[jacquesm]

You may want to try going the self-employed/freelancer route. Just try to get at least one paying side job where you can charge a reasonable hourly rate and take it from there. If it doesn't work out you can fall back on what you have and if it does then you can try to expand it. Relatively little risk, and if it works you're free from the gatekeeping because in my experience for self-employed people credentials matter a lot less than work experience. Best of luck!

[jacknews]

"Just try to get at least one paying side job where you can charge a reasonable hourly rate"

Ay, there's the rub.

[jacquesm]

Not an employment, just a freelancer arrangement.

[jacknews]

Even that. Have you been on the freelancer,upwork,etc boards lately? And unfortunately not everyone is such an expert consultant as you.