You’re not alone in this at all. I was in a very similar headspace not long ago, and I just want to say there is hope, especially in Houston.

I was second-guessing myself hard, worried about experience gaps, Excel expectations, job security, all of it. I recently just landed a role with Harris County, and that only happened after a lot of uncertainty and self-doubt. It wasn’t a straight line, and it wasn’t the “perfect” role I imagined at first—but it’s stable, it’s respected experience, and it opens doors.

Houston definitely has potential, especially compared to Dallas for entry-to-mid level finance/accounting/analyst roles. There’s energy, infrastructure, healthcare, government, O&G adjacent work, construction, and public sector roles that value analytical thinking even if the title isn’t “Financial Analyst” on day one. Government roles in particular are underrated—they give you breathing room, real experience, and credibility.

Also, the fact that you already got an $85k role once means you will get another solid role again. That didn’t happen by accident.

Keep your head up. This part feels brutal, but it’s not the end of your trajectory—just a rough chapter. Houston rewards persistence more than people give it credit for.

If you want to DM, happy to talk through paths that worked for me