Unsure what to pursue

[dfrecore]

One good tidbit from the HR person. The employers are motivated to meet a certain quota of employees from disadvantaged groups.

I worked in HR for many years, and I don't think this is really true. Yes, they want to get some diversity in the company, but they aren't going to sacrifice experience for that. And, they get as much for getting a minority or woman in as they do for a disabled person - so they're probably going to go for the easiest person to accommodate. So a disabled person with no experience, or a woman (especially in IT) with no experience, I'm willing to bet the pick the woman every time. And if it's in IT, they have LOTS of minorities going for those jobs (Asian, Indian, etc.).