I'm 24, a software engineer, and I've been thinking a lot about how quickly things can change. I can't say tech has been bad to me. I landed my first few contracts while I was still in school, and I've been fortunate enough to make a living building software fairly early in my career. Most of my work has been contract-based, though, with my longest engagement lasting about a year. At some point, I decided to move away from an industry I'd spent quite some time building in. I realized it wasn't something I wanted to pursue long-term, so I started positioning myself more broadly around software development and helping businesses and institutions adopt AI. The transition actually started pretty well. I landed a client fairly quickly, and things were looking promising enough that we were even discussing a longer-term working relationship. Unfortunately, for personal reasons on their end, the project came to an abrupt stop. That, combined with the time it takes to establish yourself in a new market and build a network, has left me in a rather uncomfortable position. I've spent the last few months upskilling, working on projects that are more aligned with where the industry is heading, and trying to position myself for the next opportunity. I'm still optimistic about where things are going, and I genuinely believe in my ability to find my footing again. But there's a difference between knowing things will probably work out eventually and figuring out how to get through the next few weeks. I'm currently out of runway. Rent is becoming a problem, some of my subscriptions have lapsed, and even basic expenses like food are becoming difficult to manage. Going back home isn't really an option either, for reasons I won't get into here. I've been trying to figure out my next move, and it got me wondering: For those who've ever found themselves with little or no financial runway while building a career, changing industries, starting something, or just trying to get somewhere in life, what did you do? Did you take whatever work you could find, go back to something familiar, double down on what you were building, or completely rethink your approach? I'd genuinely love to hear how others navigated that period, especially those who came out of it eventually. Also, if anyone happens to need software work done, I'm open to taking on projects. I build web applications, software systems, and integrations, including AI-powered solutions for businesses. I'm comfortable taking on smaller tasks as well as more involved projects. And honestly, if you're in a position to offer any other kind of help, even directly, I'd appreciate that too. I know everyone has their own things going on, so there's absolutely no pressure. Mostly, though, I'd love to hear your stories. How did you get through your own version of running out of runway?   submitted by   /u/Critical-Many-987 [link]   [comments]