Gabriel Petersson’s upbringing mirrors that of many in Generation Z, characterized by activities such as collecting Pokémon cards and exploring creative possibilities in Minecraft, while contemplating future educational and career pathways felt like a distant concern.
By the time he reached high school in his small Swedish hometown of approximately 5,000 residents, Petersson's interests shifted from leisure activities to a fascination with the inner workings of technology. This transition ignited an intense passion for startups, software development, and artificial intelligence—fields he identified as pivotal to the next major technological evolution.
Eschewing the conventional route of completing high school, pursuing a degree in computer science, and ascending the tech industry ladder, Petersson made the bold decision to leave academia behind. During his senior year, at the age of 17, he co-founded Depict.ai, an e-commerce data startup, along with peers who would eventually secure positions at respected companies such as Lovable and Lego.
Five years later, this decision has proven to be advantageous. Now at 22, Petersson has achieved a six-figure salary as a researcher at OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT. He has emerged as an unexpected advocate for the notion that the gap created by the lack of formal credentials can be bridged through demonstrable skills and outcomes.
How a twentysomething landed a job in Silicon Valley—without a degree to his name
Securing a position at one of Silicon Valley’s most prestigious companies without a degree—or even a high school diploma—necessitates a unique job search approach. For Petersson, this entailed demonstrating his competency prior to anyone requesting his resume.
Following his experience at Depict, he joined Dataland, an AI startup funded by Y Combinator, and moved to New York in 2021. By conventional standards, his prospects appeared promising. However, a trip to San Francisco shifted his aspirations significantly.
“I still remember the first week,” Petersson recalled. “I just couldn’t sleep… it was incredible. You could go anywhere and hear conversations about programming, startups, and all these topics I am passionate about…I was simply amazed.”
This experience reshaped his ambitions. Yet, he faced the significant hurdle of competing with candidates from prestigious Ivy League institutions and top engineering programs despite being a high school dropout. His solution was to abandon the race for credentials and focus instead on evidence of his capabilities.
Rather than applying through traditional methods, Petersson crafted a direct outreach strategy. It was straightforward: present a brief self-introduction, convey genuine excitement about the company, and—most importantly—demonstrate something tailored specifically for them.
“You can say something like, ‘I was so excited about your company that I’ve been working on a side project to create a website reflecting what you do,’” he explained. “This approach allows me to validate my skills without competing against anyone.”
This tactic was instrumental in securing his position at Dataland, and he tested it effectively at Midjourney, an AI research lab in Silicon Valley. During this period, he faced challenges with conventional applications, including an initial rejection from OpenAI.
Undeterred, he intensified his efforts, committing an entire week to 16-hour workdays to develop a custom website for Midjourney, subsequently sending a video demonstration of his work. This endeavor bore fruit, leading to his hiring as a software engineer in 2023.
“When I create a video demo of a product I’ve developed, I showcase my skills and provide a glimpse into my social capabilities. They can see that I am a reasonable person,” Petersson added. “I present more qualifications than I could through any traditional metrics.”
His role at Midjourney opened the door to further opportunities. A connection introduced him to OpenAI’s research team—the same organization that had previously turned him down. This time, he was prepared, successfully securing the position in December 2024. He emphasized the lesson learned: the importance of perseverance in pursuing opportunities after demonstrating individual potential.
Gen Z can land their dream job—as long as they have the right mindset, according to Petersson
For Petersson, his experiences at Midjourney and OpenAI have transcended mere employment—they have crystallized a message he passionately conveys to young individuals navigating a hiring landscape increasingly fixated on credentials: elite careers are not the exclusive domain of a select few. He asserts that even those employed at the world’s most influential companies are more accessible than they may initially appear.
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