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Hmm, reflecting back on my career... I feel very unconventional. Since college I've relied on crowdsourcing, and I've gradually built up and formed a network to form good relationships which opened many doors to new opportunities. I feel blessed that I'm not really tied down by an employer for most of them, and I'm able to manage my own insurance, 401k, etc. I wonder how many others are like this...

That's pretty cool that you've been able to forge your own path and create a career that works for you! It takes a lot of courage and resourcefulness to rely on crowdsourcing and networking to find opportunities, and it sounds like you've been able to make it work. It's definitely becoming more common for people to have non-traditional careers and to be self-employed or freelance, so you're definitely not alone in that. It's great that you have the freedom to manage your own benefits and retirem

Oh dear... yeah stability is a huge thing! My network always stresses to diversity in case one opportunity closes. Sometimes I get too comfortable in one place when I know I shouldn't! When the pay's so good in that opportunity, I feel like "I made it" and become a little prideful. I've had times were work was dry for a while, and I took it as an unpaid vacation sometimes.

That's a really smart approach, to diversify your opportunities and not rely too heavily on any one thing. It can be tempting to get comfortable when you find a good gig, but you're right that it's important to keep looking for new opportunities and not put all your eggs in one basket. It's great that you've been able to take advantage of the flexibility that comes with being self-employed, and turn dry spells into a bit of a vacation. That's a good way to stay positive and make the most of a ch

Heck yes, I have an HYSA and I rarely make purchases, so my savings are very comfortable. But I still get that internal worry that I should at still at least try to earn enough to cover rent during down time.

That's awesome that you've been able to build up your savings and be responsible with your money. It's natural to worry about covering your expenses during lean times, even if you have a cushion to fall back on. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and are taking steps to protect yourself financially. Maybe you could set a goal for yourself to try to earn enough to cover rent during down times, but also give yourself permission to take a break if you need it and trust that your

I do want to move out, yeah. I'm sick of living at my parents' home when I'm in my 30s. But even as a technically self-employed individual, it's still not enough to cover apartments here unless I look for low-income ones, which I have already requested months ago. I don't know what's the best route here, to give up on this type of employment and be "normal"? I'm not sure if I'd be growing or regressing.

It's totally understandable that you're feeling ready to move out and have your own space, especially at your age. It can be frustrating to feel like you're not able to afford the kind of housing you want, even with a steady income. It's a tough decision to make, whether to stick with the self-employment route or try to find a more traditional job. On one hand, it sounds like you've built up a good network and have been able to find opportunities that way, which is a valuable skill. On the other

Hmm, I thought our discussion was already technically freelance gigs? And I've already mentioned I requested for low-income housing. Anyway, I guess it's all about trying to bust out of my comfort zone. I think it's telling how hesitant I'd be, given earlier how I put all eggs into one basket.

Ah, you're right, I apologize for repeating things you've already mentioned. It sounds like you're already on the right track by looking into low-income housing options and trying to diversify your income streams. It can definitely be scary to step outside of your comfort zone, especially when it comes to something as important as your career and housing. But it can also be really rewarding to take risks and try new things, and it can lead to opportunities and experiences that you might not have

I think the biggest roadblock is writing a resume. I've seen some people ask for feedback on Reddit, and many were quite harsh saying "they'd throw it in the trash" right away. I don't even know how to describe myself or my skills, since I've been doing so many different things for the past decade.

Writing a resume can definitely be a daunting task, especially if you have a diverse range of experiences and skills. It can be hard to know how to present yourself in a way that highlights your strengths and makes you stand out to potential employers. It might be helpful to start by brainstorming a list of all the different things you've done over the past decade, and then try to group them into categories or themes. For example, you might have experience with project management, communication,

I see, that's true. Reddit and anonymous individuals can say whatever they want without repercussions. I think the brainstorming and categorization idea is very helpful! I just need to remember things. Thankfully, I started logging and saving as much project data as possible and allowed from the past couple years. Employers should only care about recent things, right?

That's a great idea to keep track of your project data and accomplishments - it can be really helpful to have that information to refer back to when you're updating your resume or preparing for interviews. And yes, generally speaking, employers are most interested in your recent experiences and skills, since those are the most relevant to the job you're applying for. That doesn't mean you have to ignore your older experiences, though - if you have something from a few years ago that's particular

Okay, thanks. I think that was one of the critiques from that Reddit post. The individual put very short positions that had no relevance to what they're applying for, just to show what they did and could do. If I were like, a cashier for a month 10 years ago, who would care?

Exactly! It's all about being strategic and thinking about what information is most relevant and valuable to the employer. If you have a short-term job from a long time ago that doesn't really relate to the position you're applying for, it's probably not worth including on your resume. Instead, focus on highlighting the experiences and skills that are most relevant and that demonstrate your ability to succeed in the role you're applying for. That might mean leaving off some older or less relevan