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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?

#11

Post by OsrsNeedsf2P »

ge96 wrote: post #4
leakycap wrote: post #2

I take from this you would like to be employed? If so, what are you doing to change the situation (instead of coping with it as it stands)? I know it's hard out there (at least where I am) but I have helped a few people get jobs in the last 90 days, so please share the barrier you're facing and maybe someone can help.

Tech-wise in the US it was tough. I went to work in factory for a bit. I had recruiters hitting me up but they were 6 month contracts so I kept turning those down but eventually I just accepted one and I'm almost a year in now. I will note I at the time had 5 YOE but no degree so that is a factor (many I don't qualify since no degree). Reading r/cscareerquestions is depressing not that I go on there much now. People…

So apply to thousands of jobs then? That's only a couple applications a day for 2 years.

And I'm not saying this from an ivory tower, my first job took 700 applications in 2021. But until you have a job, your job is to apply 8 hours a day

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

#12

Post by zwnow »

ge96 wrote: post #4
leakycap wrote: post #2

I take from this you would like to be employed? If so, what are you doing to change the situation (instead of coping with it as it stands)? I know it's hard out there (at least where I am) but I have helped a few people get jobs in the last 90 days, so please share the barrier you're facing and maybe someone can help.

Tech-wise in the US it was tough. I went to work in factory for a bit. I had recruiters hitting me up but they were 6 month contracts so I kept turning those down but eventually I just accepted one and I'm almost a year in now. I will note I at the time had 5 YOE but no degree so that is a factor (many I don't qualify since no degree). Reading r/cscareerquestions is depressing not that I go on there much now. People…

People also just shotgun applications, why would a company look at a unpersoanlized lazy shotgunned job application?

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

#14

Post by fvgvkujdfbllo »

CoolestBeans wrote: post #10

I learned an instrument (guitar), then I learned another instrument (bass guitar). I caught up with my family, I got to spend a lot more time with my nephews and nieces. I got to spend a lot of time with my dad. I picked back up circuit design and made an overdrive guitar pedal from scratch and learned KiCad in the process. I caught up with old friends but lost touch with other ones. I probably acted like an ass to a…

> I finally came to understand why people like watching sports.

Can you help me understand it too? I don’t get it either.

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

#15

Post by SeanAnderson »

I've been unemployed for almost three years. It's somewhat intentional - at least leaving my last job was and I've been dragging my feet. Hopefully will have a job in upper management at the start of next year if things work out.

Coping by trying my best to become the type of person that I aspire to be. Quit weed, alcohol, caffeine. Lost 20lbs of fat and put on some muscle. Run 6 days a week, lift 3-4 days a week. Meal prep all my foods and getting into a good routine about those things.

Taught myself Rust and ECS and tried my hand at building a game. Built an Arduino prototype of some hardware a friend wanted to see exist, but ended up not trying to take it further. Built a website to help people play a video game better, it became popular while the game was trending, and made ~3-6k/mo running ads on the site. Went to Burning Man for the first time.

Now I'm kind of out of things that sound fun/purposeful and having a purpose dropped into my lap by working on an ongoing project with an existing team sounds more appealing than it did when I left the work world. So, slowly going back that way and hoping to hold onto all my good vibes and positive habits as I do so.

It's not exactly what I expected to spend three years of unemployment doing. I wish I felt more "accomplished" in how I used my time. But idk. Just kept myself busy with things that sounded meaningful in the moment. Now making money sounds more appealing than having more free time so hopefully jumping back in isn't too much of a shock.

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

#16

Post by autotune »

I was arrested for reasons I still do not understand for 1.5 years as the charges and reason(s) for my arrest make no sense, so in that sense, yes. Developed intensified bipolar disorder while locked up in jail. Biding my time until the charges get dropped or I get declared innocent by a judge so I can file a lawsuit against the police department. All that's left to do is wait, either for lawsuit time or for job applications to come through and hope there isn't a thorough background check (there hasn't been for most of my positions so far).

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

#17

Post by yogorenapan »

OsrsNeedsf2P wrote: post #11
ge96 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tech-wise in the US it was tough. I went to work in factory for a bit. I had recruiters hitting me up but they were 6 month contracts so I kept turning those down but eventually I just accepted one and I'm almost a year in now. I will note I at the time had 5 YOE but no degree so that is a factor (many I don't qualify since no degree). Reading r/cscareerquestions is depressing not that I go on there much now. People…

So apply to thousands of jobs then? That's only a couple applications a day for 2 years. And I'm not saying this from an ivory tower, my first job took 700 applications in 2021. But until you have a job, your job is to apply 8 hours a day

What are people doing to need 700 applications? If you went to university, usually you'd be able to get an internship after 4-5 applications & a return offer. Then afterwards just stay put when the economy isn't doing well and hop around when it is.

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

#19

Post by sho_hn »

fvgvkujdfbllo wrote: post #14
CoolestBeans wrote: post #10

I learned an instrument (guitar), then I learned another instrument (bass guitar). I caught up with my family, I got to spend a lot more time with my nephews and nieces. I got to spend a lot of time with my dad. I picked back up circuit design and made an overdrive guitar pedal from scratch and learned KiCad in the process. I caught up with old friends but lost touch with other ones. I probably acted like an ass to a…

> I finally came to understand why people like watching sports. Can you help me understand it too? I don’t get it either.

Watching some of the Netflix docs like the Formula 1 one or the Tour de France one is a good gateway drug into "sports watching". It turns out it's all just for the stories, and a bit for the game.

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

#20

Post by freetime2 »

CoastalCoder wrote: post #5

I was unemployed for 14 months in 2023/2024. It definitely hit my self-esteem, as well as 401(k). I ended up taking a job with Microsoft, but it was a poor fit because I hate the company as well as the product area I was in. As soon as I could I found another employer that, while not perfect, I'm much happier with.

I think it's probably not your intent, but this sort of feels like a humble brag. Reason being that 14 months is far short of "over two years", and I think that a job offer from Microsoft is something that a lot of people would be thrilled with.
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