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Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

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41–50 of 137 posts

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#41
I had a very similar situation to yours somewhere in 2020. I applied to plenty of Java and Android developer jobs, I tried also to get internships, half-time, anything. Each time rejected, despite BEng + work experience.

And one day a friend of mine, who was longer in the software engineering industry, told me that the market now is terrible and I should try Helpdesk or DevOps positions. I landed a DO job within a week and switched twice because headhunters were offering me better options all the time.

Moral of the story: don't focus on your one skill, find other skills you have and look for opportunities that are similar in nature and apply not only for C++/programming jobs

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#43
Not going to solve all your problems but one very simple tip that seemingly very few sub-30 year-olds have received... is your resume/CV very basic black text on white background (no colored fonts/backgrounds) in Times New Roman (or similar simple, basic, serif font), 11 or 12pt, and no more than one page? No fancy graphics, no fancy typesetting, no multiple columns, just plain.

Also, try whatever you can to reduce your debt in the meantime. Unemployment sucks, but without debt it is far more tolerable.

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#44
However, I simply don't feel like it.

That's definitely not going to help. The more time passes, the harder it will get.

Instead, try to take this time away from a job as an opportunity to gain relevant qualifications. This could be as simple as learning a new programming language or a new framework etc., contribute to open source projects, or - if you want to go down the corporate route - get some sort of certification. Also, soft skills, like spending unpaid time for a good cause is often valued highly by employers who don't just want to hire a machine.

A simple but effective way how to improve employability is to look through current job postings and note what skills and qualifications are asked for. Then compare to your own resume and from there derive a plan how to close the gap. Of course, that is not possible in arbitrary ways and a short amount of time, for instance, if you don't have a degree but most jobs you're interested in require one. But there are a lot of opportunities to make your CV better.

Speaking of which, you may want to really spend some time optimizing your resume, and do not forget to always tailor it each time to the specific job you're applying to. Like in many areas of life, one size does not fit all, but if you have a solid base resume then the adaptations for each job application will typically not be a lot of work.

Also, in my experience, cold applications to jobs are one thing but if you have the chance to feel out for opportunities through your network of contacts that might actually be a more promising way to get a job.

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#45
Well, just from reading this, I can tell that you have great potential, not just as a hirable economic agent but, more importantly, as a human being. Being "qualified" according to some company's stupid protocols (which may, for example, just be biased to whether you can follow rules) says nothing about you. So don't feel bad. And speaking of you—the real, internal you, not the you as measured by external social institutions/norms—I completely agree that you should keep learning what you like to learn and finding ways to express yourself.

As for jobs, in the short term definitely consider other jobs (e.g. I recently got a job as a math/CS tutor, pivoting away from my previous software job), or worst case, beg for some shitty job for now and/or ask for assistance from family/friends/etc. Doing so requires humbling yourself in that external sense (like the external sense of being "qualified") but that external you is not the you that matters. So keep fighting for (and improving) that real, beautiful you, whatever it takes!

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#46

I am not an expert in "depression" although been there many times. What helped in my case were the short walks I made near town or in the park. This was the "pill" taken every day that turned the things around. Of course, if you really fill on the edge and "taking it the easy way out" you should definitely speak with someone! But try to take joy of the small things you have. Take it easy and slow and it will get bett…

One of my friends was in a similar situation recently and, going for a walk in the park and basically just talking to friends and family often on phone helped him immensely. He also used to just let his brain trained by waking up early, taking shower and going to public library every morning at 9am and coming home at 5pm and just preparing for the job interviews there.

Wishing OP all the best and I hope he finds the job soon.

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#48
It looks like there is some great advice in here already, I will add one thing and that is: try your best not to let the rejection you experience during this process be a self-reflection on who you are and how you see yourself. The truth is that many of the people looking at your resume or running through an interview have no idea how great of a human you are and what you truly have to offer, and they are making snap judgements.

You seem to be extremely bright, curious, and observant about the world around you and the world is a better place with you in it. Good luck and keep your head up!

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#49

> So far, every single company I applied for, rejected my job application. (Told me that they found a person better qualified than me.) The problem isn't your qualifications, it's your resume and the roles you're applying for! Just look on the Who's Hiring threads here on HN, and filter on the ones that look interesting. Remember, first and foremost, you're applying for a job, it's not some academic tenure track or P…

Spamming out CVs to companies advertising on HN might be a rational strategy if you work in a popular field like web development and live in the US. It might get you nowhere fast if say you work in a more specialised programming field and live in Europe, where there are serious economic problems, we're asking genuine questions about whether we will have reliable power supplies for everyone throughout the coming winter, there is an actual shooting war happening, and some countries are dealing with big political changes and the accompanying uncertainty. Job markets in many parts of the world are not looking so hot right now, even in tech where we've had a very easy ride for a relatively long time, and being aware of that and having realistic expectations are important for anyone searching or thinking of jumping ship.

Without knowing more about OP's background than they've chosen to share in their submission you can't possibly know whether they would benefit from adopting a different style of resume, building a more widely sought skill set, or simply having more patience and better luck at finding work to pay the immediate bills so they can ride out the storms that hundreds of millions of people are facing over the next few months and give themselves some breathing room to find better opportunities later.

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#50
No no no no:

There is no “should” or “shuod not”, you are ill and there it is, NOTHING TO DO WITH RESPONSIBILITY.

You need a doctor because you are ill. Of course, a friend who does not judge and knows something about depression would also help a lot.

Doctor first (and I mean a psychiatrist, really). Then: some legal help and/or economic support (can you declare bankruptcy? Is it a good idea?).

Meanwhile, learning what you can is good but: PHYSICAL EXERCISE.

Stop reading the news: they add nothing positive to your troubles, at all. You need help, not “information”.

Keep you in my prayers. I’ve been there, am talking from experience.

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