had zero professional experience in anything related to software. Bought an HTML book and got a photocopy of a JavaScript one, created a demo site on a floppy disk (1998) and showed it at my job interview. Was hired for the lowest rung position, worked my up to Web team lead. I will always be grateful for my boss for taking a chance on me, which is why all the bullshit, risk-averse "hiring process" discussions always get to me. I try to give people the same break I got, and it's surprising how often it works.