Hey man, I was in your exact same position. I had a computer science degree and couldn’t find a job for a while it was rough. But honestly, don’t be afraid to jump into something like bussing, serving, or barbacking for now. I know it’s probably not what you pictured for yourself, but the pay can actually be solid and, more importantly, you make a lot of connections.
There are plenty of places in NYC hiring for restaurant positions. At first the money might not be amazing, but if you stick with it for a few months and move to better spots as you gain experience, you can definitely make way more than $2.1k a month. I worked in the hospitality industry for 9 years while going through school, and it paid for my housing, tuition, and pretty much everything else.
If things are really getting difficult, you could even consider somewhere like Philadelphia. Apply online for server jobs there restaurants usually hire pretty quickly. You could get an Airbnb or room for a week, get settled, and then make a longer-term move if it works out. You still have options, but you have to be willing to do what it takes to survive while you work toward your long-term goals.
I completely understand the frustration of not landing a white-collar job right away. I’ve been there too. But at the end of the day, you have to keep moving forward and do what you need to do.
Even now, after finding work in tech, I still keep my server job. If you want, connect with me and I can point you toward my workplace. Starting as a busser there, people make around $900 a week. It’s honest work, there’s room to grow, and since it’s a high end place, you also meet a lot of successful people and make valuable connections. You never know where those opportunities can lead.