This is a recursive (additonal information) to my 2024 blog post jeffreydinackus.com/it.

The 2024 blog was meant to be read before this one, it lays the groundwork and this is merely an updated based on our current job market.

Without further ado

The market has changed considerably since then, and while the information in is still true, we need to adapt it for our current conditions in 2025.

From what I have seen, employers are much more selective than when I got my first job a few years ago.

We need to adapt our plan for this.

I recommended college in that blog, however, today I think college is a lot more risky than when I went to college.

College can still be good potentially, but because of the high cost and lost time, it could likely be a waste.

I also think that the value of a college education is going down because of heavy AI use among college students and more lax degree requirements (think college students being required to read entire books 10 years ago vs sections now, which is happening).

In other words, if you spend 2-4 years on a degree, your degree may or may not hold the same value as it does today (but it still could).

The New Yorker did an infamous article on this, which I enjoyed, but it does require a membership unfortunately.

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/openai-chatgpt-ai-cheating-education-college-students-school.html

I would say, if you think that you can be in the top 5% of college students or top 5% of your graduating class, then it makes the deal much more preferable.

This isn't incredibly difficult, just try really hard and be relatively smart with good study habits and you should get into the top 25% because a lot of college students are phoning it in at most colleges in my experience.

Basically, if you spend the time and money going to college, you need to be exceptional, otherwise, depending on market conditions it could be a waste of your time.

2-4 years is a long time in this economy, and I have seen directly how markets can change in the 4 years I have been in the tech industry.

If not college, then what?

I would recommend certs, the ones I recommend in that article are good.

Do certs + demo projects + networking/referrals

Obviously this will not work for everyone, and I won't lie to you, it very well may not work, but it is probably the best chance you have.

Start with lower end jobs, don't try to immeadiately rush into cloud engineer, devops, or systems engineering.

Start with the jobs found in the previous blog, and get create and look for other very low entry level type roles.

There is no shame in being technical support as your first job.

It will likely give you the experiences you need to succeed in the future (war stories).

I would also recommend in person work rather than remote.

For in person work, you are only competing with people in your local area or people who can afford to move there, not the entire US market or even world market.

Specific certs

Cloud certs will not get you a job without experience imo and are a waste of time unless you just want the skills.

AZ-900 is good for background knowledge you will need for the job, that for CCP.

The elephant in the room

For the entire time I have been in tech, difficulty has been increasing to become employed, and it is extremely likely to continue.

Therefore, the longer time you spend learning enough to get employed, the lower your chances become to getting a job (see why spending 2-4 years in college is bad?).

This is basically what the graph looks like.

Y = Difficulty

X = Time

The reason for this is basically because there's too many people who want tech jobs, while tech jobs are also perhaps being automated away, and because of constant layoffs due to overhiring during COVID.

So, you need your first job right away.

It is sort of a race against time, though success is still possible right now though it is down to a trickle.