As someone who spent 38 years in IT, I’ve been in the same boat many times.
The last 18 years of my career I ditched the full corporate, government agency job for jobs as an IT contractor.
That would be my advice, it’s hard for young people to grasp, they are an asset that can be disposed of at any moment. You have to look out for yourself and can’t depend on any company or organization that offers temporary stability often times at lower pay.
Contracting work is not for everyone, for me it was much more profitable when I became an hourly employee with overtime and allowed me to pick and choose the jobs I was interested in, I went out and purchased my own insurance, never signed up for company benefits except for any 401K program that was being offered, it was a much more rewarding environment.
My daughter with the computer science degree is thinking that way. She just got on her new husband’s insurance. They can survive on his income. She’s already got people wanting help from her. She’s very independent.
My other daughter in data analytics needs medical and disability insurance. I also think she wants to work in an office.