Did you run into the degree filter when you started applying out? I did the same thing two years ago, a cheap analytics cert plus three projects where I pulled real sales data and built a simple churn model. Those projects got me two callbacks, but a few big places auto rejected me because their system wanted a bachelor's in a related field. Smaller and mid size companies never asked about the degree at all. So my guess is you'll hit a wall at some of the giant firms, but the internal move gives you the years of job title that matters more later.

Man, I used to be the guy who thought a softener was just one of those things every house needed, like a furnace or something. Then I actually read up on it and learned hardness is measured in grains per gallon, and anything under 7 is considered soft enough that a softener is basically pointless. Your 4 gpg is right in that sweet spot where you'd never notice a difference. So yeah, you got hosed, but at least now you know to test first and let the number tell you what you need instead of a salesman.