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Deleted50669

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To everyone who's taken the time to respond to this thread, I greatly appreciate your objectivity and advice. There are a lot of great tips here that I'm going to use / have been using. I have two interviews next week, one with a large tech firm in San Fran, another with a major firm in NY. If these don't pan out, my check down is going to be construction work as others have suggested (I have some previous exposure to it from high school / college). In the meantime, I'm doing everything under the sun to prep for these two important interviews. I'll be back in touch soon. Again, thank you to all.
 
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sparechange

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Why interviews on opposite sides of the country? Seems kinda crazy, also in the most expensive cities in the world?

Regardless hope you get it, with the community here you are better off than 99% of people. Now is the time to be super positive and not let negativity in your head.
 
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Deleted50669

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Why interviews on opposite sides of the country? Seems kinda crazy, also in the most expensive cities in the world?

Regardless hope you get it, with the community here you are better off than 99% of people. Now is the time to be super positive and not let negativity in your head.
That's just where the chips have fallen. I've mostly applied to local positions to avoid relocation costs, but these two openings are the fastest movers.

I'm trying to stay positive. I definitely have a lot to learn.. still. Once I get stability I'm going to invest nearly all of my free time in coding. Idc if it's a saturated market, or whatever. I will become better than most people currently doing it out of sheer will.
 

sparechange

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Is it possible to skype interview with these companies? Let them know you are on the other side of the country? Save the money
 
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Tom.V

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Man, this thread hit me hard with the feels. I remember being in this situation. Back against the wall, and the other walls closing in around me. It's a shitty spot to be in any way you look at it. Fight or flight.

Tons of good advice here, but the key of course is twofold. Reduce expenses and find a job. Any job. Something that can keep your head above water while you regroup. Ditch current residence and get a couple roommates if you are able. If you're floating on a high monthly car note, sell and get something cheaper.

Best advice I can give, is JUST DON'T STOP. Knock doors, make calls in between knocking on doors, email your resume during meals; literally whatever it takes to get out of the pit.
 
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Deleted50669

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Man, this thread hit me hard with the feels. I remember being in this situation. Back against the wall, and the other walls closing in around me. It's a shitty spot to be in any way you look at it. Fight or flight.

Tons of good advice here, but the key of course is twofold. Reduce expenses and find a job. Any job. Something that can keep your head above water while you regroup. Ditch current residence and get a couple roommates if you are able. If you're floating on a high monthly car note, sell and get something cheaper.

Best advice I can give, is JUST DON'T STOP. Knock doors, make calls in between knocking on doors, email your resume during meals; literally whatever it takes to get out of the pit.
Thank you man, I appreciate the encouragement. It's a low point for sure, but a point of learning. I need to be more disciplined and strategic the next time I make a career move. Just because I think I can leave a job and start a business doesn't mean it will work out, and if it doesn't work out, this is what happens.
 

Real Deal Denver

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Is it possible to skype interview with these companies? Let them know you are on the other side of the country? Save the money

Companies are well aware of using skype. If they are serious, and it's for an important position, and want a live interview, they will foot the bill for travel, hotel, etc. Could be a nice mini-vacation, not to mention that when you get to that point, things are dead serious, which is a very good thing.

IF, by the grace of God, things DO get to that point - play it cool. Don't jump at the date they propose right away for an interview. It is good to be a little coy and ask if you can call them back within the hour as you have to make some schedule changes. Be coy, but not too coy. It's a big world out there, and you have to let them know you are a hot commodity. Then deal the cards and play the game! Win, lose, or draw, this can be a great learning experience, and a lot of fun to boot!
 
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Deleted50669

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Companies are well aware of using skype. If they are serious, and it's for an important position, and want a live interview, they will foot the bill for travel, hotel, etc. Could be a nice mini-vacation, not to mention that when you get to that point, things are dead serious, which is a very good thing.

IF, by the grace of God, things DO get to that point - play it cool. Don't jump at the date they propose right away for an interview. It is good to be a little coy and ask if you can call them back within the hour as you have to make some schedule changes. Be coy, but not too coy. It's a big world out there, and you have to let them know you are a hot commodity. Then deal the cards and play the game! Win, lose, or draw, this can be a great learning experience, and a lot of fun to boot!

It is very much like poker. And I'm holding a 2-7 off suit. This company is known for supporting relocation, so that gives me a small sliver of hope if it goes well. But I'm in no position to be negotiating.
 

sparechange

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its not the hands your dealt, but how you play your hand
 

sparechange

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Deleted50669

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Nice! I have seen a few folks on here pull off the Craigslist model well. DC/northernVA is an aggressive Craigslist market.. it moves at light speed because many people are onto Craigslist arbitrage. That's not to say there isn't potential in it, but I'd have to find a niche, or maybe make one, with less red water.
 

Real Deal Denver

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It is very much like poker. And I'm holding a 2-7 off suit. This company is known for supporting relocation, so that gives me a small sliver of hope if it goes well. But I'm in no position to be negotiating.

I never play the cards in poker - I play the players. If I limited my winnings to only the times I had great hands, I would be a lousy player indeed. Losers think it's all about luck - winners know it's all about strategy.

You certainly ARE in a position to negotiate. You always have that. If worst comes to worst, and everything absolutely fails - then revert to being a 18 year old. Get a crap job - stabilize the best you can - and then rebuild yourself to be an IN DEMAND candidate for a very good job. 18 year old that know almost nothing about the world do this all the time. It works.

If you take online courses, you could have an AA degree is a bit over a year. A BS degree in under 3. Sounds like a long time - but it will take you from the trenches where you have "no negotiating power" to being a real player in the world of real jobs. I do know a fair amount of people with masters, as well. And you wouldn't know it by knowing them - in other words, they are very average.

Now, all of this goes against the Fast Lane. I know. But it never hurts to have a "solid base" that pays your bills, and THEN you can launch your true dream business.

There are always options. Always doors to be opened. If an 18 year old fresh out of high school can do it, you can too. Get mad - quit making excuses - and launch! 5-4-3-2....
 

LittleWolfie

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A fast-food joint would probably take you in -- without even looking at your resume -- as long as you get their attention and don't show up to the interview looking like a freak.
Write a LinkedIn update about yourself -- with a friendly photograph of yourself -- explaining your situation and how you're really desperate for a job.

I guess I must have shown up looking like a freak then and I'm also suprised at the idea of acknowledging your desperate. My experience has been that no one wants to hire anyone who is desperate or unemployed, the recruiters are always after people doing that exact same job for multiple years. Might be cultural differences though since I'm not in the US.

If you take online courses, you could have an AA degree is a bit over a year. A BS degree in under 3. Sounds like a long time - but it will take you from the trenches where you have "no negotiating power" to being a real player in the world of real jobs.

Plenty of unemployed people with degrees though, why bother going through all of that to end up back In the same situation you are now? It didn't stop me from being homeless.
 
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WJK

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Homeless and hungry? There's a lot of us who have been there. I learned to bartend in order to get through one of those moments when I was young. Funny, I didn't drink then and I still don't drink. But, I worked my real estate during the day and bartended at night. I lived through the experience. So can you. And you'll learn that you never want to go there again. Good luck!
 

Real Deal Denver

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If you take online courses, you could have an AA degree is a bit over a year. A BS degree in under 3. Sounds like a long time - but it will take you from the trenches where you have "no negotiating power" to being a real player in the world of real jobs. I do know a fair amount of people with masters, as well.

Plenty of unemployed people with degrees though, why bother going through all of that to end up back In the same situation you are now? It didn't stop me from being homeless.

Lots of people with degrees can't get a decent job. We're all going to die. Life is hopeless. And my momma is fat.

Thanks for the vote of no confidence. Now I remember why I get my news off the internet - it doesn't drag me down. We're all going to die. That's a fact, but I don't want to dwell on it. In fact, I don't even want to think about it at all. There. See how easy that is? We *can* control how we think.

Can we change the topic then? Sure we can - we control it.

Which begs the questions - what THEN would you recommend? Since you've been there and lived it, I'm sure you can offer some good insight. Let's try to stay positive though, and leave my momma out of it too.
 
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Deleted50669

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Homeless and hungry? There's a lot of us who have been there. I learned to bartend in order to get through one of those moments when I was young. Funny, I didn't drink then and I still don't drink. But, I worked my real estate during the day and bartended at night. I lived through the experience. So can you. And you'll learn that you never want to go there again. Good luck!
I'd love to be a bartender, that fits who I am more than what I've been doing. But I'm handcuffed with debt, so my prison sentence is horrible white collar jobs.
 
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sparechange

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Actually agree with wolfie,

Much better alternative is self education and creating your own income stream rather than relying on education and big corporate jobs, especially considering the amount of time required to pursue a degree.

We are all here for entrepreneurship, which at the end of the day is all about money & freedom whilst enriching the lives of others.

@404profound

John Paul DeJoria went from homeless to billionaire by following 3 simple rules

Execution is king
 
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Deleted50669

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Actually agree with wolfie,

Much better alternative is self education and creating your own income stream rather than relying on education and big corporate jobs, especially considering the amount of time required to pursue a degree.

We are all here for entrepreneurship, which at the end of the day is all about money & freedom whilst enriching the lives of others.

@404profound

John Paul DeJoria went from homeless to billionaire by following 3 simple rules

Execution is king
That is an encouraging article, thank you. I agree that corporate shackles deny us the opportunity to do anything that actually matters to anyone beyond the people at the top of the heap.
 

sparechange

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That is an encouraging article, thank you. I agree that corporate shackles deny us the opportunity to do anything that actually matters to anyone beyond the people at the top of the heap.

Well the more important point is even a crappy lower paying job can get you by aswell.

Unless you are starting the next Tesla capital shouldn't be much of an issue
 
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LittleWolfie

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Lots of people with degrees can't get a decent job. We're all going to die. Life is hopeless. And my momma is fat.

Thanks for the vote of no confidence. Now I remember why I get my news off the internet - it doesn't drag me down.

It's not a vote of no confidence, I'm just suggesting that it is perhaps not the best option, unless you want the education for education's sake.

. That's a fact, but I don't want to dwell on it. In fact, I don't even want to think about it at all. There. See how easy that is? We *can* control how we think.

Can we change the topic then? Sure we can - we control it.
.

Personally, I find that acknowledging those facts, avoid dwelling on them and sometimes can hep with the solution. Another way of phrasing the same statement is that lots of fastlaners without the education can make more money than those with the education.

.

Which begs the questions - what THEN would you recommend? . Let's try to stay positive though, and leave my momma out of it too.

Oh, I am positive, it is just hard to show it.

At this time of year? Agricultural work. It comes with accommodation(inc. shower) and gives you a chance to find something else. The main issues are that it's usually in a rural location and the limited availability of internet can make it hard to get any other kind of work to forestall the problem reoccurring in the winter. Perhaps in the US, you can save enough in the summer, to spend the winter in Mexico? I've no idea what the visas are like there.

OP might also want to look at live-in career, or night warden at a home, since that is a similar personality and hours as a bartender, plus has the advantage of potentially being in an area with more opportunity.


I. But I'm handcuffed with debt, so my prison sentence is horrible white collar jobs.

That sounds like an excuse, if your really that desperate, your not going to have anything worthwhile. What are they going to reposess? They can't take your landlord's home because your not paying anything. What is the absolute worse thing that can happen if you let your debt pile up? Are they going to put you in prison? Well, then you will have a bed, shower and food. I'm not advocating it, but people who are desperate and homeless will try and get arrested for this reason.

Try and get a phone +laptop and sim (I got a cheap one form a car boot and put linux on it) from a friend or family(Get them to write their name and address on it in permanent marker and give you a letter stating that you can borrow it until your back on your feet, that way it can't be repossessed form you,since it isn't yours) You can do the same with a car, if you can drive.

You can tether the phone to the laptop, so you can apply for jobs and freelance that way. Might want to get Telegram (since it can cope with low speeds better than skype and maybe get a google voice number, so you can call in and out.)

McDonalds and public libraries are excellent sources of free wifi. I mentioned McDonald before, they can be very helpful.

Another good-option if you can get it is night work, it's a lot easier to find places to go during the day,even to sleep. Maker sure your well, groomed and showered, try a biphasic sleep schedule. You have a four hour nap, walk around for a bit then another four hour nap. Society has a different view on this when it is during the day and your well-groomed. Gym membership +cinema pass and McDonalds can give you cheap place to shower/groom/to sleep during the day and eat/look for jobs. The great thing about MCd is their open 24/7 so you can use them when nothing else is available and you can start by ordering something of the .99 menu.

Cinemas are nice and dark, add in cotton wool, a pair of dark glasses and you can sleep in the back Two films + a small break gives you most of your sleep.
 

LittleWolfie

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Well the more important point is even a crappy lower paying job can get you by aswell.

Unless you are starting the next Tesla capital shouldn't be much of an issue
Usually the biggest capital requirement, by far is rent. This is for me a major driver behind getting an online income, this gives you a lot more options. As you only need to find somewhere with internet where you can afford the bills.
 

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I actually closed two clients today for small consulting projects. I'm pretty pumped. It will get me through September only, but it's a start.

That's awesome! That's a very good start.
 
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sparechange

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good job, get more.

*** a job
 

Real Deal Denver

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I actually closed two clients today for small consulting projects. I'm pretty pumped. It will get me through September only, but it's a start.

The hardest part of opening a franchise is doing the first one. After that, you just rinse and repeat.

Same with customers. You know you can do it. The hard part is over.

WaY tO Go!
 

DennisD

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I know it sucks but this opportunity might be the kick you needed.

Success gurus always say "You gotta be HUNGRY for it!"

It took me actually being homeless and literally HUNGRY before I ramped my a$$ into gear. If I didn't get a client by the end of the day, I didn't eat that day.

I realize looking back, years later, how much I was holding myself back before I was pushed to the edge.

It didn't sound like you were hungry before. Soak in every moment of your panic right now & use it for years to come.
 
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DangerousDave

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My suggestion is get out of the DC area.
The cost of living is far too high.
Move to a place such as Lousiville, where there are plenty of jobs, IT Jobs included, and the cost of living is low. [I moved away from there a few years ago - Cheap to live, and a nice city too. If you cant make it there, you cant make it anywhere].
 

ZCP

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Notice your wording:
It will get me through September only, but it's a start.
Change your language.
It will get me all the way through September, AND I am just getting started!
Positive mindset!
 

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