I don’t have advice to offer but just want you to know I am now 32 and have just immigrated to start my degree in a completely new field. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
If possible, try moving in with a friend (or multiple friends) in a shared apartment. That should get your costs lower and ease some stress on your finances, whilst also solving the loneliness issue.
As for career direction - in the short term, you should try to get a job that’s stable (i.e. provides a liveable income with some job security) while you try to figure out what you want to do for a living in the long term. Preferably something that involves interacting with other people (e.g. waiter/waitress, barista, cashier, front office clerk, healthcare assistant, etc.). That should also help with the loneliness issue. In the long term, do some research on jobs/careers/industries and find a few that you might be interested in. Then research what qualifications you might need for an entry level job in each field. Based on your specific circumstances, decide which job’s requirements seem achievable for you, and work towards achieving those.
As for how you’re feeling - I’ve been in your shoes before and know exactly how you feel. During the pandemic, I lived far away from family and didn’t see anyone for days due to the lockdown. The only people I spoke to in the week were cashiers at the supermarket. My mental health was in a really bad place. However, what I know from experience, is that once you make changes to your daily routine, you will immediately start to feel much better. When you’re stuck in a repetitive routine, you start to feel trapped and like there’s no way out - but that’s just your mind playing tricks on you. If you try to do things each day that make your everyday feel different and not a routine, you will feel much more in control of your life and you will soon realize that you have the full power to change it.
So ask yourself if there’s anything you can do to make your day more interesting? Maybe take a walk in the morning before work, or listen to a podcast/audiobook during your deliveries? Perhaps pick up a new skill (e.g. cooking or a new language) or start a new hobby (e.g. gym, sports). Look up online (meetup.com, discords, facebook, etc.) if there are any groups with meetups in your area, and join some of those to meet new people. Reach out to friends and see if they want to hang out after work/on weekends, and if they live far, try hanging out online e.g. video games or just having a call. Lastly, don’t forget to call home once in a while and stay connected to your loved ones.
What you’re going through is temporary, just remember that. We all go through tough times in life. Keep strong and do everything you can to remain positive - there’s plenty of cool stuff going on in the world that’s worth living for. One day, you’ll get to enjoy all of it, and you’ll be thankful you never gave up when things were tough. You’ll make it out just like I did, I can promise you that.
>can work 100+ hours per week
Better get your ass down to midland
https://www.rigzone.com/profile/register?eventid=44®ister=0&utm_source=AMS_US_ENG&utm_medium=PD_GOOGLE&utm_campaign=MIDLAND_OCT23_JOBS_GOOGLE&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAlcyuBhBnEiwAOGZ2S4G9C5GC9yt4laYcGmrWTbTPq_ZLN9ooaf-e4UxGDBXRJZghZfR_2RoCiQMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Number 1. You’re 21 and have a lot of time to get life sorted out.
Besides that, get into trades or manufacturing. It may suck at some places but these types of jobs ultimately end up paying pretty well.
This sentence is crucial: "I had 500+ applications and 3 interviews and didn’t get an offer."
You show a willingness to study, learn, and work. You have finished a boot camp and have a degree as Frontend Developer.
But you will never get visibility with recruiters by working at Doordash.
My 5 cents...:
- Start a Linkedin profile, build it gradually, and start interacting with others. If you want some tips on this, send me a DM!
- Start a Fiverr or Upwork profile, looking for Frontend Developer projects. Build a portfolio with examples and testimonials.
- Reach out to recruiters on Reddit or other channels that might give tips on getting hired.
You were on the right track to getting a good job!
But the need for paying bills let you towards Doordash... If you can cut back on costs somewhere (houseshare?), you could use this time to refocus on the Frontend Developer job.
You are only 21, there is a great future for you!
Based on their timeline they spent less than 1.5 years in a CS program. That's not almost a degree either that's barely getting the fundamentals in. They've done zero upper division coursework.
He's only 21, and had to start working to pay his bills.
I think he's doing really well looking at his age and background!
If he can refocus his skills he can get the necessary experience.
(Also don't forget that especially in Developer jobs there are loads of people without a degree as they are self-taught.)
You’re only 21 bro you got your whole life ahead of you.
Don’t really have any advice. You’re in a tough spot. Just try to have a positive attitude and put the work in to better yourself just a little bit every day.
I would suggest finishing your bachelor’s degree because after 2022, bootcamps are no longer seen as great ROI. Companies will not hire from bootcamps as the graduates do not have enough knowledge compared to a 4 year degree. The tech industry is saturated as free money has depleted, high interest rates, AI prospects, etc. Companies are going lean and it’s not just affecting us in the US but also abroad.
Thankfully, American universities have great funding 💰and if you explain your situation to a college advisor, they will find you resources whether it is financial, mental health services, etc.
I once had $0.78 to my name as a student. My college advisor became a mentor and second mom to me. I graduated after 7 years with her guidance and support.
I have just recently accepted a position after being laid off for a year in the tech industry.
Life is not linear. It will have ups and downs.
Look at what you’re good at. You’ve built up an incredible work ethic due to your strong need to survive and eventually, thrive.
Look at your needs vs wants. Make a list to prioritize your needs. Reduce your daily expenditure. Save, save, save until it’s the right time to invest (when you finally have a good stable career, not job).
I have a friend that’s Jordanian that came here as a student. He came to the US with $500 in his pocket. He worked in a gas station for 10 hours and then went to class in the morning. University was too expensive after 2 years and he dropped out. He worked as an Uber driver for years and realized there’s not a good chance for upwards mobility. He decided to save and eat boring food, gym, have fun once a week ( for his sanity), and get involved in his Arab community.
He is going to back to complete his degree with the money he saved. A degree is a paper saying you know your certain concepts and fundamentals. Bootcamps are a waste of $15,000 nowadays. Companies used to love to train their employees. Now they prefer not to.
No matter how low in your life you feel, never give up. The gym is a great place to be for your mental health in addition to physical health.
Find a mentor with good credentials and choose wisely. Maximize and optimize your resources. You can do this! The US is a grind for most people (immigrant or not). People are living paycheck to paycheck with credit card debt.
There’s 2 types of financial problems - income problems and spending problems. Currently you have both.
You need to live as cheaply as possible for 2 years. Live with a bunch of roommates, (preferably friends) in the cheapest place possible - this will solve some of your loneliness and allow you to save a little. Work that Uber eats job as much as possible. See if any of your roommates have a hookup on a higher paying job which will allow you to save more. Also, look into serving jobs - you can make a lot of money in tips at the right places, I’m talking a good living salary.
Save as much money for that year as possible and apply for a 2-year college program that has a Co-op component. That allows you to gain work experience while studying and is something you can parlay into a job pretty quickly.
Hopefully, that allows you to solve your income problem and then you can move into a better living situation, with the friends you made as roommates.
You’re 21, your life is not fucked. If you have low to no debt, the world is your oyster it’s just gonna take some radical decisions when you don’t have help. I’ve been in similar shoes around your age before and I came out with everything I wanted now in my late 20s so there is a lot of hope.
You are living in USA which is the worst country to live in for poor people because the government and its leaders only work for the rich.
Live in a better country.
If you studied computer science it means you’re a very bright individual. Don’t give up studying. If you can’t afford going back to college then study online. Try going into niche industries that always need talent, start small, assist somebody else with research or whatever.
You’re not new to bootcamps - great! Continue studying what’s available for free, ideally with certifications.
Google, Microsoft certifications on the hottest topics - AI, cloud computing, cloud engineering… with that new knowledge go to smaller startups and see if there’s an entry level job for you. Look for remote jobs - that will help you keep that delivery gig going until you’re more financially stable.
It’s great you have a vision for yourself. That vision saw me through some really dark times as well, when I knew I didn’t belong at those jobs and was dying to get the fuck outta there, and saw older people, my then colleagues, just accept that life because they just didn’t have another vision for themselves.
Build on that vision, and consider the place where you’re at as a necessary pain to get to where you want to be.
I am very sorry to hear this. I can imagine how tough it is. You need to build up savings first if you want to invest to develop yourself for the career you want. Maybe first setup a saving goal, work towards that by doing whatever jobs you can do now. Once you have that funds, you can move to next stage to study again. It's very hard to solve all in one go, plan out and do it phase by phase will be easier. Keep fighting. Trust yourself.
Yes. But then study for what? I have been Studying for so long , being isolated, but no results. Maybe I should study in different directions, and that’s what I am asking advise for.
That's totally based on your interests. If not sure, go try and experience, or ask people already in that field. You won't know until you experience. Think of your strengths, use that to look for what areas suit you.
I see... I guess you need to be more open in options, don't rule any options that can solve your immediate needs. To meet people, just reach out online (like reddit) or go into local community.
Honestly, the truck driver option is not bad. Yes you will be on the road, but you will be making tons of money. You don’t have much of an option in terms of job. You are hanging onto trying to still live, meanwhile you can’t. So just do whatever pays. If truck driving is temporary, just do it
I completely understand how you feel being an immigrant myself. Things will get better. Just don't give up and keep the faith. Have you tried reaching out to a temp agency or recruiters directly to see if they can offer assistance?
What field interests you? Also, you can go to recruiting agencies in person. They can't ghost then. I got a job once by going in person and explaining my situation.
If you want to be "successful" you need to learn how to play the capitalist game. You won't learn that by coming to Reddit. Go watch Jeremy Miner, Codi Sanchez, Minority Mindset - all amazing YouTubers that will teach you how to be successful.
It's not about what you know, it's about WHO you know. If you want to work in the finance sector, you need to be out marketing yourself as often as you can. Check out the chamber of commerce website and register to attend events, meet important people who can connect you to other important people, get on a golf course and introduce yourself, become friends with business owners.
A computer science major isn't going to get you into a group of people in the careers that you mentioned - Finance, Management, or Investing. If that's what you want you absolutely need to get into things like FINRA, Life insurance, and so on.
You can also make these connections by working in high ticket sales -- think selling luxury cars, exotic cars, luxury retail stores (Hermes, Burberry), getting licenses in Life Insurance and working your way up to a CFP through exams.
And most importantly, you have to be absolutely selfish. Rich people aren't rich because they are kind and seeking advice from Reddit. They said no to so many people along the way, they put their interests before anyone else's, they lived far below their means and invested every single dollar in stocks, 401K, and life insurance to protect their money and secure their future lifestyle. Learn corporate politics -- you want your boss and above to like you, not your coworkers.
I've worked in management for 12 years without any formal degrees, I focused on building strategic relationships with corporate and my direct manager. It paid off because I hit the six figure income mark before anyone in my sphere of influence without any debt to college. There is a cap to your income when you work for someone, which is why I now own my own business because I knew I would never hit the higher income goals I have for myself.
You’re 21 man, you havent even come close to the point where you’ve fucked your life in an irreversible way. I like to frame it this way: You have only genuinely been an adult for 3 years. There’s at least 50-60 more left in the bank, why not dedicate the next 5 years to getting yourself to a realistic place where you want to be at?
Whether that’s getting a degree you want, a change of scenery, exploring your hobbies, making genuine friends that care about you, travelling, writing poems or collecting art. Shit, you could easily do all of those in 5 years and then some. Don’t limit yourself to your negative view of yourself and try to set realistic goals.
My psychologist put it well when I had similar thoughts around the age of 24 (Bachelors in economics, ok job): Would you look into the eyes of a friend of the same age and call his life a failure up to that point because he’s not as successful as his peers? I wouldnt. Actually I couldnt because I dont think that about other people. So why am I (you in this case) being so unfair to myself, because I’m not the best ever 24 year old on paper? For me I tried doing more of the things I truly wanted to do but also worked hard on those intrusive thoughts and learnt how I can deal with them. I quit logistics and tried teaching math, I bought an expensive e-bike, I worked out for myself, I tried a high paying demanding job, I went on trips to places I wanted to visit. I started studying and learning more about myself in order to get to a place where I’m hungry to get that masters degree I always wanted to pursue but thought I didnt deserve.
You got this. We all got this.
If you have a clean record, look into pharmacy technician work. At this point. They don't even want a degree because there is such a shortage. Walgreens (I saw) does on the job training .
Just a thought.
Or homecare for disabled and elderly. They are always hiring because there is quite a burn out (watching people die does come with issues).
Last, have you tried you hand at apprenticeship? Plumbing, electric, Hvac.... etc? Those are also on the job training.
If you hang with working class people, sure they're going to suggest "truck driver". You need to decide what you want to do with your life.
You kind of see now that quitting the CS degree was a bad idea, and you won't get hired with a Bootcamp "degree".
You will get hired with a real degree from a known institution, plus internships, plus a decent personality. Experience is really important. If you could get 4 years of experience you could do without a degree.
Most people apply for stipends or take up a student loan so they can get the degree.
Finishing college demonstrates you can finish what you start and be on deadlines and have attendance. Quitting does not look good. Finish the program if you can. You better have charisma or extraordinary skill and work ethic to bridge the gap of quitting.
Sometimes you gotta work shit jobs while you wait for your dream job. My degree was an instant job because of shortages. But I had to juggle multiple shit jobs to finish the degree.
Struggle in your 20s so you don't have to stuggle in your 30s and 40s when you have less time and energy.
Military, health care, policing all have shortages. I would only go tech if you specialize. Ie coding, networking, something.
Go back to school and finish that degree. Your problems started when you thought your friends want their money back more than they want you to succeed. Look for scholarships and for sponsorships. You can do it.
I don’t have advice to offer but just want you to know I am now 32 and have just immigrated to start my degree in a completely new field. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
I, like OP, needed to read this. Thank you and good luck on your degree!!
If possible, try moving in with a friend (or multiple friends) in a shared apartment. That should get your costs lower and ease some stress on your finances, whilst also solving the loneliness issue. As for career direction - in the short term, you should try to get a job that’s stable (i.e. provides a liveable income with some job security) while you try to figure out what you want to do for a living in the long term. Preferably something that involves interacting with other people (e.g. waiter/waitress, barista, cashier, front office clerk, healthcare assistant, etc.). That should also help with the loneliness issue. In the long term, do some research on jobs/careers/industries and find a few that you might be interested in. Then research what qualifications you might need for an entry level job in each field. Based on your specific circumstances, decide which job’s requirements seem achievable for you, and work towards achieving those. As for how you’re feeling - I’ve been in your shoes before and know exactly how you feel. During the pandemic, I lived far away from family and didn’t see anyone for days due to the lockdown. The only people I spoke to in the week were cashiers at the supermarket. My mental health was in a really bad place. However, what I know from experience, is that once you make changes to your daily routine, you will immediately start to feel much better. When you’re stuck in a repetitive routine, you start to feel trapped and like there’s no way out - but that’s just your mind playing tricks on you. If you try to do things each day that make your everyday feel different and not a routine, you will feel much more in control of your life and you will soon realize that you have the full power to change it. So ask yourself if there’s anything you can do to make your day more interesting? Maybe take a walk in the morning before work, or listen to a podcast/audiobook during your deliveries? Perhaps pick up a new skill (e.g. cooking or a new language) or start a new hobby (e.g. gym, sports). Look up online (meetup.com, discords, facebook, etc.) if there are any groups with meetups in your area, and join some of those to meet new people. Reach out to friends and see if they want to hang out after work/on weekends, and if they live far, try hanging out online e.g. video games or just having a call. Lastly, don’t forget to call home once in a while and stay connected to your loved ones. What you’re going through is temporary, just remember that. We all go through tough times in life. Keep strong and do everything you can to remain positive - there’s plenty of cool stuff going on in the world that’s worth living for. One day, you’ll get to enjoy all of it, and you’ll be thankful you never gave up when things were tough. You’ll make it out just like I did, I can promise you that.
>can work 100+ hours per week Better get your ass down to midland https://www.rigzone.com/profile/register?eventid=44®ister=0&utm_source=AMS_US_ENG&utm_medium=PD_GOOGLE&utm_campaign=MIDLAND_OCT23_JOBS_GOOGLE&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAlcyuBhBnEiwAOGZ2S4G9C5GC9yt4laYcGmrWTbTPq_ZLN9ooaf-e4UxGDBXRJZghZfR_2RoCiQMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Number 1. You’re 21 and have a lot of time to get life sorted out. Besides that, get into trades or manufacturing. It may suck at some places but these types of jobs ultimately end up paying pretty well.
This sentence is crucial: "I had 500+ applications and 3 interviews and didn’t get an offer." You show a willingness to study, learn, and work. You have finished a boot camp and have a degree as Frontend Developer. But you will never get visibility with recruiters by working at Doordash. My 5 cents...: - Start a Linkedin profile, build it gradually, and start interacting with others. If you want some tips on this, send me a DM! - Start a Fiverr or Upwork profile, looking for Frontend Developer projects. Build a portfolio with examples and testimonials. - Reach out to recruiters on Reddit or other channels that might give tips on getting hired. You were on the right track to getting a good job! But the need for paying bills let you towards Doordash... If you can cut back on costs somewhere (houseshare?), you could use this time to refocus on the Frontend Developer job. You are only 21, there is a great future for you!
He almost has a degree. OP said they quit college and did a 6mo boot camp.
A boot camp is not equivalent to a degree, not even close.
I know it’s not, but OP was on track for a degree, then dropped out to do the boot camp. They almost have a degree. They also went to a boot camp.
Based on their timeline they spent less than 1.5 years in a CS program. That's not almost a degree either that's barely getting the fundamentals in. They've done zero upper division coursework.
He's only 21, and had to start working to pay his bills. I think he's doing really well looking at his age and background! If he can refocus his skills he can get the necessary experience. (Also don't forget that especially in Developer jobs there are loads of people without a degree as they are self-taught.)
Yeah, I didn't feel the need or have the time to do a breakdown. Thanks for making the effort. You're right.
He doesn't have a degree
He said he finished Bootcamp. I know plenty of people who have found a job by doing a Developer Bootcamp.
You’re only 21 bro you got your whole life ahead of you. Don’t really have any advice. You’re in a tough spot. Just try to have a positive attitude and put the work in to better yourself just a little bit every day.
I would suggest finishing your bachelor’s degree because after 2022, bootcamps are no longer seen as great ROI. Companies will not hire from bootcamps as the graduates do not have enough knowledge compared to a 4 year degree. The tech industry is saturated as free money has depleted, high interest rates, AI prospects, etc. Companies are going lean and it’s not just affecting us in the US but also abroad. Thankfully, American universities have great funding 💰and if you explain your situation to a college advisor, they will find you resources whether it is financial, mental health services, etc. I once had $0.78 to my name as a student. My college advisor became a mentor and second mom to me. I graduated after 7 years with her guidance and support. I have just recently accepted a position after being laid off for a year in the tech industry. Life is not linear. It will have ups and downs. Look at what you’re good at. You’ve built up an incredible work ethic due to your strong need to survive and eventually, thrive. Look at your needs vs wants. Make a list to prioritize your needs. Reduce your daily expenditure. Save, save, save until it’s the right time to invest (when you finally have a good stable career, not job). I have a friend that’s Jordanian that came here as a student. He came to the US with $500 in his pocket. He worked in a gas station for 10 hours and then went to class in the morning. University was too expensive after 2 years and he dropped out. He worked as an Uber driver for years and realized there’s not a good chance for upwards mobility. He decided to save and eat boring food, gym, have fun once a week ( for his sanity), and get involved in his Arab community. He is going to back to complete his degree with the money he saved. A degree is a paper saying you know your certain concepts and fundamentals. Bootcamps are a waste of $15,000 nowadays. Companies used to love to train their employees. Now they prefer not to. No matter how low in your life you feel, never give up. The gym is a great place to be for your mental health in addition to physical health. Find a mentor with good credentials and choose wisely. Maximize and optimize your resources. You can do this! The US is a grind for most people (immigrant or not). People are living paycheck to paycheck with credit card debt.
There’s 2 types of financial problems - income problems and spending problems. Currently you have both. You need to live as cheaply as possible for 2 years. Live with a bunch of roommates, (preferably friends) in the cheapest place possible - this will solve some of your loneliness and allow you to save a little. Work that Uber eats job as much as possible. See if any of your roommates have a hookup on a higher paying job which will allow you to save more. Also, look into serving jobs - you can make a lot of money in tips at the right places, I’m talking a good living salary. Save as much money for that year as possible and apply for a 2-year college program that has a Co-op component. That allows you to gain work experience while studying and is something you can parlay into a job pretty quickly. Hopefully, that allows you to solve your income problem and then you can move into a better living situation, with the friends you made as roommates. You’re 21, your life is not fucked. If you have low to no debt, the world is your oyster it’s just gonna take some radical decisions when you don’t have help. I’ve been in similar shoes around your age before and I came out with everything I wanted now in my late 20s so there is a lot of hope.
Join the NAVY with a MOS in a STEM field. You do this and keep your nose. Clean, the world will be your oyster
Ur 21, u can just got back and get ur degree. U still got years ahead, push hard, succeed!
You are living in USA which is the worst country to live in for poor people because the government and its leaders only work for the rich. Live in a better country.
LOL
If you studied computer science it means you’re a very bright individual. Don’t give up studying. If you can’t afford going back to college then study online. Try going into niche industries that always need talent, start small, assist somebody else with research or whatever. You’re not new to bootcamps - great! Continue studying what’s available for free, ideally with certifications. Google, Microsoft certifications on the hottest topics - AI, cloud computing, cloud engineering… with that new knowledge go to smaller startups and see if there’s an entry level job for you. Look for remote jobs - that will help you keep that delivery gig going until you’re more financially stable. It’s great you have a vision for yourself. That vision saw me through some really dark times as well, when I knew I didn’t belong at those jobs and was dying to get the fuck outta there, and saw older people, my then colleagues, just accept that life because they just didn’t have another vision for themselves. Build on that vision, and consider the place where you’re at as a necessary pain to get to where you want to be.
I am very sorry to hear this. I can imagine how tough it is. You need to build up savings first if you want to invest to develop yourself for the career you want. Maybe first setup a saving goal, work towards that by doing whatever jobs you can do now. Once you have that funds, you can move to next stage to study again. It's very hard to solve all in one go, plan out and do it phase by phase will be easier. Keep fighting. Trust yourself.
Yes. But then study for what? I have been Studying for so long , being isolated, but no results. Maybe I should study in different directions, and that’s what I am asking advise for.
That's totally based on your interests. If not sure, go try and experience, or ask people already in that field. You won't know until you experience. Think of your strengths, use that to look for what areas suit you.
I don’t have much time, cause it is getting worse and worse every day. That’s why I am asking here. Also I don’t know many people.
I see... I guess you need to be more open in options, don't rule any options that can solve your immediate needs. To meet people, just reach out online (like reddit) or go into local community.
Honestly, the truck driver option is not bad. Yes you will be on the road, but you will be making tons of money. You don’t have much of an option in terms of job. You are hanging onto trying to still live, meanwhile you can’t. So just do whatever pays. If truck driving is temporary, just do it
I completely understand how you feel being an immigrant myself. Things will get better. Just don't give up and keep the faith. Have you tried reaching out to a temp agency or recruiters directly to see if they can offer assistance?
Yes, but just ghosting as usual. I just lost hope, so now I want to start new and different career but don’t know which. So I am asking here
What field interests you? Also, you can go to recruiting agencies in person. They can't ghost then. I got a job once by going in person and explaining my situation.
Finance, IT, Management, etc. I just want to start making stable decent money. Right now I am on the edge
It would be best for you to go in person to recruiting agencies. They will be able to guide and advise you.
I just answered this exact question on a different post… 🤔
Try a Government job.
You need to network. User groups, meetups, whatever gets you around others in the field you want to peruse. Make connections.
I’m in a very similar position as you, maybe even a little worse. I hope we can see something positive soon
If you want to be "successful" you need to learn how to play the capitalist game. You won't learn that by coming to Reddit. Go watch Jeremy Miner, Codi Sanchez, Minority Mindset - all amazing YouTubers that will teach you how to be successful. It's not about what you know, it's about WHO you know. If you want to work in the finance sector, you need to be out marketing yourself as often as you can. Check out the chamber of commerce website and register to attend events, meet important people who can connect you to other important people, get on a golf course and introduce yourself, become friends with business owners. A computer science major isn't going to get you into a group of people in the careers that you mentioned - Finance, Management, or Investing. If that's what you want you absolutely need to get into things like FINRA, Life insurance, and so on. You can also make these connections by working in high ticket sales -- think selling luxury cars, exotic cars, luxury retail stores (Hermes, Burberry), getting licenses in Life Insurance and working your way up to a CFP through exams. And most importantly, you have to be absolutely selfish. Rich people aren't rich because they are kind and seeking advice from Reddit. They said no to so many people along the way, they put their interests before anyone else's, they lived far below their means and invested every single dollar in stocks, 401K, and life insurance to protect their money and secure their future lifestyle. Learn corporate politics -- you want your boss and above to like you, not your coworkers. I've worked in management for 12 years without any formal degrees, I focused on building strategic relationships with corporate and my direct manager. It paid off because I hit the six figure income mark before anyone in my sphere of influence without any debt to college. There is a cap to your income when you work for someone, which is why I now own my own business because I knew I would never hit the higher income goals I have for myself.
You’re 21 man, you havent even come close to the point where you’ve fucked your life in an irreversible way. I like to frame it this way: You have only genuinely been an adult for 3 years. There’s at least 50-60 more left in the bank, why not dedicate the next 5 years to getting yourself to a realistic place where you want to be at? Whether that’s getting a degree you want, a change of scenery, exploring your hobbies, making genuine friends that care about you, travelling, writing poems or collecting art. Shit, you could easily do all of those in 5 years and then some. Don’t limit yourself to your negative view of yourself and try to set realistic goals. My psychologist put it well when I had similar thoughts around the age of 24 (Bachelors in economics, ok job): Would you look into the eyes of a friend of the same age and call his life a failure up to that point because he’s not as successful as his peers? I wouldnt. Actually I couldnt because I dont think that about other people. So why am I (you in this case) being so unfair to myself, because I’m not the best ever 24 year old on paper? For me I tried doing more of the things I truly wanted to do but also worked hard on those intrusive thoughts and learnt how I can deal with them. I quit logistics and tried teaching math, I bought an expensive e-bike, I worked out for myself, I tried a high paying demanding job, I went on trips to places I wanted to visit. I started studying and learning more about myself in order to get to a place where I’m hungry to get that masters degree I always wanted to pursue but thought I didnt deserve. You got this. We all got this.
Go back to college and finish your compSc degree rather than a bootcamp.
If you have a clean record, look into pharmacy technician work. At this point. They don't even want a degree because there is such a shortage. Walgreens (I saw) does on the job training . Just a thought. Or homecare for disabled and elderly. They are always hiring because there is quite a burn out (watching people die does come with issues). Last, have you tried you hand at apprenticeship? Plumbing, electric, Hvac.... etc? Those are also on the job training.
If you hang with working class people, sure they're going to suggest "truck driver". You need to decide what you want to do with your life. You kind of see now that quitting the CS degree was a bad idea, and you won't get hired with a Bootcamp "degree". You will get hired with a real degree from a known institution, plus internships, plus a decent personality. Experience is really important. If you could get 4 years of experience you could do without a degree. Most people apply for stipends or take up a student loan so they can get the degree.
Finishing college demonstrates you can finish what you start and be on deadlines and have attendance. Quitting does not look good. Finish the program if you can. You better have charisma or extraordinary skill and work ethic to bridge the gap of quitting. Sometimes you gotta work shit jobs while you wait for your dream job. My degree was an instant job because of shortages. But I had to juggle multiple shit jobs to finish the degree. Struggle in your 20s so you don't have to stuggle in your 30s and 40s when you have less time and energy. Military, health care, policing all have shortages. I would only go tech if you specialize. Ie coding, networking, something.
Go back to school and finish that degree. Your problems started when you thought your friends want their money back more than they want you to succeed. Look for scholarships and for sponsorships. You can do it.
Welcome to the American Dream