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Ask HN: Has anyone else been unemployed for over two years?

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Re: Ask HN: Has anyone else been unemployed for over two years?

#561

Post by mgkimsal »

uxcolumbo wrote: post #392
eek2121 wrote: post #295

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was in tech for over 20 years, and went from being good at my job/successful to being permanently disabled. My entire life was wired around providing for my family and supporting everyone around me both financially, and via my success. I've lost that identity, and despite extensive therapy, meds, etc. I still haven't found myself yet. I know I'll be okay, however. Stay frosty. Things will work out. Cheers!

I have that identity, ie being the pillar of stability and support for those around me. One thing I worry about is getting a stroke or become blind, paralyzed or similar. Having lost people around me or seen them fall seriously ill , made me realize things can change so quickly. I admire ppl like yourself who keep going. Or people like Paul De Gelder, who lost the majority of their limbs and then just keep going and…

A friend at my coworking spot had a stroke a month ago. I was coming in on a monday morning and he was being carted off in the ambulance right as I got there. As in... door was open and his coffee and laptop were there, lunch in the fridge, and... I did't make the connection. I didn't see anyone being loaded in the ambulance, lights weren't on, etc. His family came by later to pick up his stuff.

He's been in an intensive care neuro unit for the past month. I visited about 10 days ago and he was having trouble talking, and... I suspect it might be long lasting or permanent.

We'd just spoken the Friday before, and had a meeting planned that morning. It all changed instantly, and there's no going back. It shook me up some, and I'm not affected at all, really, but seeing this happen to someone you know directly is... hard to take (for me anyway).

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone else been unemployed for over two years?

#562

Post by ethbr1 »

jjav wrote: post #533
ethbr1 wrote: post #483

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hence > anything past where you've worked on LinkedIn is a waste of time

I am unable to parse this sentence.

If English isn't your native language, then an expansion/simplification would be:

Putting your work history in LinkedIn is the maximum amount of effort you should make. Any additional effort, beyond that, is a waste of your time.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone else been unemployed for over two years?

#563

Post by Aeolun »

scarface_74 wrote: post #332
Aeolun wrote: post #317

Earlier quoted context omitted.

None of your positive impressions are by virtue of linkedin though. Unless your profession is influencer I suppose.

How else would someone know about me and how would I connect with them? I can change my status to “Open to Work” and have 1200 people see it My specific niche is strategy consulting along with hands on keyboard work for smaller projects and before that, I was hired at 3 separate companies by a new to the company director/CTO to lead initiatives. At that level it’s all about knowing how to “influence” and communicate.…

> experience and network

How does LinkedIn factor into your experience and network is what I mean. You can’t tell me people cold call you through linkedin. If people contact you it might be through linkedin, but that’s only because their friends have been talking about you. LinkedIn isn’t what gives you work, it’s the fact that you’ve done good work for others.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone else been unemployed for over two years?

#564

Post by Aeolun »

kmoser wrote: post #349
Aeolun wrote: post #314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would it matter what your previous job title was? Why would I care if your previous job title was ‘Grand Vizier of Khyrgistan’? Can you do the job I want you to do now?

If your previous job title was "Doer of a Thing" then a prospective employer is more likely to consider you for a job doing the same (or similar) thing, as it shows you have prior experience doing a thing.

No, it shows that you previously had a job title that calls you a doer of things. I find that these don’t generally correlate with ability to actually do those things.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone else been unemployed for over two years?

#565

Post by gcheong »

tasuki wrote: post #523
mrleinad wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you comment on the finantial situation that allows you to do that?

They said they live cheaply. I think most people just don't get this. It's quite possible to be happy not spending that much money.

Living cheaply is relative though. I have no idea if this person’s living cheaply is doable on my current savings so it’s meaningless to me until I have some hard numbers.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone else been unemployed for over two years?

#566

Post by tasuki »

pluc wrote: post #554
tasuki wrote: post #509

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not entirely convinced wrt your meticulous financial planning. I think I was earning less than you yet managed to save the vast majority over my 15 year career earnings. Then my partner died and I was left raising a toddler by myself. It wasn't easy, but at least I don't have financial problems, thanks to a little financial planning.

If you had a long term partner, you're already splitting everything in half, it's a lot easier to save then.

We were not splitting everything in half. I paid perhaps about 80% of our expenses.

But yes, for some years I was earning a couple times more than the average person, while spending slightly less than the average person...

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone else been unemployed for over two years?

#567

Post by tasuki »

gcheong wrote: post #565
tasuki wrote: post #523

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They said they live cheaply. I think most people just don't get this. It's quite possible to be happy not spending that much money.

Living cheaply is relative though. I have no idea if this person’s living cheaply is doable on my current savings so it’s meaningless to me until I have some hard numbers.

The trick is living cheaply while earning. Not starting living cheaply only once the money-hose dries up. Obviously, this advice is too late for many people.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone else been unemployed for over two years?

#568

Post by queenkjuul »

BergAndCo wrote: post #555
JackFr wrote: post #360

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1) as the child of a parent who was a smart, hard working accountant/financial analyst who was out of work for 2 long stretches in my youth, I have learned when you lose your job, you do not fuck around — you attack it with the same urgency as if the house was on fire as in immediately; 2) after 25 years, you’ve got to have some network — swallow your pride and use them. I have been there, and I saw my father — there…

Applying to 400 jobs is apparently not enough sense of urgency, got it. It's surely American laziness that's the problem and not the infinite slave labor they're competing with.

Question is really, was it easier to find a job in 2023 or now?

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone else been unemployed for over two years?

#569

Post by queenkjuul »

Aeolun wrote: post #564
kmoser wrote: post #349

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If your previous job title was "Doer of a Thing" then a prospective employer is more likely to consider you for a job doing the same (or similar) thing, as it shows you have prior experience doing a thing.

No, it shows that you previously had a job title that calls you a doer of things. I find that these don’t generally correlate with ability to actually do those things.

You hire a lot of programmers that have never held a programming position before?

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone else been unemployed for over two years?

#570

Post by queenkjuul »

ethbr1 wrote: post #483
jjav wrote: post #420

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> who would you rather hire: someone who wow'd in an interview or someone with LinkedIn flair? Wrong question. This is not about the hiring stage. Who would I rather move on to a phone screen: someone with an empty or nonexistent linkedin profile, or someone with a profile which matches their resume and has many connections to other people who worked at the same companies? While I hate to have to say it is the latter…

Hence > anything past where you've worked on LinkedIn is a waste of time

They just told you they also look for coworker connections though
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