As careers professionalize, many people quite capable of them get “credentialed” out.

I 100% believe that if I was born ten years later, I would not be working in this industry. Even with the benefit of knowing what my job was so I could take a direct path, and with people willing to help me succeed. If my portfolio from back then showed up on my desk today, I would not hire me.

Though I don’t do quite what she does, the same is true for me. If I were 10 years younger there’s just no way I’d be in IT. I never could’ve made it past the front gate of the credential scam.