even at age 35, i'm slightly tempted to scrap the career field my Master's degree is in and look into somewhat-unrelated work in the private sector. a few years of entry-level pay, sure, but it would still represent a much higher salary than what government work offers. i've been pretty frustrated that my Master's degree hasn't meant much in finding full-time work, and even if i were to land something, the pay being offered isn't much more than i made working in fast food 10 years ago. i should be a shoe-in for a job i just applied to (that's not just being cocky), but am pessimistic because of nepotism (i hope that's ok to say since i don't believe i've ever given away exactly where i work). this week i'll be dumbing-down my resume in order to apply for about any job i can find--not including my Master's degree and substituting some career jobs for my filler ones. funds starting to run dangerously low. it's great one one hand, but also kinda hurts to hear your little brother offer to loan you money. i'm willing to move anywhere fairly decent, but it's too bad that nobody's going to fly me out and i can't afford it, myself. the only long-distance option is moving somewhere and then looking.