It seems like the state of hiring is getting even more ridiculous, and I've struggled to find anything for over a year. In particular, almost every frontend job runs some homework or hackerrank thing based on React, regardless of whether it's specified as the most important requirement. I don't tend to win these competitions, and I don't tend to use React, and it's an unsustainable way to live. I didn't jump on the bandwagon meanwhile about everyone else in the world did. I could probably refine my knowledge of it a bit, but most 'React devs' have been grinding it out professionally for years. Is it even worth trying to conpete in a massive market like this where the skill is so commonplace? Is there another area I could focus my energy like Vue where maybe there isn't as many people out there? I can only do so many 3-8 hour react based tests that I ultimately miss a test case on or simply don't compare favourably to the 1000 other people who applied.
More broadly, I'm a programmer, I've been doing it for years, and can't make money doing it, so I'm in a manual labour job that ends soon and pays like shit. I know JS quite well, learn quickly, and establish good rapport with colleagues, but that doesn't seem to be effective. Wtf do I do to actually put an ostensibly useful skill to actual use?
When you say you can't get a job doing it, how many positions did you apply to? Even for a competitive candidate with a degree, you might have to send out 50 applications to get in pipeline with 10-15, ultimately end up with 2-3 offers.
Last, what country are you from?