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Ask HN: Are you unable to find employment?

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Re: Ask HN: Are you unable to find employment?

#11

Post by RGamma »

vbi8iBEX wrote: post #9
nicbou wrote: post #3

I’m self-employed so I don’t have personal experience, but all around me (in Berlin) people are struggling to find work. I have more unemployed friends than ever and they stay unemployed for longer than ever. Others are afraid to risk their job in any way. Employers got bolder in their demands and English-speaking workers are fighting for scraps. The UX industry is absolutely cutthroat right now. I work in immigratio…

Sounds like its a problem everywhere, not just the states.

And it's not just in programming-related jobs either. Parts of industry and the blue collar market are shitting themselves in Germany right now.

Two people I know have been let go (pumps and wood sectors resp.). Another (metal construction) is getting barely more than minimum wage. There's only one dude (chemical engineer) who is doing well (nearing 100k at 5 years work experience). The others are getting by.

Politicians are still complaining about Fachkräftemangel, skilled labor shortage, but it's really a wage slave shortage.

Re: Ask HN: Are you unable to find employment?

#12

Post by theandrewbailey »

franktankbank wrote: post #4

Longterm unemployed people turn to the armed forces for employment. Intentional?

Consider the other side of that equation. Idle hands are the devil's playground. Too many men with no future and nothing to do are known to start revolutions.

Re: Ask HN: Are you unable to find employment?

#14

Post by w4ffl35 »

asdfologist wrote: post #13

>I myself have had a difficult time landing an interview over the last year despite having two decades of experience. Unfortunately many employers see that as a minus, not a plus.

Indeed - I've legitimately considered creating a fake profile at this point to make myself look more Jr with about 10 years of experience. I don't really have much to lose in trying it.

Re: Ask HN: Are you unable to find employment?

#16

Post by djaouen »

asdfologist wrote: post #13

>I myself have had a difficult time landing an interview over the last year despite having two decades of experience. Unfortunately many employers see that as a minus, not a plus.

Why? Is it because they’ve tasted freedom and are more likely to be rebellious when they go back?

Re: Ask HN: Are you unable to find employment?

#17

Post by Insanity »

djaouen wrote: post #16
asdfologist wrote: post #13

>I myself have had a difficult time landing an interview over the last year despite having two decades of experience. Unfortunately many employers see that as a minus, not a plus.

Why? Is it because they’ve tasted freedom and are more likely to be rebellious when they go back?

Ageism. Two decades of experience, depending on your role, might be seen as a downside. E.g, if you have been an engineer for two decades (not staff+), the question is why that person is not “motivated” to grow. Another reason is that juniors can be cheaper and easier to mold.

Two decades of experience for someone looking for a VP position is a different story, with different challenges.

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