I have a very similar origin story! I worked for tech support for a large we host company... And all I can say is that I think tech support at web hosting comp

I have a very similar origin story! I worked for tech support for a large we host company... And all I can say is that I think tech support at web hosting companies is a bit... different from normal tech support. I've had a few friends work at telecom and in-store tech support, but the variety of issues you deal with (human and technical) at a web hosting company is unmatched IMO. You become a jack of all trades (but better), and this also makes you be a better developer IMO. I also mean bad kind of "different" when it comes to people/communication related issues, but it probably has a good effect on your soft skills as a person. You probably need a "baseline empathy" to get hired and continue working the job, though. Also, what's generally helped me in interviews is to treat the interviewer (yes) as a customer. You can apply most "people skills wisdom" you learn in support to an interview (and life in general!). > You'll probably have an easier time too if you don't target FAANG/whatever up front. I second this. The initial screening is done by third parties in most cases, not devs. And those third parties have such volumes to deal with, that they probably just discard you based on some computer-generated summary of your CV, if you don't have a few years of experience already (or you've got a way in through an internship or similar programmes).