Redundant

Trust me on this, I started with option B and after hundreds of applications and even going to companies all over the country to find a way back into my industry with my CV in hand (which they appreciated but could do nothing about other than wish me luck)... I had to accept that my industry, which I love and am an expert in, was dead.

I had no choice but to go for A, but had lost all of my savings by this point and was clinging onto my mortgage by a thread. Cutting trees, doing some labouring... anything to keep food on the table.

It's scary how quickly you drain money when you've got no income and a mortgage. That payout will last half as long as what you think it will.

I got one job offer when I was unemployed from about 500 attempts. With a job, any job, I was getting offers from around 75% of applications. Get your CV online as well to be picked up by recruiters, many are awful, some are gold dust, but they will pick up positions that you won't ever find yourself.

I worked my way back up from the basement of another industry I knew nothing about and I'm doing fine, but I regret not finding work immediately...