What actually helped you get your first job in tech?

There is an enormous amount of career advice online, and much of it contradicts itself.

One person says degrees are essential. Another says they're irrelevant. Someone says build projects. Someone else says certifications matter. Another person says networking is everything.

So let's hear from people who actually went through it.

How did you get your first role in technology?

Did you have a computer science degree? Bootcamp? Self-taught background? Personal projects? Internships? Open-source contributions? Freelancing? Networking? A referral?

What did your portfolio look like? What happened during your interviews? What skills did employers actually test?

And for people looking for work right now, what is proving difficult?

Getting interviews? Building a portfolio? Writing a resume? Technical interviews? Lack of experience? Finding internships? Choosing what to specialize in?

I'd especially like experienced developers to share what they wish they had known earlier.

Which skills ended up mattering far more than expected?

Which things did you spend months learning that employers barely cared about?

The tech job market changes constantly, so real experiences are much more useful than generic motivational advice.