For the past two years I have been working/getting trained into the position of full stack developer for a startup based out of Chicago. It was remote and I thought it was awesome. The day came where they let me go and now I feel like I’m at the point where I need to choose a path. I have my 2 year degree in computer programming and data analytics, and I have been applying for positions that I think I could get into (and some that are more risky lol) but zero interviews. I can recognize that I may not be the strongest candidate with only a 2 year degree and 2 years work experience, so I have found a mentor that suggests that I either return to university for a bachelor’s, or I start up-skilling and get some cybersecurity certifications. I don’t need exuberant amounts of money to be happy, just enough to pay my bills and put away for retirement.
My goals in life are to travel and have enough time to read books and bake bread. I would love a remote position again but I’m not attached to dev work (ai takeover anyways). I guess my question is: What else is out there? What career options do I not know about? What job do you do that allows you to fulfill your goals outside of your career?