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Ask HN: How to find work while homeless?

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Re: Ask HN: How to find work while homeless?

#61

Post by pavas »

aphextron wrote: post #57
csomar wrote: post #13

That’s a bit surprising given that the Netherlands has a generous social system. I’ll try as a first step to ask and look for government organizations that could potentially help and give you free stuff. Next, I’ll drop tech for a while. I’ll look for any job that has low or no barrier to entries. Washing cars, cleaning carpets, collecting garbage, etc... These are jobs with little barriers to entry and that will hav…

>After you get yourself a place to stay, better clothes, and a haircut then I’ll start branching into tech again. I'd strongly disagree with this. If you can code, you are wasting your time doing any other kind of work. Do whatever it takes to land a job. Lie about your living situation. Spend all day at the library practicing Leet Code. The amount of time you spend trying to land a job will more than be made up by t…

You might be severely underestimating the impact that a bad living situation can have on a persons confidence, motivation, and mental energy to approach tasks.

The most important thing they can do is ANYTHING that gets them into a stable living situation.

Re: Ask HN: How to find work while homeless?

#62

Post by aphextim »

twoquestions wrote: post #52
marcus_holmes wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

that might work in the US, but in Europe churches are poor and mostly attended by old ladies with networks of other old ladies.

Be careful in the US too, churches aren't so nice here.

Sounds like you had a bad experience with a church. Every church I've ever gone to even without me being very religious has been very accepting and nice.

Making blanket statements after one or even a handful of experiences doesn't help anyone and can be said about things also not relating to churches as well.

Re: Ask HN: How to find work while homeless?

#63

Post by vertex-four »

lazyjones wrote: post #54
Scarblac wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Als being homeless is a huge red flag for any job. It's a nasty spiral.

Being homeless in a rich European country with proper welfare systems screams of 'mental health issues'. Of course it will be a red flag for any job.

Technically speaking, I have a residential address that I can get post delivered to; squatting is nice like that. Nobody knows I'm homeless, except everyone on HN now.

Re: Ask HN: How to find work while homeless?

#64

Post by bojan »

Google the "daklozenloket" and the place name where you are. They should be able to help you. That is your priority number one, getting registered somewhere. The Netherlands has a good welfare system, make use of it.

Then start looking for jobs. Developer jobs are plenty. Ignore the 5 year experience requirements, in these times those are wishlists more than the actual requirements.

Considering you are British, are you allowed to work in the Netherlands?

Re: Ask HN: How to find work while homeless?

#65

Post by csomar »

aphextron wrote: post #57
csomar wrote: post #13

That’s a bit surprising given that the Netherlands has a generous social system. I’ll try as a first step to ask and look for government organizations that could potentially help and give you free stuff. Next, I’ll drop tech for a while. I’ll look for any job that has low or no barrier to entries. Washing cars, cleaning carpets, collecting garbage, etc... These are jobs with little barriers to entry and that will hav…

>After you get yourself a place to stay, better clothes, and a haircut then I’ll start branching into tech again. I'd strongly disagree with this. If you can code, you are wasting your time doing any other kind of work. Do whatever it takes to land a job. Lie about your living situation. Spend all day at the library practicing Leet Code. The amount of time you spend trying to land a job will more than be made up by t…

Tech is a better meritocracy than other fields but is still a field with barriers. If you don't have a good resume, a CS degree, recommendations or particular open source contributions, you'll have a hard time getting any job.

I'm not sure if you tried being homeless for 1 or 2 days, but I can't imagine you'll be able to pass an interview if you slept in the church door last night and had nothing for dinner.

> Do whatever it takes to land a job.

That's what I'm suggesting and unless there is someone or some community that will bail you out for 3-4 months to get your affairs in order, you'll have to start from rock bottom.

Re: Ask HN: How to find work while homeless?

#66

Post by andrem »

vertex-four wrote: post #43
andrem wrote: post #31

I cannot promise anything but I’m in the Utrecht area and would be more than happy to give you some advice face to face or potentially help you somehow with projects if there is a fit. Do you have an email address to reach you?

Sure, my address is shell@alterednarrative.net.

Thanks!

Re: Ask HN: How to find work while homeless?

#67

Post by predators372 »

I don't have much to contribute for lack of experience with the field, but I want you to specifically and deliberately renounce what you say in your last paragraphs. There is nothing WRONG with you. This is a tough situation, a lot of people of lesser caliber would've already crumbled, and you're GOING to solve it and move forward with your life and very likely with your career. Breathe. It sucks. It's okay that it sucks because it won't suck later.

You got this, friend.

Re: Ask HN: How to find work while homeless?

#69

Post by vertex-four »

bojan wrote: post #64

Google the "daklozenloket" and the place name where you are. They should be able to help you. That is your priority number one, getting registered somewhere. The Netherlands has a good welfare system, make use of it. Then start looking for jobs. Developer jobs are plenty. Ignore the 5 year experience requirements, in these times those are wishlists more than the actual requirements. Considering you are British, are y…

Yes, I am allowed to work in the Netherlands. The EU is still a thing, Brexit didn't change anything yet. After the end of this year it's different, but assuming that I can find work, I'm permitted to stay here "temporarily" (assuming I stay in work) until 5 years are up, then permanently.

Re: Ask HN: How to find work while homeless?

#70

Post by louwrentius »

I don't know you and I might be wrong. But not having a paying job for the last 8 years feels to me like you have some personal issues and now being homeless is a symptom of that.

If you are a UK citizen, you should absolutely be able to get the professional help you need from that country.

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