Given my background, I’ve been asked for advice on breaking into the industry many times. Today, I want to write down how my thinking about this problem has changed over the years.
The short version: The path I took in 2022 has all but disappeared. A degree and internships are now the most reliable route; the self-taught path demands much deeper fundamentals and relentless networking.
How did I get here?
I’ve had colleagues describe my entry into tech as similar to an action movie where someone slides under a giant closing door at the last possible second before it slams shut. It’s a funny analogy, but looking back at 2022, that’s exactly how it feels now.
Back in March 2022, I had a crazy idea: computers are cool, and I like building things, so why don’t I try my hand at this coding thing? It seemed like it could be a good career and would be a lot more stable than what I was doing at the time. I talked to my wife, and she was supportive.
So I quit my job and committed.
Seven months later, with a solid green GitHub history and just barely enough knowledge to pass an interview, I found myself with two job offers.
Obviously, I’m glossing over a lot of intense work, 14-plus-hour days, and some of the most stressful times of my life as the weight of the corner I’d backed myself into crushed down on me. That’s all easy to hand-wave now because it’s over, and I have a great career doing something I really enjoy.
As we all know, shortly afterward, two things happened that have thrown the tech world into disarray ever since: ChatGPT 3.5 was released, and interest rates were hiked to over 6 percent. I think those two things effectively slammed the door shut on this strategy for breaking into the industry.
Is this possible anymore?
If you put in the work now, can you still be rewarded in the same way?
One of the resources I used to guide my learning had a Discord server with a success stories channel. I’d go through every single story, looking for tips and inspiration. I remember closely tracking how many new stories were posted; it was roughly two or three a week. That healthy pace was a good sign that this was doable.
When I look at that Discord now, the success stories channel has slowed down immensely. Very few stories are posted, and the people behind those that do appear usually already have some sort of CS degree. This isn’t a perfect measurement, but it makes sense and feels like a sign of the times.
We’ve all seen the graphs and felt the general mood around this industry for the last four years: it’s not pretty. Gone are the golden days of tossing a résumé into the air and getting three offers before it hits the ground. It’s tough out there. Yet I still see ads for boot camps and courses claiming you can easily grab a six-figure role—trying to squeeze blood from a stone.
Should you even bother?
At this point, giving advice on breaking into this industry feels a lot like a boomer telling a member of Gen Z to get a job by walking into the building and giving someone a firm handshake. It’s just completely different now, and what worked then won’t work today. However, I still think there is a path—but it’s so much more brutal than the one I went down, and I don’t want to sugarcoat it.
How I’d do it today
I got lucky. If I had put in the exact same amount of effort six months later than I did, I wouldn’t be in the position I am in now. That’s not for lack of discipline or focus. It’s just the reality. If I were going to do it again, how would I approach it? There are two ways, and both are extremely difficult.
Hard mode
Get a CS degree and complete multiple internships.
That’s it. Yes, it will take time and money, but it’s structured. As long as you are active and engaged, you’ll learn the fundamentals you need and can leverage your internships into a real role. That’s probably not the answer someone looking for advice wants, but it’s true. Honestly, that was also the answer when I was doing this; the alternative, while harder, was simply more doable then.
Ultra-nightmare mode
The second path is at least ten times harder. If you’re serious about this field and will stop at nothing to get there, you can do it—but the battleground has changed significantly.
Step 1: Learn the fundamentals and create projects that reinforce them.
Anyone with access to ChatGPT can now make the project that got me a job four years ago. That playbook doesn’t work anymore; you have to go much deeper. Pet projects are still important, but you need to be selective. Start from the absolute bottom. Harvard’s CS50 lays out this framework perfectly: it starts with low-level concepts and builds from there. That needs to be the theme of your learning. Use AI to help you understand these concepts and accelerate your progress.
For projects, I would tackle something like:
- a compiler
- a small operating system
- a small database
Each of these will teach you low-level concepts used in the high-level abstractions we have today. We really do stand on the shoulders of giants in the tech world, and you need to understand why.
Step 2: Network like your life depends on it.
This has always been true to some degree, but it’s non-negotiable at this point. You’re at a serious disadvantage if you’re taking an alternative path. It’s so easy for companies to filter you out if you complete step one and then shotgun résumés to every opening. They don’t care about your awesome projects because they won’t even look at them. They’ll see no experience and no CS degree, then throw your résumé in the trash.
You need to find communities and become known. Go to meetups and engage with people, even if it’s only online. Build a reputation as someone who is eager and dependable. You never know when someone you meet there will suddenly have an opening. Instead of reaching into the hellscape that is this job market, they’ll think about the people they already know and trust to fill that role.
Step 3: Repeat until you win.
You’re in it for the long haul. It could take months; it could take years. But repeating those two steps and showing up every day, even if it’s only for a small amount, will move the needle. The golden era of the self-taught path is over, but it’s still possible. Just don’t waste your time spinning your wheels on advice that is out of touch with the reality of the times.