Huge congrats to your son! A lot of people, especially OSS devs, poo-poo book-learnin'. I can see where they come from, I'm a software engineer at a larger tech company and I've worked with both dumb Ivy-leaguers and brilliant dropouts. But, one consistent advantage I see with the folks who've done 4 year programs is the breadth of their foundation. Simply knowing about the existence of common terms / concepts is a surprisingly powerful unlock because you know what to google for.
On the other hand, all the accolades and resume builders in the world will only buy you a foot in the door and 30 seconds of somebody's attention. After that, charisma and competence are basically the only things that matter. For competence, your son should know how to demonstrate WHAT he's capable of doing. For charisma, he should be able to explain WHY: why should others find his work as interesting or useful as he does?
That said, getting a foot in the door isn't easy right now. Encourage your son to find side projects he enjoys while he bides his time getting an interview. The best side projects are almost always the things you make for yourself. Also, he should feel no shame reaching out to people to ask for mentorship and referrals. It may feel like you're bothering people when you ask for their help, but it reality you're doing them a favor. There's no better gift you can give someone than the gift of being needed. People love to mentor - it scratches an itch right at the bottom of the brainstem.
A last note: AI isn't truly replacing developers anytime soon, although companies will use it as an excuse to cut down on one of their most expensive cost-centers. The current state of the job market has much more to do with the current macro landscape and optics management for investors. If a company lays off 10% of their workforce, stock dumps. If a company lays off 10% of their workforce because they're just soooo productive with AI? Stock rallies.
Best of luck to your son!
