I'm lost too although in 40s and stuck in dead end job that has basically meant I've stagnated for 15 years while all my peers have 2-3x me. I'm left behind and fear it's too late with the current economic climate.
Similar boat, but more that the industry I’m in has low pay, so even with advancing career I don’t make much.
But I do have work life balance which has been valuable for my family, and a series of health crisis that I weathered over the last decade. Hopefully your dead end job has stability and gives you some other solace?
I would focus on a side gig, building a portfolio project in something that interests you and maybe eventually could be used as a business or to showcase your skills in applying for a job. Getting time for that can be a challenge with existing job and other life demands, but then you have to realize that just hopping onto the Bay Area tech scene would likely have required a similar grind so maybe it wasn’t all that for you?
Same here. Do I go back for a MS in CS or something else? Seems unlikely especially having taken a number of graduate courses. I'm a general systems engineer so I've thought about drilling down into specifics like Microsoft cloud architecture, or AI/ML architecture, or even authentication and gaining certificates to switch jobs. Then I think about starting an IT consulting business that would hire remote workers only and feel overwhelmed by that prospect. Part of me wants to get out altogether and start a pizza joint. Lots of options, too many.
If I wanted to I could probably stay at the same company for the next 20 years and retire but that sounds uninspiring and ultimately quite depressing. Two years ago was the time to do something but now is OK too. In another two years I will look back thinking "why didn't I make a move then?"
I know the feel, wish I had something better than my own story for you!
