Here're the reasons why I know I am in dead end job.

- It has already been 1y and nowadays, work feels like a chore. I've been just following my notes that I made earlier and solving tickets based on that.

- The job is limiting in its scope. I studied computer science in university. But this job is revolved around escalating issues to developers. The only thing that we do are

- changing database flags to make it work.

- forward logs to developers(We probably exist only because there is no loki log centralization)

- The only "real tech" that we work is when debugging web servers or when some new change request for webservers comes.

- Since it's limiting in scope, it's also limiting in salary(which is not necessarily true always, but it's here).

- Manager has cleverly overhired so that even if few leave, there will be no issues (more employees, less budget for each)

- I am underpaid. This is Nepal and neither development hits here nor recession. We're forever in same state "status quo". I am making somewhere around 250$/mo and I should be making 350$/mo for the last 6 months.

- Performance review is coming soon, but I've heard from reliable sources that the max increment will be 100$/mo. So, I can expect at max 350$/mo after 1.5 yoe.

* * * My problem * * *

I've not been able to find a new job and I feel guilty to even search for a new job. So, I am searching a new job with a heavy heart. While I've applied to couple of places, but they don't even respond (even with multiple serious referrals from known people).

Now the thing is linkedin is where employers are finding me and I've put my job title different compared to what it is on CV. I think that's why I'm not getting any responses after I send my CV. The title is like data analytics employee writing data science. LOL. I wrote it just because it is what I want to be and it's how people are searching for that role candidates.

* * *

I am still investing time in self-learning. Due to my low salary, certification exams(they cost double here in Nepal) are out of my reach(RHCSA/LPIC etc). But I've dedicated my ass off to study and I regularly study ~3hrs. I know that I won't reach that far by self study without a job that challenges me. But I am unable to find a newer challenging job.

I learnt loads of Linux and web servers in the current job, which simply would not have been possible without getting this job for me.

* * *

TLDR:

- Dead end job

- comfort zone in current job

- not finding a new job, hard time building skills w/o a challenging job

- don't even search pro-actively for jobs

- have a differing title in linkedin and resume, which might be a reason for extremely low interview conversion rates.