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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?

#81

Post by codyb »

comment95198 wrote: post #52

I had a bout of poor health. And now I'm isolated and I don't know how to get reconnected to other people. I'm not coping terribly well. I think what is most distressing is that I am observing a decline in my capacity. I feel mentally sluggish. I frustrate more easily. I tire more easily. Probably most worryingly to me I get spikes of aggression that lead to combative outbursts. I feel less empathetic, even mildly sa…

Can you volunteer? I volunteer through work, but it's a great way to meet some nice people for a few hours and do something nice.

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

#82

Post by SeanAnderson »

dmoy wrote: post #47
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…

Making games in rust in retirement is my plan. Not, you know, good games (zero game dev experience), or games that anyone would realistically want to play, but seems like it would be interesting to learn.

Yeah exactly :) I had no experience and, if I'm being honest, I was shit at game dev, but boy is it a nice means of creative self-expression. (https://github.com/MeoMix/symbiants/ / https://ant.care/)

It's really fulfilling to be able to show people your work and have them play with it. It's so different than like.. spec'ing out a new database schema and then building some APIs over it. They're both coding, but one's a little harder to have a convo about at the dinner table.

Rust is such a mature language to use coming from a JavaScript background. I don't think it makes the best language for writing good games because it's too challenging to write bad prototypes you intend to throw away. You have to refactor frequently and code-compile-run loop is so slow. The lack of quick prototyping discourages me from playing around with ideas that might not work out and that makes for a worse game. However, as a programmer, Rust is an incredibly satisfying language to write in. Everything you do always feels very technically correct. The Rust quip that "if it compiles then it probably works" is very accurate and is a continuous source of pleasure.

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

#83

Post by ravloony »

kilroy123 wrote: post #44

Yes, but intentionally. I am not stopping until I am a successful entrepreneur. I refuse to go back to a full-time software job. I have had to do some long stints freelancing or agency work to make ends meet. Gotta do what you gotta do. But I'm not going back or stopping until I make it.

Same here! We should have an e-coffee or something. I'm currently building my second indie project. I would love to compare notes

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

#84

Post by huflungdung »

pluc wrote: post #59

Lost my job in early 2023. Couldn't find anything (25 years of exp, director of engineering managerial/technical type, great at what i do by past coworkers/bosses admission). By EOY I had to sell my house, figured I could use the (significant) profits to buy time or I could travel and make the time a little more enjoyable, so I set out to explore most of Europe thinking, well I'll for sure find a job before I run out…

[dead]

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

#85

Post by pluc »

MangoCoffee wrote: post #78
pluc wrote: post #59

Lost my job in early 2023. Couldn't find anything (25 years of exp, director of engineering managerial/technical type, great at what i do by past coworkers/bosses admission). By EOY I had to sell my house, figured I could use the (significant) profits to buy time or I could travel and make the time a little more enjoyable, so I set out to explore most of Europe thinking, well I'll for sure find a job before I run out…

this year's job market is really bad. my manager landed a new job last year but he have spent 5 years causally looking for a job ever since my employer got bought out. i have been looking to jump ship but gave up.

It was already bad before AI fucked it nine feet deeper. Now it's probably change career type of situation, but after climbing the tech salary ladder for 25 years (not US level mind you), it's real daunting to go back at the bottom.

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

#86

Post by ChicagoDave »

The longest was 20 months last year. In this market with GenAI and an uncertain U.S. administration, it’s not likely to improve for years.

I would recommend everyone hunker down and do what you need to survive, including selling things and moving to lower cost locations and combining assets with family where possible.

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

#87

Post by stego-tech »

I spent fifteen months unemployed during the Great Recession, in a state that was hostile to LGBTQ people, with no local support network beyond a family that I wasn’t out to. I ended up draining all my savings just to survive before finally taking up a friend on their offer of assistance.

How I coped?

* I helped run a gaming community. I threw myself into the work full time, building up a great gaming server with strong player count. This gave me social connection in an area I couldn’t openly be myself in.

* I minimized expenses, including buying delivery meals (lack of an inspected car) and making one delivery stretch two to three days' worth of meals (~$1.50 a meal back then)

The one regret is I didn’t take my friend up on their help sooner. It meant relocating to a new city, but within two weeks of putting their address on my resume I had found new work. Not stellar work, but good enough to close out my old place, pack up stuff to storage, and move out to the new city.

Definitely take up friends on their offers of help. For resumes especially, borrowing a friend’s address can give you a “local” presence and make you a better candidate. Don’t feel bad taking a career step downward if it saves your ass in the immediate - there will always be opportunities to move up again later.

You’re not alone in this. It sucks, supremely sucks ass, but you’re not a failure just because the market is in a downswing. Don’t beat yourself up over things out of your control.

There is a light at the end of this tunnel. You’ll make it.

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

#88

Post by seanmcdirmid »

I lost my job in 2017 and was out for almost 3 years until 2020. Some of that was by choice (we just had a baby and we agreed my wife should get a job first), but after a year and a half and going through a bunch of interviews (where I almost got the job), I ultimately landed at a FAANG.

What I did learn, and what should have been obvious, is that the longer you are out of the market, the more they think you are damaged goods.

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

#89

Post by verteu »

pluc wrote: post #59

Lost my job in early 2023. Couldn't find anything (25 years of exp, director of engineering managerial/technical type, great at what i do by past coworkers/bosses admission). By EOY I had to sell my house, figured I could use the (significant) profits to buy time or I could travel and make the time a little more enjoyable, so I set out to explore most of Europe thinking, well I'll for sure find a job before I run out…

Sorry to hear it. What country are you in?

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

#90

Post by sanswork »

pluc wrote: post #59

Lost my job in early 2023. Couldn't find anything (25 years of exp, director of engineering managerial/technical type, great at what i do by past coworkers/bosses admission). By EOY I had to sell my house, figured I could use the (significant) profits to buy time or I could travel and make the time a little more enjoyable, so I set out to explore most of Europe thinking, well I'll for sure find a job before I run out…

After that much if you're as skilled add you think you should be finding an interview coach and someone to edit your CV.

Have you asked past bosses, co-workers for referrals?

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