I thought entry level just meant having a willingness to be molded, to be critiqued, to learn, to be open to anything. But no, the requirements are so much higher these days.
I had a decent entry level resume built with SWE/tech support internships, projects, certifications and a cs bachelor's. I graduated in May 2025. I graduated with almost 50k in loans. After graduation I could only get a job at a local big box store hauling heavy products around for $16/hour, working from 11pm to 7am. Meaning, my first job after college was making a deadend $33k a year in 2025. Now 2026. I got a 50 cent raise after a year. in a VHCOL. I'm unemployed now, though.
The classical advice to someone in my spot is "just go get another education". Will you be paying the bill??? I was making $16 an hour. My loans aren't even paid off.