brokedev,
First, I don&#x27;t have some of the hardships you have but you have been paid working as a developer, which I&#x27;ve been trying to get to but failed so far. So you are ahead of me. Hope that cheers you up.<p>I recommend following<p>1. Get examples of your work online somewhere. Quick. It should be neat, professional. Easy to view. It means a real URL like yourname.org or something like it. Check out personal blogs&#x2F;tutorial sites of other developers to get ideas.
I had a hardest time finding a linux support position, because I had been out of work awhile. I think what really helped me get current job was having a blog with examples of my work (scripts&#x2F;howto) online. You should make it easy for the recruiter&#x2F;manager&#x2F;future-coworkers to accurately judge your skill, and resume is worthless.<p>Github is good. But for me, it was a hand coded html&#x2F;css website. Didn&#x27;t use wordpress either. Put it up asap but don&#x27;t spend all your time on it. Put something up quick, go apply for jobs, and keep coming back every few days or once a week to check for typos&#x2F;improvements to fix&#x2F;add. The process is much like writing a paper or a book.<p>Remember this URL&#x2F;website is like your brand. More important than your resume.<p>2. You mentioned working in a plastic factory before. Now this may sound weird&#x2F;frivolous, but look at yourself in the mirror. Do you see someone who looks like a tech worker? Or a factory worker? Do you wear t-shirts like the other coders in the office wear? Rails T-shirt? Linux T-shirt? Near haircut? Shaved?<p>A lot of job matching is about image. Do you project the image of a Rails guy? Or a plastic factory guy?<p>3. You shared your story about your family and your living situation. I&#x27;d keep that story away from recruiters&#x2F;managers&#x2F;coworkers. Keep it vague. Nothing about shame or being poor. You just want to look like someone who can fit in. Weird but remember the whole culture-fit stuff at tech shops.<p>4. You said f<i></i>* to the jackaxx ceo. Please don&#x27;t do it. Sure, you were upset and he was taking advantage of you when you desperately needed the money for your family (not even for yourself). I know you were not trying to make big bucks to drive a BMW, but rather for your family. Still, no need to say f word to higherups. You don&#x27;t have to go down to the gutter he&#x27;s in.<p>Best revenge is living well. And being a Rails coder, it should be relatively easy.<p>Cheers