[gregthompsonjr]

I think you should stop asking yourself whether you could fair as a developer. If you're broke, you need to make serious decisions very tactfully, very quickly.

Just apply. Stop hesitating. I sense way too much questioning from you regarding your own skill level and how you fair out there.

If you only have a month to come up with some income, you need to get a job doing construction, mowing lawns, etc. Just do something to eat while you apply for dev positions.

And keep populating your GitHub account. That never hurts.

And as immoral as it seems, DO NOT be afraid to lie a little. A lot of people here will dismiss the need for white lies in reaching most levels of success, even if that success is landing a dev position that pays 50k. Don't listen to those people. You need money and a place to grow -- you need to be just as relentless and dogged as your competition is. In America, that competition is a lot of kids who want green cards, a lot of kids who have degrees, and a lot of kids who have no heart when it comes down to grabbing opportunities. Don't overdo it. But it really won't hurt to say that you're a little better at what you do than you actually are. It wouldn't hurt to say you've built a few IRC bot clients a few years ago when you didn't (be prepared to explain how you did that on the spot, though).

Nothing about the wild teaches us that hunting is easy. Just because we're civilized animals, don't believe for one moment that it's not just as harsh in society when you're trying to eat as it is out in the wilderness.

Finally: It seems like you already know this, but just to reinforce this value: don't be ashamed to take a job that you'd normally considered beneath your skill set or potential. Ever.

Good luck, my man.

[gregthompsonjr]

Oh, and I forgot: I checked out your Twitter account. You should really consider putting that on private. The stuff about slavery and whatnot, although agreeable in some circles, may not sit right in the circles you want to impress. And yes, people do check.

Hide all social media you own unless it has to do with code and it's clean. No one really needs to know about your atheism and your thoughts on the caveats of modern society. Despite being unable to deny someone of employment based on such opinions, people do. All someone would have to do with you is say "he doesn't qualify because of his level of education," when all they really mean is, "I hate people with his political/religious views."

Take your job search as seriously as possible.

[rab_oof]

Yup. Do that all anonymously. Anyone that is socially Googleable is hard to hire unless the goal is to go into hard blogging/journalism like vice or the intercept. If you do use strong language or make bold claims, be sure to have mountains of solid evidence to crush detractors that will be left only the desperation of ad hominems and style bikeshedding.

[jessehorne]

Oh yes, this is something I've slipped up on. I get so pumped up sometimes I feel a need to share it with the world. Unfortunately I'm not trying to be a social media star, so I do need to keep it private. Thank you for reminding me.

[rab_oof]

Use the search engine remove url tools to get rid of stuff after you've cleaned up. Each major search engine usually has a way to do that. It won't erase Twitter and internet archives, but it's a start.

[dec0dedab0de]

While from a purely practical standpoint you are correct, it makes me cringe to read it. I am always reminded of http://xkcd.com/137/

[jessehorne]

I see stuff like this and it inspires me to spread my opinions, but then they end up getting deleted down the line once I am convinced that it is bad for my future. It happens! I love xkcd btw, thanks for reminding me of that one.

[jessehorne]

I asked for good advice and it was given to me! Wow, thank you for this. This is real honest advice here, and it is appreciated. I have actually built a few IRC bots btw! ;D

I'm going to survive either way, but if I can get coding work instead of lawn mowing, that seems better to me! Either way, I'll do what I need to, like everyone has to. I guess gloating a little bit wouldn't hurt about some things, and I hear what you're saying. I just couldn't take having my reputation ripped to shreds over a lie; So I stay cautious.

I've only denied one job that was offered and that was one for minimum wage code work. It was at a time where I didn't need the work, however.

Have a good one!