[mptest]

is there anyway you'd be willing to field a few questions from a soon to be cs grad interested deeply in this specific career path after realizing they'd been doing it in a way for free already. good experience, but unconventional experience who aspires to a position similar to yours?

[raw_anon_1111]

Everyone I know who has done it, started out as a developer, moved up to a tech lead position and while doing so learned soft skills and presentations and gut real world experience with designing systems and then moved into consulting.

It’s from my seeing the lay of the land in 2026 almost impossible to get a full time job in a consulting company starting out of a college with just an undergrad doing something technical - unless you are in one of the cheaper countries to hire from.

Most besides the WITCH companies use the business models of hire people in the US for the customer facing roles and hire people in cheaper countries for the Lower level roles.

[mptest]

Luckily I am US based, but unfortunately looks like there's no way out of the developer grind for a few years.

I have presentation skills and plenty of soft skills but no experience building complex b2b systems. I've, for many a year, done a very basic version of my understanding of the role for non profits, business and individuals. designed technical solutions of all sorts but mostly just met their needs with existing software along with education.

I was hoping I could enter straight into customer facing roles but I suppose I was simply really holding out hope I could avoid what I've heard called, so lovingly, "the code mines". Any further suggestions would be greatly welcome.

Thank you again for taking the time to respond and offer this wisdom.