I assumed since it wasn't in the skill list on your profile (I'm on mobile so apologies if it is there and I can't see it) that you didn't know anything about it. So I guess my next comment is add to the skill list all the ubiquitous technologies you know but thought weren't necessary to enumerate.
But definitely good to provide a GitHub link in your resume, I don't usually make a decision based on reading the code, but showing it is a positive in my mind.
Might be worth adding more Python stuff to your Github then. But for sure add more stuff to your skill list, to tick more boxes for the automated searches that recruiters do.
And I'm not sure what type of work you're interested in, but Madison seems to have at least somewhat of a startup scene, so I'm sure there are plenty of startups that would hire you, even if you aren't hired in as a developer/engineer, you could likely move into that role, and restart your technical career trajectory.
Your initial description was very vague. Saying that you have 5 years of Python might be technically correct but in reality your last developer job ended over 4 years ago and now you're doing completely unrelated stuff. When people look at your resume, they'll see a salesperson at Home Depot who hasn't programmed in years. You'll need a good story about why you moved away from development - that's the part that will really stand out as a red flag.
You're essentially trying to break into the industry (again) which can be quite difficult. You might be carrying some experience but you also have some baggage to account for.
I respect the grind and tbh I have basically given up actively applying, I just respond to recruiters now. At my peak ~ hour a day. The thing is, if every company has something obnoxious like 3 + interviews, and I average about 1.5 before flaming out, then I don’t really want to apply to 500 jobs and forget who I’m even interviewing with. Also, now that I have a FT non-wfh, I don’t really have the time to.
If you do this, automate it. I have one email address just for recruiters. I had a script run and look though my gmail inbox looking for keywords, ask the salary/rate up front form recruiters. Email me if you want the code. It is in Java.
Have you considered 1) taking a vacation and doing the grind while on it, 2) buying yourself a pen and a notebook and writing down what you tend to forget?
I’ve made tons of things in Django. My first experience w Python was making something in django (for actual users). I don’t feel like clogging up the internet w some post about how I made something in django, but if that’s what it takes then maybe? It just seems as much like garbage-self promotion as posting a pic on Instagram or something. Anyway, with me I don’t think experience is the problem. As silly as it seems, I think I just come off as dumb due to my voice, face, etc.
I used to feel like "playing the game" or "playing politics" was for poor performers to cover up their weaknesses. Thankfully over time I swallowed my pride and decided if I was going to play, I was going to play to win at any cost. Check out the free book Playing to Win by David Sirlin [1].
Once I adopted this mindset, it was easier to do the "lame" things that were clearly just signalling mechanisms. Better clothes and grooming, a public blog, writing books, leadership in meetups, lots of open source work, conference speaking, reading all the right books, saying the right things, etc. Over time, instead of just doing these for "winning" I grew into someone an order of magnitude better than before I started. Sort of a catch 22.
At some point it's not just signalling anymore. I'm extremely glad I swallowed my pride when I did, and really wish I'd done it sooner.
I self promote with content only. I guess my face is on LinkedIn and my personal blog but it don't do videos or talks. In the weekend I just pick a topic in terms of software to blog about. Spend a few hours on that and then pay someone on fiverr to promote it. It an easy way to ensure companies and clients keep finding me on Google. It also always gives me an edge on the job market. Try it, what's there to lose?
I don't know you personally so I cannot pass a judgement, but my observation is that often the less smart people will interpret smarter people's ignorance and humility as stupidity. A _lot_ of interviewers (anybody actually) are like this.
Quote:
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. – Bertrand Russell
