I've been a contributor here for a few months and have on occasion shared my thoughts and advice on this topic or the other, but now it's time for me to ask for the community's advice. I've been in the IT industry for over 20 years, but I'm not your typical techno-dork who lives to come home to his basement network and test out the newest Cisco router IOS or sit up till 2AM designing a new app. Unlike most techno geeks, I actually have a personality and interests external to technology, which could be the problem. So, if you come into my house, sure you'll find a couple laptops, but you'll also find a library with books on history, biographies, common law, politics, English literature (yes, even the odd volume on poetry) and of course the text books from the 5 degrees I earned (MS Information Systems, BS Finance, ASs Accounting, Business Administration and Electronics). So as I said, I'm not your stereotypical, run-of-the-mill technology guy. So two years ago, while i was working in a great job as a Project Manager for a local (but small) electrical utility cooperative, my wife's company (which will remain undisclosed, however, its a frigging big one in the Energy industry) decided to close out its corporate headquarters which were located at the time just outside Washington DC and move lock, stock and oil-barrels to Houston, Texas. Since she was the one who had the dream job with a Fortune 50 corporation and a meteoric career trajectory, we naturally pulled up stakes and moved to Texas. Meanwhile, I gave up the best job I ever had, working with the best people whom I have ever known (outside of my Navy days). Well, we've been down here in Houston for two years now and I still can't find any work. Now, I'm no head-in-the-clouds, starry-eyed dreamer. I'm a down-to-earth pragmatist, so I'm not expecting a job offer for an upper management position with some prestigious corporation and an equally prestigious title paying a gazzillion dollars to just fall out of the sky. I know that when you're operating outside your professional support network, its gonna be a long, grinding haul back up to the top of that hill. Consequently, in addition to mid-level technical opportunities, I've been applying for bottom-of-the-ladder computer schlepping (i.e., Help Desk) positions as well. By my count, over the last two years, I've responded to approximately one thousand job announcements on CareerBuilder, Indeed, Monster and other sites (things have gotten so bad that I've been applying to positions on Craig's List). During those two years I've had exactly 3 interviews (only two of which were in-person interviews....one was a Skype interview for a position back in DC). I've also tried looking for employment with my wife's employer but the Energy industry is in contraction down here and they are talking about laying off people, so hiring new employees is the last thing her company wants to do. I've gotten so desperate that I've been reaching out to my old network of former employers and colleagues back in DC looking for contractual assignments there (the federal government contracting cycle typically begins in October, so about this time of year a lot of contracting companies are hiring). Furthermore, I'm not restricting my search to just IT positions. I've degrees in Finance and Accounting and would like to take the CPA exam in 2017, so I've been looking for entry-level bookkeeping and accounting positions, but still no luck. So at this point I'm ready to throw in the towel and give up, which is totally uncharacteristic of me. I just don't see any hope and point in trying anymore. I come from a military background and I keep hearing a nagging voice in my ear whispering the old Army axiom "Never reinforce failure", which is what I seem to be doing with each and every resume I send out. In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm not only reinforcing failure by continuing to send out my resume in what can only be described as a futile endeavor, but if I'm not wasting both my time and the time of whomever is on the receiving end reading it. Even though I've strong technology and customer service skills, exhibit a can-do attitude as well as a willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done and can learn just about anything, it seems that Society is telling me that I don't matter, I have nothing to offer and that I'm of no use. Consequently, I'm wondering if I'm being egotistically obstinate and narcissistically stubborn by not listening to the message I'm receiving (which is that I'm unemployable). Maybe I should just go to a psychiatrist, admit to depression and get on permanent disability (of course that would be the end of my security clearance, but it isn't exactly doing me much good as it is....I mean, what good is a clearance if you can't even get a job?). The way I see it, if Society is going to toss me out like trash, WHEN I WANT TO WORK, then Society can pick up the subsistence tab. After two years of fruitless endeavor, I just have to wonder if there's any point to trying anymore. Any thoughts?