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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?

#31

Post by ulrashida »

secondcoming wrote: post #22
doormatt wrote: post #3

I did once - but it was on purpose. After 4 years at AWS, and ~20 in the industry, I was utterly burnt out, and needed a break. So I took two years off.

I think I'm burned out, but I'm not sure. Sometimes I think getting laid off might be good for me, but being in my mid-forties worries me when Tech is so ageist.

Unfortunately if you're asking this of yourself you are almost certainly burned out. Speaking as someone currently thinking the same thing -- all the times in my career where I was powering through this sort of thing never crossed my mind, it's only come up more recently as the hours have begun to climb.

Being middle age is a risk for sure, but also keep in mind you have only one or two big changes left before you're done. It matters more to get into a spot that can take you where you need to go.

Good luck with it.

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

#33

Post by melenaboija »

windowshopping wrote: post #27
freetime2 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

It didn't come across to me that way at all, not even a little.

Because you might be in a similar situation.

Don't know if true and if not might be close, but I recently saw the average compensation at Microsoft is ~200k...

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

#34

Post by martin-t »

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.

And this is how corrupt abusive companies can keep thriving. People will tell you "vote with your feet" from their high horse but it just doesn't work. These companies will always find somebody else to fill that role. The person needs the job more than the company does.

EDIT: Oh, wow, so much disagreement. 30 minutes, 3 downvotes, 0 comments. So tell me _where_ I am wrong.

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

#35

Post by jasonriddle »

I've been unemployed for about 1 year now. I was in SF working in tech for about 7 years, and decided I don't want to do that anymore, so I quit.

It's been tough. The hardest part about being unemployed is it is very hard to structure your days because work is no longer the thing that is forcing you to get up, get out, go to bed on time, etc. It's also a strange feeling having to spend from your savings/emergency fund without money coming in, you feel bad and guilty for doing so, it's weird.

I'm changing careers. I've always liked teaching, so I'm doing volunteer english teaching while preparing to apply to go back to school in order to get a Masters in Education.

In the mean time, I'm also doing other small things. Learning about AI, going to board game meetups, doing some traveling, overall it's not the most fun part of my life, but I'm treating it as I will look back on this and realize this was necessary.

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

#36

Post by elanora96 »

Yes, laid off in 2023 and haven't found a tech job since. Due to significant life and family health circumstances, anything that isn't a career job is hard to justify while caring for myself and others.

I've spent the last two years volunteering a local bike co-op and getting way to into bike building and cycling generally. Additionally, I spend a lot of time doing what I can to help my local trans community (that I am a part of). This work has gifted me with perspectives I would never have seen otherwise, and has really helped my organizational and soft skills.

Tech wise, I only do hobby projects now, and it's really wonderful in some ways. Having the professional experience I do, but the free time to work on projects that I want has helped me learn so much and really push my understanding of all sorts of technology.

When the job market eventually gets better, I will be able to approach it with a confidence that I didn't feel was earned before. That's really my cope lol

---

Fwiw

https://elanora.lol/resume resume@elanora.lol

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

#37

Post by yodsanklai »

SeanAnderson wrote: post #15

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. Me…

I thought caffeine was actually good

https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/is-coffee-good-or-bad-for-your...

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

#38

Post by jcims »

autotune wrote: post #16

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 appl…

If your line of work is amenable to independent contracting you might consider setting up a company that you can work through rather than raw dogging 1099. I ran a security consulting company for about ten years and only on exceedingly rare (and obvious) circumstances would we have to submit background checks.

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

#39

Post by apsurd »

freetime2 wrote: post #20
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.

I guess I get it, but also the person just answered the question.

I'm commenting because I get self-conscious of over sharing. Being asked a direct question and answering it, should be good shouldn't it?

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

#40

Post by alprado50 »

Last year, I decided to leave the small agency where I had worked for almost 6 years because, being a family-owned business, it was terrible for everybody (except for the bootlickers). The first few months were decent, having time to do almost anything, but then I started to feel miserable seeing how my bank account was getting close to empty and not receiving any calls from my job applications. Job searching has to be one of the worst experiences I have ever had, but my blog (alprado.com) was an incredibly therapeutic tool.
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