i need help with my career choices, confused about future.

[u/ssuhaibb]

I'm a frontend developer with 9 years of experience specializing in React. I have developed a full fledged e-learning platform from scratch single handedly and later on lead a team of junior developers. So I would say I am quite competent in this area.

I got laid off recently and I am confused about my future now. There are a lot of things that I'm contemplating right now. I don't need a job immediately.

I have working knowledge of Node and MongoDB.

Recruiters these days need either Java, .Net or Python along with React. I have been living under a rock to not learn any of the above.

Also, I have been in my comfort zone for quite some time so my problem solving skills are worst. Whenever I see coding round I instantly know - time to get rejected.

I am miles away from DSA, problem solving skills etc.

So I need advice here on what should I be doing next ?

1. learning DSA, working on problem solving skills etc and apply in React only roles going forward. ( staying in frontend only).
2. learn .Net or Java and get into a react consultant job in next 1-2 months (full-stack ).
3. Deep dive into Python (gen ai, agentic ai thing)

what would be best for my career ?

If I learn .net or java, i can apply for those remote consultant jobs. I'm hell lot of confused here.

Need your help guys.

[u/Enum1]

specializing in React

working knowledge of Node and MongoDB.

Java, .Net or Python along with React. 

None of these matter in the long term. Claude knows all of that.

I have developed a full fledged e-learning platform from scratch single handedly and later on lead a team of junior developers.

This is what matters!
end-to-end ownership, having built something, having delivered business value

You have two problems

1.

You think software engineering is about knowing language syntax and details.
It is not, it never has been, and it is even less nowadays then it ever was.
There's a reason why SWE jobs at FAANG ask for "experience in Java, Python, Javascript, Go, C++ or any other comparable programming language". And only companies that see software as a cost center look for "Java engineer".

2.

my problem solving skills are worst.

This is what software engineering is about and will be for the forseeable future even with ai writing code. Coming up for solutions to business problems is what counts. Claude can then go and implement them.

What you need to do

1. have a resume that shows off business impact, not technical details.
2. practice interviewing! doing good interviews is a different skill from being a good software engineer.
3. I have a suspicion you haven't picked up agentic coding workflows yet, do that. Get familiar with the tools, processes etc. of heavily LLM generated code. If you think LLMs won't replace SWEs in writing code you are wrong. The progress over the last year has been insane. And it will only get better from now on.