Probably not bowling for awhile

[boatman37]

So April 30th was my last day on my job. DOGE came in and wiped out our gov't contract. I was on that contract for 10 years. Since then I have applied for over 300 jobs and have had no luck at all. I am getting unemployment but it's capped and I'm short alot of money each month. If I haven't found a job by the time league starts back up I'm likely out until I find something. And even then it will be iffy. I have a B.S. in IT with the last 10 years in cybersecurity and have the top certifications in my field and still have not been able to find anything. I have even applied for entry level jobs that would pay less than 1/2 of what I was making. So if I take a job with too much of a pay cut my bowling career may be over

[Aslan]

That sucks man.

It happens...and I've been there...and might be there again...so you're not in it alone.

Its interesting you're in IT security. I was thinking, although late in my career to make a change, that I'd like to get into IT with a focus on coding and/or cybersecurity. The issues are:

1. I'm 50...so that means 15-20 years to train and work before retirement.

2. I'm 'good' with computers...but the only actual computer 'course' I've taken was FORTRAN in ~1992...and I think I got a C+.

3. Given my experience, degrees, certifications, etc... in my current career...I can find jobs making $95-$135k per year. I might be able to make things work in the $65k-$90k range...but if a starting IT salary is less than that I'd be crushed financially to make the change.

4. I don't think I can afford some fancy intense coding boot camp and I certainly couldn't afford to quit my job and go back to college...so my path would have to start with night classes at the community college. Could take 3-5 years to gain enough skills to make the move.

But, part of my motivation to move into IT is that, like healthcare, welding, and auto repair; it's a field that is growing and strong. Yet, you're telling me the opposite...so now I'm not so sure.

Well, I'll pray for ya. Prayer has been more effective, recently, than I thought it would be...so maybe God is paying attention to me after all.

[J Anderson]

That sucks man.

It happens...and I've been there...and might be there again...so you're not in it alone.

Its interesting you're in IT security. I was thinking, although late in my career to make a change, that I'd like to get into IT with a focus on coding and/or cybersecurity. The issues are:

1. I'm 50...so that means 15-20 years to train and work before retirement.

2. I'm 'good' with computers...but the only actual computer 'course' I've taken was FORTRAN in ~1992...and I think I got a C+.

3. Given my experience, degrees, certifications, etc... in my current career...I can find jobs making $95-$135k per year. I might be able to make things work in the $65k-$90k range...but if a starting IT salary is less than that I'd be crushed financially to make the change.

4. I don't think I can afford some fancy intense coding boot camp and I certainly couldn't afford to quit my job and go back to college...so my path would have to start with night classes at the community college. Could take 3-5 years to gain enough skills to make the move.

But, part of my motivation to move into IT is that, like healthcare, welding, and auto repair; it's a field that is growing and strong. Yet, you're telling me the opposite...so now I'm not so sure.

Well, I'll pray for ya. Prayer has been more effective, recently, than I thought it would be...so maybe God is paying attention to me after all.

Prayer is always effective. Since most people now seem to have some form of HD-ADD we don't always want to wait for the answer or we don't like the answer we get.

[boatman37]

IT actually seems to be a dying industry right now. There were 14 of us on my team and after 3 months none of us have found a job and it is very difficult to get interviews. I have a B.S. in IT with an A.A.S. in Computer Forensics & Security, along with a CISSP certification, CySA+, Security+, Cloud+, Network+, A+ and a few expired ones. Not bragging but being transparent...I was making $111,300 at my last job. I have been applying for jobs anywhere from $55,000 (entry level) up to about $180,000. I have removed some of my credentials for some of the lower level jobs and still nothing. I have reached out to 7 or 8 recruiters and most either don't return my call or do return it then I never hear back. I had an interview through one and reached out to the recruiter afterwards and never heard back. Met with another recruiter in person on a Friday. Ran into him the next day at the store. He was supposed to submit me for a job on Monday. I reached out to him a few times after Monday and he has not returned my calls so I have given up on recruiters unless they reach out to me. I'm 56 and have a bad back and shoulder so can't do physical work 40 hours a week. I'm going to start looking for desk jobs outside of IT but I'm not trained in anything else. Prior to IT I was a laborer in steel mill but left that because of my physical issues back in 2005.