OuttaT0rtillas's journey

I was recently rejected from a job opportunity that I was really excited about. Since starting my GIS role in May 2025, I've been feeling overwhelmed and unsupported, as I'm the only person in my position and the pay is quite low. Out of the blue, a recruiter reached out to me about a role located halfway across the country that offered nearly double my current salary, plus it was in a city I’ve always wanted to live in. I prepared extensively for the interview, studying over the weekend and feeling confident going in. I felt like I nailed the behavioral questions and had a great conversation with the hiring manager, who I discovered was in my network. After the interview, I even started discussing potential neighborhoods with my recruiter, who was optimistic about my chances. However, just an hour ago, I received the news that they chose another candidate. I'm feeling crushed and uncertain about my next steps. I'm questioning whether I need to pursue graduate school, consider a coding bootcamp, or simply relocate and hope for better opportunities. Right now, I'm feeling lost.