I spent several years learning full-stack JavaScript and working with the MERN stack, then started applying for jobs. After not getting hired, I became discouraged and stopped coding. It has now been about three and a half to four years since I seriously worked on web development, with my last experience around December 2022. I feel lost and worried that I may have chosen the wrong career path. Can I resume from where I stopped, or should I relearn everything from the beginning? My goal is eventually to freelance or find remote work. What would be a practical way to rebuild my skills and confidence?
3 Answers
You can absolutely return, but remote freelancing is extremely competitive because you’re competing with developers worldwide. Don’t make remote work the only option at first. A local or in-person junior role, contract, internship, or small business project could help you rebuild experience and confidence. The job market is difficult even for experienced developers, so expect the search to take time.
MERN is still relevant, although the market is currently tough for developers at nearly every experience level. Your employment gap makes the process harder, but it doesn’t mean you should abandon development. Spend a few weeks reviewing JavaScript, React, Node, databases, Git, and deployment, then create one or two polished projects that show current practices. Keep applying while improving rather than waiting for the perfect skill level.
I last worked seriously with web development around December 2022. After that I became discouraged and started thinking this career might not be for me, but I’m going to try rebuilding my routine and see how it goes.
Don’t restart everything automatically. Open an old project or build a small new one and see what you still remember. Review topics only when you run into gaps. The fundamentals of reading documentation, debugging, and searching for solutions usually come back faster than expected. Start typing code again instead of waiting until you feel completely ready.
The ecosystem has changed a lot, with new frameworks and older tools falling out of favor, but the basic workflow is still familiar. Building something small is probably the quickest way to find out what needs refreshing.
For remote or freelance work, how many tools or technologies should I realistically learn, and which ones matter most?