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Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

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Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#111

Post by anxiously »

abdabab wrote: post #31
ugh123 wrote: post #18

Expand beyond C/C++. I realized about halfway through my career that full time C/C++ work was diminishing and higher-level languages and frameworks were going to open up more jobs (they did). For me, this involved learning more web tech (python, javascript, UI dev) as well as Java. As a C++ dev you might want to also look into Rust as thats becoming more prevalent and popular these days. Hell, you should just apply t…

Ditto. Java is like C++‘s popular cousin who lives nextdoor, talks too much and doesn’t like to take his trash out. It won’t take you long to get familiar with it.

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Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#112

Post by obihill »

It appears that you already have some tech skills [in C/C++]. This is more than a lot of people can say. What you should consider doing is finding some meaningful work around that area of skill to get yourself back on track.

Here are a few questions you could ask yourself to get at an answer:

- Are there any challenges that C/C++ developers have that I can solve with a product I can create within a short period of time?

- Are there any problems that I see around me, problems experienced by others that I can resolve with a C/C++ powered solution?

- Are there any technologies similar to C/C++ that I can learn to help me build something that someone may find useful and pay for, or make a transition to another job opportunity that is not specifically C/C++?

- Can I teach or tutor someone [or a small group] C/C++ and earn something to keep me going?

Maybe the next phase for you isn't a new job. I would encourage you to ask yourself questions about how you can use what you know [and are good at] to impact someone else positively and eventually earn a living doing so.

I've read quite a few good suggestions in this post and I would urge you to stay on-board. Storms don't last that long, but you will be changed for the better if you can make it through them.

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#113

Post by thedracle »

Now is the time to hone your skills in a highly in-demand area, with little competition.

Get Linux on your computer, study the Linux kernel, and learn about EBPF.

Write some monitoring software using EBPF, learn all about it. Learn about the Linux Kernel, and LDD.

Then apply for jobs in these areas, be ambiguous about your on-the-job experience.

Speak competently when you get the interview about the tech, the companies that are hiring for these skills are desperate to hire for them, there aren't people with these skills falling out of trees.

It's a bad time in the industry, but unemployment is something like 2.3%. There is a position out there for you.

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#114

Post by smugma »

badpun wrote: post #84
kyrra wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

During the dot com bust, my brother -in-law ended up being unemployed for 18 months. Moving back in with family, if an option, is always a good path in situations like this.

Works in the US, where most families live in big houses. Doesn't work as well in the rest of the world, where people tend to live in smallish apartments much more often.

In many parts of the world including parts of Europe eg Italy, it’s common to live with family until you get married.

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#115

Post by taylodl »

I was in a similar boat in 1999 - you know, back in what people envision as being the "golden days" for C++. The C++ job market, even then, was crap. It was mainly used in engineering (sweat)shops that worked in highly niche, vertical markets and used extremely niche libraries and tooling. Switching jobs was difficult, extremely time-consuming, and often involved moving to another city or region. I can't imagine this situation getting any better in the 23 years since (and in 1999 I was a 13 year C++ veteran who could cite the ARM by chapter and verse and who had worked through the rough draft of what was to become the GoF Design Patterns book). The pay was also low - there just wasn't much of a market for C++ developers and the companies pretty much knew they had you by the short hairs.

What did I do? Learned another skill that had much broader demand. In my case Java enterprise and application servers were just starting to take off and demand for anybody with any experience was skyrocketing. Well, I didn't have much experience but I did have 14 years of C/C++ experience so I found someone who take a chance on me. It paid off. In less than 3 years I had doubled my salary and employment options abounded. I was no longer stuck working for the C++ sweatshops.

What does that look like today? I don't know. These days I'm using Python (a language I thought was utter garbage in the 90's!) to quickly build serverless AWS solutions enabling me to move "at the speed of business" as they like to say and having very little operational overheads so I can keep moving. I'm way past the age most people think of for a developer but I'm considered to be one of the most valuable assets in my organization - which is a Fortune 200 company - and I'm compensated like I'm one of the most valuable assets.

My advice then is this - think about what the next stage of your journey is going to be. Realize that this C++ stage of your journey is over. Figure out what it is you're going to master next. I don't have any advice on what to do about your job situation as I've never quit a job before having another one lined up. You've learned that lesson the hard way so there's no point beating that dead horse.

Good luck, I'd love to hear what you ended up doing!

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#116

Post by comte7092 »

Having been in your shoes and endured multiple very long stints of unemployment, I feel like I have some perspective on this.

A few things:

1. The roller coaster of emotions you’re feeling comes from over investing in individual jobs. Unfortunately, you don’t have control over which job is going to come through. What worked for me was to keep focusing on the next opportunity until I actually had an offer secured. That is, send in your resume, and then move on. Interview, and then move on. Don’t make any one job out to be the thing that’s going to be make or break, there’s anyways going to be something else you will find to apply to in the future.

2. A corollary to the above. Don’t give yourself too much time pressure. You don’t have full control over the situation. Having debt and little savings can really amp up the stress levels, but you will have the ability to work your way out of the hole in the future, sometimes in a very surprising amount of time. I hit the point where I needed to borrow money from family just to be able to pay my tax bill, and a couple years later I was in the best financial shape I’ve ever been in. Right now you’re just trying to keep your head above water, and that means giving yourself time and permission to do things that aren’t “productive”. Spend time with people you care about. Do things your enjoy whether or not hey lead to a job.

3. Think long term. This doesn’t have to be anything more than something temporary. You have a lot of time to invest in yourself and do things you wouldn’t typically have time to do with the added responsibility of having a job. Take the opportunity to direct yourself down a path that feels more fulfilling.

Happy to discuss further. I hope you get through this ok.

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#117

Post by codegeek »

badpun wrote: post #84
kyrra wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

During the dot com bust, my brother -in-law ended up being unemployed for 18 months. Moving back in with family, if an option, is always a good path in situations like this.

Works in the US, where most families live in big houses. Doesn't work as well in the rest of the world, where people tend to live in smallish apartments much more often.

You will be surprised that in many parts of the world, people do live in big houses too and sometimes much bigger than average mcmansion here in the US. It is usually cities where apartments are more common.

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#119

Post by Matthias247 »

freedom2099 wrote: post #102
ugh123 wrote: post #18

Expand beyond C/C++. I realized about halfway through my career that full time C/C++ work was diminishing and higher-level languages and frameworks were going to open up more jobs (they did). For me, this involved learning more web tech (python, javascript, UI dev) as well as Java. As a C++ dev you might want to also look into Rust as thats becoming more prevalent and popular these days. Hell, you should just apply t…

Are you sure? I have 10 years of C++ dev experience and I feel like a hot girl on tinder… have to constantly fend off recruiters. I have at least a an offer a week… I sometimes go through the interview just to stay sharp (I love my current workplace, been here for almost 8y and I am not planning to change anytime soon) and usually end up with an offer!

Very sure. I have pretty much on every programming language on my resume and LinkedIn (and yes - I have actively worked on projects that shipped to customers using those). Number one recruiter reachouts are webdev (Javascript), followed by generic web backend stuff (Java, sometimes Go, less likely C#). Then there are the Rust crypto blockchain stuff recruiters (yes, it's unfortunately 90% of roles using Rust). And the very least in terms of volume is C/C++/Embedded stuff.

Re: Tell HN: Getting Ready for Unemployment

#120

Post by sage76 »

You are not alone. This industry is full of Steve Jobs wannabes who all think they are working on the next big thing. They will correspondingly make the interview process a multiday hazing ritual while screaming about the lack of qualified people.

The self importance of people in this industry now rivals that of all the blue chip wall street banker douchebros.

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