It's hard to give advice as you haven't given a sense of what your career and academic history looks like. Some questions: - Are you self taught? - Do you hav

It's hard to give advice as you haven't given a sense of what your career and academic history looks like. Some questions: - Are you self taught? - Do you have a bachelor's degree? One in CS? - What does your work history look like; have you been full-time employed at any point since entering the work force or has it always been part time contract work? - Most importantly, why have you only done contract work -- is there something that has prevented you over the course of the last decade from applying to and succeeding in full-time work? - Do you simply not want it, have you tried it and it hasn't worked out, perhaps a combination of the two? Based on that you can determine what your next paths forward are. One approach is applicable if the will to work in a professional capacity is there, as well as the capability, and that all that's missing is that, for lack of a better term, you've been on "sabbatical." If that's the case, doing work on Toptal/Gun.IO/Facet (probably would recommend any of those over Upwork although it is an option of last resort). You should be able to get a decent stream of contract work that way, sharpen your skills and then eventually move to a FT position from there. The most important thing is to get into a rhythm where you are doing work on a regular basis that is useful to your employer so that you have something of value for when you decide to move. Another approach is taking a reset because you can't do the former. Ways to do a reset include either a bootcamp or an MS program (assuming you have a bachelor's; if not, the bachelor's is an option), as both will likely have placement programs after you complete the program. They will also give you a foundation of some kind to think about problem solving in a structured environment with instructors, all of which increases the possibility you'll have a shot at finding gainful employment.