Good for you for trying to go to ATC. It is very stable and pays very well. Plus health benefits, pension and retirement matching are very good working for the FAA. I am too old; otherwise I would try that option also.
There are many furloughed legacy guys that work for the FAA and make more being an Inspector than they were flying. Many of them have decided not to go back even if they were called.
Pilot Shortage? Not going to happen. Look at the low pay and all the hoops you have to jump through just to get hired anywhere. Everything indicates a pilot abundance.
I am constanlty looking into getting into another career becasue aviation has proven to be very unsatble and I dont want to keep having to start over. I miss flying but not the horrible regional pay.