Sometimes I go through spells like this too. I graduated from a local state university that I purposely chose because their curriculum was entirely in C/C++. I thought learning the language that was behind Java would make me more marketable, boy was I wrong. I didn't really even land a true programming job after I graduated, just a hybrid of linux admin and software dev tasks on an IT operations team. BUT, because I knew C, and Linux, and had a love for Perl and its community, and had the algorithm/ problem solving mind that Uni taught me, I was able to whip up many solutions to our company's problems. It still did not look that great on a resume, but it was something. And the main point is, I enjoyed it (one reason I went for CS major in the first place).
And more recently, I just quit that first job, and I now work from home doing web development and back end work for a couple of small shops.
If you are having trouble getting work, you are probably just aiming too high. You are probably going to have to do 3-5 years grunt work.
I know C really well, but I can't land any jobs in C because the people I am up against are twice my age with twice my experience. And even though I might be cheaper, employers aren't looking for just cheap, they want someone that will get stuff done (quickly).
Think about if you were a home owner and you wanted a new porch or roof built on your house. What freelancer would you hire?
Some kid just out of tech school that says "I think I can do this kind of work" or "I would like to do this kind of work" or "I've kind of done this stuff before"?
Or the old man that says "I've done this a million times, here's how its done, here's the plan, and this is the cost".
And more recently, I just quit that first job, and I now work from home doing web development and back end work for a couple of small shops.
If you are having trouble getting work, you are probably just aiming too high. You are probably going to have to do 3-5 years grunt work.
I know C really well, but I can't land any jobs in C because the people I am up against are twice my age with twice my experience. And even though I might be cheaper, employers aren't looking for just cheap, they want someone that will get stuff done (quickly).
Think about if you were a home owner and you wanted a new porch or roof built on your house. What freelancer would you hire?
Some kid just out of tech school that says "I think I can do this kind of work" or "I would like to do this kind of work" or "I've kind of done this stuff before"?
Or the old man that says "I've done this a million times, here's how its done, here's the plan, and this is the cost".