[JustARandomGuy]

> As someone who is speaking with a handful of people stuck in this situation, what direction should I guide them towards

Get experience. By any way possible. Have them build an online app - a blog system specialized for doctors, an RSS reader backend, documentation for an open source project, anything. Software is an unusual sector that experience can be earned outside of paid work.

If these "handful of people" have bachelors, have them apply for masters degrees at highly rated universities, then they get access to the University career services department to help them find a job. Note: I did not say they have to finish the masters degree, just that they enroll in a masters so they have access to the University recruiting pipeline.