The advice for breaking into tech is consistent.

Get a degree or take a bootcamp. Build projects. Earn certifications. Get an internship. Make a portfolio. Use GitHub. Network. Apply broadly. Try support roles, not just developer positions. Write tailored resumes. Write cover letters. Follow up. Keep learning.

I followed that checklist.

Full Sail Web Development degree with a 3.8 GPA. AWS Cloud Support Associate internship. AWS Solutions Architect Associate and AWS AI Practitioner certifications. Portfolio site with public GitHub projects and a technical blog. LinkedIn network of about 206 connections, mostly developers, engineers, and recruiters. Tailored resumes and cover letters. Applications across software development, cloud engineering, DevOps, infrastructure, QA, technical support, Oracle/ERP analyst work, AI automation, and local IT fallback roles. Direct outreach to local employers. Recruiter contacts. Freelance attempts.

What mattered to me at the time was this: I had the degree.…