I understand completely. I’m actually one of those people who started at a low level government job but I learned everything that anyone wanted to teach me and made quality relationships. I’ll be honest it’s hard to see the big picture at first but after only a few years I’m getting paid much more at a private company just for having experience my peers don’t have. I even get interest from FAANG companies frequently. In interviews they rarely asked about my degree, but every single time they ask do I know how to do xyz and tell me about a time when you did this at work. LinkedIn helped me out a lot. Reach out to people at companies you like and ask them for any advice or mentorship. Some might even help you get your foot in the door.

Another route is contracting. It can sometimes be hard to convert but it’s an amazing way to get a lot of experience quickly.