Stuck in Enterprise CRUD: Seeking Path to Hands-On AI Role

+++++ GEMINI CONCISE VERSION ++++++++ Hi HN,

I'm a developer with six years of experience (backend/frontend/infra), primarily doing vanilla CRUD work in an enterprise setting. I'm struggling to pivot into a more in-demand field like AI.

I've tried upskilling (certs, technical books, personal projects), but without professional exposure to an AI project, my efforts haven't opened doors. I feel stuck.

I see three main paths forward to bridge this experience gap:

1): Apply directly to AI-focused roles, hoping a company takes a chance on a "vanilla Java dev."

2) Go back to school for a Master's degree in AI.

3): Double down on more advanced AI certifications and personal projects.

Fellow Devs: How did you successfully pivot from traditional development into a high-demand field? What was the critical action that finally broke the barrier for you?

+++++ RAW VERSION ++++++++

Hi HN,

I'm doing bit of retrospection from where to go from where I am in my career. I'm struggling a bit to break into industry that is in demand verses what I have been doing - which is CRUD style work in enterprise company. I have six years experience in diverse area, backend, front end, infrastructure. .

I have done my best to upskill which ever way I can, from reading technical books, "AI Engineer" to obtaining certification that is AI focused to better understand AI terminology that is.

What triggered me to make this post is I came across an individual on LinkedIn who has been in product and managed to get into 'AI Project' and now appears to be trying to transition into 'hands on' AI role by going back to school and doing master's degree in AI space.

Compared to my experience, I have been working as a developer for six years. However, I have never been exposed to any real AI project I can work on.

So, for me to take the next step, I can see only three options:

1) applied to AI focus role and 'hope and pray' some AI company is willing to take a risk to get vanilla Java backend dev to build out their AI product

2) Go back to school and do master's degree in AI like the individual did on LN

3) do AI focus certification, like AI Engineer Azure, Coursera/deeplearning, certification and, again, 'hope and pray' it will make my resume stand out?

I'd love to hear from fellow devs who were able to change their trajectory to transition from vanilla development into field that is in demand and open more opportunities?

I feel extremely sideline the way I am in my current position. I genuinely though doing AI certification and a personal project in AI will open doors, but turns out, it doesn't. Also, my company which is financial services is not open to having AI project deployed. For example, we were very late to adopt copilot.