blackHOLEofalife's journey

I’m feeling really stuck in my current situation. I graduated with a CS degree, but I’ve been working in a dead-end retail role for a long time now, and I’m only making $35k a year. I’ve applied for various jobs, but I haven’t received any interviews, and it’s starting to feel hopeless. I can’t pursue further education, so I’m unsure of how to improve my situation. I’ve seen advice suggesting that I widen my job search and consider roles that don’t specifically require a CS degree, but it’s hard to stay motivated when I feel like I’m not making any progress. I really want to find a better opportunity, but I’m starting to wonder if I should just accept my current job as my reality.

I’m currently stuck in a retail job making about $25k a year after taxes, which is tough to manage in my high cost of living area. I graduated with a computer science degree two years ago, but since then, I’ve been living with my parents and struggling to find a better job. It feels like I’m trapped; I can’t support myself, can’t move out, and can’t even afford a car or have any fun. I feel like a disappointment to my family and to myself. Despite my efforts to tailor my resume and apply for jobs, I haven’t been able to land any interviews. I’ve been stuck in this retail position for two years without gaining any new skills or experience that would help me advance my career. I’ve tried applying for entry-level tech roles, leveraging my customer service experience, but I still get no responses. It’s frustrating to see younger candidates with no experience getting hired while I struggle to even get noticed. I’m at a loss for what to do next. I feel like I’ve exhausted my options for improving my skills or finding a better job. I can’t go back to school for more education, and I don’t know how to gain the experience needed to move up. The only reason I’m still working this retail job is to support my brother, who really needs me. Without him, I honestly don’t know where I’d be right now. This whole situation is pushing me to the brink, and I’m just trying to figure out how to make it work.