Curious if anyone has any thoughts on what worked best for them when they were starting out, and what practical advice they’d give to someone interested in pursuing a job in the field?
So many things, but one that stands out is realizing the nature of the career field. It's a constantly changing field with new things invented all the time. Think of it as a moving train that never stops. This is what is exciting about software because there's always something new to learn. Some folks don't like this aspect because they would rather learn one thing and use that for a long time. These are also people who have problems and wonder why they get laid off from their jobs or can't find work because they've allowed their skills to grow obsolete - especially during recessions. A caveat is that sometimes hard-to-find skills (aka nearly obsolete) might be in high demand. However, I think it's generally true that committing to keeping your skillset up-to-date is a safe and rewarding approach.
I have a small list[0] of my favorite resources you may want to explore.