[vailprogrammer]

1) Understood, and will do. How do you suggest I frame the 4 year gap in tech work though? "I decided that after 17 years of school, I wanted to take some time off to ski. That year off turned into 4 but now I'm back" ?

2) Right now I'm just building some small things that are useful utilities for my personal life, but after those I plan on doing some more advanced stuff with computer vision. I could probably create something that ties face recognition into a hotel valet system....

3) Maybe its just the pessimist in me, but I am afraid that managers think I'm just trying to escape the hospitality industry, rather than looking to make my mark in the tech industry. I do agree that it's been very useful though, I can get along well with anyone now. This kind of segues into why I'm asking about networking: I feel like on paper I'm not that impressive but if I can get to know someone in a hiring position at a software company they'll see how much of an asset I could be.

Now that I think about it, I can see how going to events might not have the effectiveness I'm looking for. Once I've built up my portfolio some more and am feeling more confident in my interviewing skills, I'll start sending emails out like you suggest. This impostor syndrome really holds me back some times I feel like.

Thank you for the response! Any further help is appreciated, particularly with how to frame my 4 year hiatus from tech.