C++ practice search, how to find a job for food?

Question

Career in IT

For quite a few years I have been fond of systems programming, I like low-level development, I love when I can understand everything that happens in one or another part of the code literally byte by byte. Therefore, C++ became my love.
Once I was fond of reverse engineering and delved into assembler. Then I dug into graphics libraries and really liked OpenGL. I can’t say that I have any particularly deep knowledge, but I like to do it.
And I came to the conclusion that I still want to get a position related to C ++.

Here comes the main problem: I don't like the web, I don't like networks, SQL, scripts and I hate virtual machines.
The entry threshold for C++ is already not small, and few people want to train interns. And if we filter out the networks, then there remains nothing but vacancies for which I can’t get through.

The question is this: I love code, and in fact I am ready to work for food or even for free. Can you clarify how people now get into C++ in systems development? Where are people taken as interns, even if they are for free, but without any special requirements?

Answer 1

Can you clarify how people now get into C++ in systems development? Where are people taken as interns, even if they are for free, but without any special requirements?

They do not turn up their noses and look for any vacancies in C ++, they work for 1-2 years, then with experience in the resume they look for more suitable vacancies.

Answer 2

You can consider state institutions (for example, ISP RAS), they like interns there. You can also use well-known opensource projects to gain experience, after which you will be considered more seriously as interns / juniors.

Answer 3

It can be extremely interesting, informative, and even bring a stable income - writing bots for AAA online games. For example, for WoW, PathOfExile, etc. Bots that emulate the actions of a live player using the official game client, by reading the necessary data in the memory of the game process (and writing to it if you can bypass protection), making the right decision (for example, using AI) and adequate actions. 
If you know how to reverse and can develop / find some feature useful for the community, figure out / fix someone else's outdated non-working C ++, then you can quickly join ready-made closed communities. 
Or do/promote something entirely of your own, based on what is posted in the public domain. 
This field of activity is simply limitless, for example, read what a certain friend offers and how much you need to know and understand in order to implement this:
https://www.ownedcore.com/forums/mmo/path-of-exile...