In article <1i23wyk.avc945i4dwsiN%aleax@mac.com>,
Alex Martelli <aleax@mac.com> wrote:
>
>Open source projects do not require previous professional experience to
>accept volunteers. So, one way out of your dilemma is to make a name
>for yourself as an open source contributor -- help out with Python
>itself and/or with any of the many open source projects that use Python,
>and you will both learn a lot _and_ acquire "professional experience"
>that any enlightened employer will recognize as such. That will take a
>while, but not as long as getting a college degree (and it will be far
>cheaper than the degree).

Ayup. My current job didn't even bother asking for references, largely
because my boss knew me from the Python community.
--
Aahz (aahz@pythoncraft.com) <*> http://www.pythoncraft.com/

This is Python. We don't care much about theory, except where it intersects
with useful practice.