I personally don't have degrees that match to my current responsibilities as a software engineer, so I can understand where you are coming from. However, I consider software, computers, and technology _my life_ - rather than _my career_.
Much like being good at any job; if you have good communications skills, the drive to work to and complete goals, and the discipline to be diligent and thorough - you will succeed.
For short-term technical experience - Write your own code. Write your own app. If you can figure out how to find a compiler/linker, edit source, and build something that does something useful - put it out on the interwebs and reference it. Go the extra mile and make is cross-platform. If you want group experience - sign up with an open source project or other project looking for free help. Both of these aren't easy options - but they serve the purpose of exposing you to what software development tastes like (often bitter) and building experience. Do something related to the area you are interested in. A Human Resources axiom that I hear often is the phrase "the candidate was able to demonstrate success."
Finally, interviewing is a different skill than software development. If you do get to interview, be warned that the questions they may ask and the way that they are posed sometimes have no relation to the work you would be doing. It is frustrating and funny at the same time. Smile a lot, be professional, ask a lot of questions, and come prepared.
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I personally don't have degrees that match to my current responsibilities as a software engineer, so I can understand where you are coming from. However, I consider software, computers, and technology _my life_ - rather than _my career_.
Much like being good at any job; if you have good communications skills, the drive to work to and complete goals, and the discipline to be diligent and thorough - you will succeed.
For short-term technical experience - Write your own code. Write your own app. If you can figure out how to find a compiler/linker, edit source, and build something that does something useful - put it out on the interwebs and reference it. Go the extra mile and make is cross-platform. If you want group experience - sign up with an open source project or other project looking for free help. Both of these aren't easy options - but they serve the purpose of exposing you to what software development tastes like (often bitter) and building experience. Do something related to the area you are interested in. A Human Resources axiom that I hear often is the phrase "the candidate was able to demonstrate success."
Finally, interviewing is a different skill than software development. If you do get to interview, be warned that the questions they may ask and the way that they are posed sometimes have no relation to the work you would be doing. It is frustrating and funny at the same time. Smile a lot, be professional, ask a lot of questions, and come prepared.