This high school dropout now makes six figures at OpenAI—and he shares the strategy Gen Z can use to get hired in Silicon Valley, too

Summary

Gabriel Petersson, a 22-year-old high school dropout, landed a six-figure salary at OpenAI as a researcher. He co-founded an e-commerce data startup, Depict.ai, at 17 and later worked at Y Combinator-backed AI startup Dataland. Petersson’s strategy for job-seeking involved showing proof of his work rather than relying on credentials. He built custom websites for companies he was interested in and sent video demos to demonstrate his skills. This approach helped him land roles at Midjourney and OpenAI.

Our Reading

The strategy enters a familiar phase.

Gabriel Petersson’s unconventional path to a six-figure salary at OpenAI is a testament to the power of showing rather than telling. By building custom websites and sending video demos, he was able to demonstrate his skills and land roles at top companies. Petersson’s approach is a nod to the idea that credentials are not the only measure of a candidate’s abilities. His success story is a reminder that young people can compete with top talent by showcasing their work and embracing the latest technologies.

Petersson’s mantra of “showing proof” is a clever way of saying that actions speak louder than words.

Author: Evan Null