[sqircles]

Paper Credentials: I'm going to stack on a masters degree and some more certs. As a kid I was into development and anything tech, but for some reason resisted formal education or even working in the field. I spent my summers and school breaks working different construction trades as my entire family was spread out amongst the trades. After the military I did an entrepreneurial stint, then I took the comfortable, "guaranteed" route, in regard to career- wherever I could land in the US Fed. Govt, where I did about 12 years in 5 or so different positions... I was raised to, and had always worked hard - but I never really had much risk in regard to losing my job until recently.

Preceding wall of text to explain how hard the realization hit, for practically the first time in my life, when stuff started going crazy in the feds: "damn... I really could be ~6mo away from losing it all." As many of you know, the market was and is ridiculous. Thankfully a few years back, even when I "knew" I didn't need it, I finished my BS:CS before my GI Bill dried up. And then as another challenge took the Security+ exam before I started applying for a job in the private sector. A lot of people in this industry like to say none of that matters-- which might certainly be true, but I can say without a doubt that those pieces of paper are the main reason I was about to get out of the hole I was in. I'd rather not be in that position ever again, but I'd like to be well prepared "on paper" if I am.