Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes

Did you ever make the mistake of looking through job postings only to feel like shit afterwards?

I did, this morning, and now I'm feeling stuck . . . again.

This recent scroll through the job market was a reminder of how under-qualified I feel when looking to take on new roles, at least the roles that seem interesting and pay well.

This was all spurred by a conversation I had with a friend who was telling me that his company is hiring a bunch of computer scientists. Because it's federal, I would need a computer science degree in order to qualify for one of those jobs. I don't have a computer science degree, but I do know how to code and I've been teaching coding for the past 9 years.

After pricing it out, it looks like it would cost me about 2 years time and tens of thousands of dollars. Not exactly an inexpensive or fast fix.

Here's where teaching feels like it's let me down again.

Even though I have years of experience in teaching people how to code, I don't have the relevant on-the-job experience that a lot of employers may be seeking.

I'm okay with starting at the bottom and working my way up, but I have to toe the line between starting fresh and getting paid enough to support my family.

This is why I feel stuck.

The good paying jobs require experience that I don't necessarily have. While the entry level positions, the ones that don't require a ton of prior experience, also don't pay enough to make the math work.

This makes the career change feel impossible, though I know it's not.

I wanted to write about something else today, but this is unfortunately all that's on my mind.

Have you ever felt stuck in your current job?

Are you in a career with limited growth potential?

Are you trying to balance the pressure to provide with the pressure of finding meaningful work?

Are you struggling to find the relevance of your current skill set as it relates to new opportunities?

Yeah, me too.

So, what can we do about this?

We have to believe that we can make our lives better.

We have to also realize that this is most likely going to take time and that it is a journey, as much as it is a destination.

What small action can you take today in order to start moving closer to where you want to be?

Whatever just popped into your mind, do that.

Do that, however small it may feel, today.

Then, keep doing that.

Today, I wrote. That was the action step I chose to get my ass out of Stuckville. It definitely beats looking for more jobs I'm not qualified for.

I have no idea whether or not my writing will pan out, but it feels like the best path to take. If it does work, it will be because I have helped a ton of people, which certainly feels worthwhile and honorable.

At least I am attempting to build my own thing.

At least I'm trying to break the loop.

At least I am doing something.

I guess sometimes, doing something is enough. It certainly beats doing nothing and hoping for things to magically change.

I share my struggles with you in hopes that someone else out there, who may be feeling the same way, can see that they are not alone. That life isn't always Insta-perfect. That it isn't all unicorns and rainbows, at least not all the time.

If you are also feeling out of place in your career, we can trudge through our metamorphosis together.

What step will you take today?

Maybe this is retraining through coursework or college.

Maybe it is working on your side-hustle.

Maybe, you quit your job, sell everything, and move to Costa Rica.

Whatever "it" is, get moving. Time waits for no one.

Nothing changes, if nothing changes!

Get after it and good luck out there!