Yeah, as soon as I see that 2 days a month thing, I'm not applying for the position. That's my only critique.
Also, India didn't replace you in the 90's and AI isn't replacing you now.
I don't have a degree or any certifications either, due to the same disability that prevents me from going into an office.
It is an employers' market and the employers that create arbitrary barriers of entry for talent will find themselves recruiting from a pool of desperate talent, which may be by design because desperate talent also costs less.
However, I'm not desperate and the managers that hire me find out why that is pretty quickly.
What experience do you have that is so in demand? Or is the disability attractive to employers because of DEI reasons?
I find that specific experience doesn't really matter because every job I've gotten has been a complete reset stack wise.
I have a lot of varied experience, but I think what sets me apart is that tech is actually fun for me. My work/life balance naturally tilts towards work. I'm not just looking to climb a ladder, get more money, or protect my job by making myself irreplaceable. By that, I mean that I document everything I do like I'm going to die tomorrow, and like I care about the DX of whomever takes over my role.
I also don't care if I look dumb. I ask dumb questions and I don't try to hide that I'm human. I've done this my entire life, and it's really paid off. I learn more quickly than my peers most of the time, and this is exactly why -- I lean into the impostor syndrome and own it.
I worked for a company that did something similar to this, most of the day was spent “team building” and it was painful. The fun bit was going to the pub after.
I’d say the best thing to do is to not organise any activities and just make time and space for people to hang out. The people who want to come will come, and for the people who don’t, you aren’t gaining much by forcing them to attend, so why bother.