Imaginary_Garage_936's journey

I’m currently facing a tough situation with my job and financial stability. Right now, I work at a press brake shop in Texas earning $20.50 an hour, but I'm transitioning to a position at Target in California for $19 an hour. My background includes five years in restaurant work, three years in welding and fabrication, and about a year of white-collar experience in help desk support at a college. I also have a phlebotomy license. The challenge I'm dealing with is that the pay I’m receiving isn’t enough to cover living expenses, which forces me to live in my car. I’ve been clocking in a lot of hours—235 last month alone—but it feels like I’m stuck in a cycle of work and sleep without any personal life or time with my four-year-old son. I really want to move away from labor-intensive jobs and find something that pays over $55,000 a year, which seems reasonable given my experience and responsibilities. I’m looking for legitimate strategies to break past the $23/hour mark, and I’m hoping for more than just the usual advice of applying online and following up. I’m actively seeking a position that allows me to support my family better and have some quality of life. If anyone has any real-world advice or suggestions on how to navigate this, I’d greatly appreciate it.