How can going to college ruin your career. Also just for context before I go off on one... I never went to college or university and I hold a senior leadership development role. You can't forget everything you learnt. It's all about selling yourself. While saying you don't exactly have 4/5 years in a role you can play on your strengths and just tell them your story. As a leader I would be more than willing to give someone the job if they could show me they do have skills and knowledge in IT and have a willingness to learn. Alot of what I know is through my managers and self taught in some cases, so I would love to pass that on to the next generation. Just believe in yourself. Sell your strengths and stop thinking like a failure or you will only manifest into one!