Your cousins, with whom you know well enough that you all go to family gathering together are the CEO’s?!? You could have talked to them instead of just quitting. It makes no sense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BFD

You quit a job with a toxic boss.

22 years isn’t gonna look like you are a job hopper. Just start applying

Okay? But in tech there is some expectation to advance skills. She sounds very niche now, probably in some small boutique tech product that has a dozen big customers.

First off reach out to firms customers unless you have a weird non compete.

Second, enroll in some modern tech cert

But ageism will be brutal, hence maybe teaching or tech writing?

Product managers are not niche.

The skills are easily transferable.

Good luck competing with all the fired feds.

So many troll posts the last two days. Is it the heat?

OP - good for you. It's a bit reckless, but for the right reasons. You're braver than most of us. You'll be fine.

I admire your spunk. You knew you had to get out for your own sanity, and you did. You can get another job -- but it might take some trial and error. And that's fine! Just be realistic that it might take some time to find the next good job for you.

My thoughts on the job search...

Get a job coach. A lot has changed in the job search in the past 22 years.

Resume formats are different now -- look into a skills-based resume format. If you have volunteer experience outside of your field, you might be able to work some of those skills into your resume. Also, make sure to use the key words from job descriptions in your resume to get past the applicant tracking systems.

Update your LinkedIn. Remove all the dates of your degrees and such so people can't guess your age.

Get a "whatever" job while you look (one you don't care about), just so you can get a feel for what's out there -- look at temp agencies, part time jobs, substitute teaching, etc.

AI tools can speed up your resume updating and cover letter writing, but only as a first draft. You'll need to make sure that you're authentic voice is in both, not a generic-sounding voice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you just quit? I don’t get it. You can’t be young, maybe 40’s? You don’t just quit because it gets hard. You make a plan… you get another job, you take leave, you work less hours, etc. It was very poor decision making on your part and considering it was likely your only recent supervisor, hard to get a reference or recommendation. OP, I would think short plan. Work in the school system, bus driver, substitute, IT or even teach. Then while doing that, look for other jobs. You get benefits and a steady income until you find something else. You have to also get your mental checked out too because it just doesn’t seem right for an adult to do what you did. I am not trying to beat you up but just being honest.

I have $ in savings that I can rely on until I get another position. I tried to look in tandem but I didn't have time to take it seriously, and couldn't activate my network without raising eyebrows.

I have been doing a ton of research and some classes in AI so have some more modern skills.

People keep suggesting teaching. Don't you have to have some credentials for that?

Nah, for science they waive a lot of requirements. Private school you can walk on.

So you are right, dig into that network. If you were going to quit anyways, you should have “raised eyebrows” and let them fire you… for talking to people. I just don’t understand that logic, instead of quitting just engaged network and let chips fall where they may.

Complicating factor is that my 2 cousins founded this company and I love and respect them a ton. Both of them have stepped back in the past couple years but are still involved. I had to act in a way that I could look them in the face at the next family reunion. Phoning it in wasn't an option. I resigned, citing burn out.

That’s still ridiculous. Worried about family reunion over your own livelihood??

I would call up those cousin founders and tell them to hook you up ASAP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you just quit? I don’t get it. You can’t be young, maybe 40’s? You don’t just quit because it gets hard. You make a plan… you get another job, you take leave, you work less hours, etc. It was very poor decision making on your part and considering it was likely your only recent supervisor, hard to get a reference or recommendation. OP, I would think short plan. Work in the school system, bus driver, substitute, IT or even teach. Then while doing that, look for other jobs. You get benefits and a steady income until you find something else. You have to also get your mental checked out too because it just doesn’t seem right for an adult to do what you did. I am not trying to beat you up but just being honest.

I have $ in savings that I can rely on until I get another position. I tried to look in tandem but I didn't have time to take it seriously, and couldn't activate my network without raising eyebrows.

I have been doing a ton of research and some classes in AI so have some more modern skills.

People keep suggesting teaching. Don't you have to have some credentials for that?

Nah, for science they waive a lot of requirements. Private school you can walk on.

So you are right, dig into that network. If you were going to quit anyways, you should have “raised eyebrows” and let them fire you… for talking to people. I just don’t understand that logic, instead of quitting just engaged network and let chips fall where they may.

Complicating factor is that my 2 cousins founded this company and I love and respect them a ton. Both of them have stepped back in the past couple years but are still involved. I had to act in a way that I could look them in the face at the next family reunion. Phoning it in wasn't an option. I resigned, citing burn out.

Get a good elevator pitch together. Dedicated employee for 22 years, growth over time, corporate changes in leadership made you reevaluate, and what you want next. Keep the history part short, and move quickly to what you want out of your next step. Do you want more management responsibility, to be working with AI, to be an individual contributor working in the background? Need interviewers to have a rationale reason for "blowing up everything". Thankfully this is much more accepted now. Practice that speech over and over, hone with a trusted friend or advisor.

Good luck to you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you just quit? I don’t get it. You can’t be young, maybe 40’s? You don’t just quit because it gets hard. You make a plan… you get another job, you take leave, you work less hours, etc. It was very poor decision making on your part and considering it was likely your only recent supervisor, hard to get a reference or recommendation. OP, I would think short plan. Work in the school system, bus driver, substitute, IT or even teach. Then while doing that, look for other jobs. You get benefits and a steady income until you find something else. You have to also get your mental checked out too because it just doesn’t seem right for an adult to do what you did. I am not trying to beat you up but just being honest.

I have $ in savings that I can rely on until I get another position. I tried to look in tandem but I didn't have time to take it seriously, and couldn't activate my network without raising eyebrows.

I have been doing a ton of research and some classes in AI so have some more modern skills.

People keep suggesting teaching. Don't you have to have some credentials for that?

Nah, for science they waive a lot of requirements. Private school you can walk on.

So you are right, dig into that network. If you were going to quit anyways, you should have “raised eyebrows” and let them fire you… for talking to people. I just don’t understand that logic, instead of quitting just engaged network and let chips fall where they may.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You seriously can't figure out how to look job postings?? Ziprecruiter, Indeed, etc or a temp agency.

Do you not have any vacation to cash out? Let me guess, you haven't contacted HR yet.

Getting a job in your 40s from an indeed job posting is fantasy

It's feeling like this. So anything other than networking?

Anonymous wrote:You seriously can't figure out how to look job postings?? Ziprecruiter, Indeed, etc or a temp agency.

Do you not have any vacation to cash out? Let me guess, you haven't contacted HR yet.

Getting a job in your 40s from an indeed job posting is fantasy

Anonymous wrote:You seriously can't figure out how to look job postings?? Ziprecruiter, Indeed, etc or a temp agency.

Do you not have any vacation to cash out? Let me guess, you haven't contacted HR yet.

I'm aware of Ziprecruiter, Indeed and Linked In. I know there's some AI-based products and thought someone might have a recommendation.

Anonymous wrote:So you just quit? I don’t get it. You can’t be young, maybe 40’s? You don’t just quit because it gets hard. You make a plan… you get another job, you take leave, you work less hours, etc. It was very poor decision making on your part and considering it was likely your only recent supervisor, hard to get a reference or recommendation. OP, I would think short plan. Work in the school system, bus driver, substitute, IT or even teach. Then while doing that, look for other jobs. You get benefits and a steady income until you find something else. You have to also get your mental checked out too because it just doesn’t seem right for an adult to do what you did. I am not trying to beat you up but just being honest.

I have $ in savings that I can rely on until I get another position. I tried to look in tandem but I didn't have time to take it seriously, and couldn't activate my network without raising eyebrows.

I have been doing a ton of research and some classes in AI so have some more modern skills.

People keep suggesting teaching. Don't you have to have some credentials for that?

You seriously can't figure out how to look job postings?? Ziprecruiter, Indeed, etc or a temp agency.

Do you not have any vacation to cash out? Let me guess, you haven't contacted HR yet.