You have the experience. There is demand for your experience. You're going to be fine. Just keep applying. Try not to waste your energy on worrying, and redirect it towards sending out applications etc. Easier said than done, I know.
I’ll admit, most offers weren’t what I hoped for. The market isn’t great. I held out (with white knuckles) and eventually landed with a great team, product, and compensation. In the week that I accepted the offer, I had 3 others on the table. When it rains it pours I guess.
It took a while and it seemed impossible at times. But that’s life. You keep at it. You make it work. Whatever you do, don’t give up because you think it’ll be too hard. You need to push that envelope a bit and really test it before bailing for trucking school. Don’t let self doubt limit you; let reality do that.
I feel for OP though. I’ve never had a hard time finding work in my life. I’m the most competent and valuable I’ve ever been, yet it was a legitimate struggle. That feels very, very bad. Especially with a family to take care of.
But yeah, it’ll work out. It’ll take a lot of shitty interviews, a lot of applications and cover letters, self doubt, all of it. But you just have to do it.
Good luck!
Mad props. I’m old but never had that insight. Wish I had.
one reason I stayed at my previous place for 10 years was because i just couldn't interview well...i know better about modern interview practices, which is why i practice so much ( 2-3 hours per day). it feels so far away tho.
If I were you, I wouldn’t put off interviewing just to get better at leetcode. There are all kinds of interviewing styles, and I bet you’d get hired sooner than you think if you were to do the interviews parallel to practicing.
Wishing you the very best!