Yes, I went from a poorly-paid tech support manager at a University to working at a startup on machine learning. Took me 10 years though. But I worked my way

Yes, I went from a poorly-paid tech support manager at a University to working at a startup on machine learning. Took me 10 years though. But I worked my way up and constantly worked on improving my knowledge. Responses to your questions: > Is there any hope for someone like me? Yes, of course. Unless you decide you want to build a fusion reactor in your backyard, I'm sure you can level up and get a good job. > Is there any reasonable path to starting over? Yes, rewrite your resume. Make your great accomplishments stand out. Gloss over the past few years with some bullshit. No one cares that much. They care that you're hungry and you're willing to work hard. > Where do I even begin? What do you know? What do you want to do? Figure out the path from the former to the latter. Rewrite your resume. Get online and start researching. Every day. Apply to jobs. Eventually you'll find someone willing to give you a chance. > Will tech co’s ever consider hiring someone like me? Are you hungry? If so, yes. Save the pity party for your throwaway accounts. If you want to learn and build and excel, make sure everyone knows it. Even if inside you're completely unsure of yourself. Most people are, anyway. Just keep showing up every day.