Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

141–150 of 602 posts

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

#141

Post by pluc »

teaearlgraycold wrote: post #130
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…

I’m curious about personal connections. I’ve got many fewer years of experience and have had great luck with finding jobs thanks to friends and former colleagues even in tough job markets.

That's something that I've really wondered about too, since I can't count the number of people I hooked up with jobs I asked myself why the pendulum wasn't swinging back. I relocated "to the countryside" a few years ago and lost my big city tech network, where I was very active and even central. Not being on social media means I have very few ways to reach back out these days.

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

#142

Post by hsbauauvhabzb »

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…

How do you go from unemployed for 3 years straight to upper management? Were you already in a similar position in the past? I would think 3 years unemployed may not look good to people who don’t share your personal views (no judgement, I think if you’ve been unemployed for 3 years it shows good financial planning, I just doubt my conservative family would see it the same)

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

#143

Post by autotune »

bradly wrote: post #132
autotune wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I developed a new set of symptoms that I did not have before jail. Cartoons and characters saying different things as voices when I get overly self conscious about certain things.

I just want to say I'm really sorry you are struggling with voices and self consciousness. Not being able to escape our own minds is a feeling I don't wish on anyone and I hope you all the best through your struggles.

Thank you so much! Thankfully I have a good support system, so it's not all bad news. It mostly just means I have to avoid RTO by any means necessary because I have no idea if symptoms might emerge in the middle or end of a work day. Working on positive ways to manage it in therapy so that's good news as well.

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

#144

Post by mjsir911 »

I made a bunch of friends in the local rave & queer community, helped start organizations including founding a hackerspace, met the love of my life, and now am part of a very healthy community that has been helping me cope and get through this shitty tech sector hiring slump.

Taking breaks has been very good for my soul, and I've quieted the fear of instability with surrounding myself with people who I know will be there for me when things get rough.

It's surprising how cheaply you can survive when push comes to shove and you have to make concessions, live with roommates, live in small housing, going to the foodbank or getting on food stamps.

Although, runway is slowly dwindling and am unsure what's next for my future. I'm not too worried, though.

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

#145

Post by washadjeffmad »

jappwilson wrote: post #49

I have been unemployed for more than 5 years. Don't feel like working anymore!

They only seem to call it 'aspirational peerage' when you're young, but when you're established, you still need to find and figure out what others ahead of you are doing so you have an idea about what you might be doing when you get there.

Any tips or advice on staying balanced?

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

#146

Post by Wurdan »

rdtsc wrote: post #97

Wonder if this is a coincidence that the other major discussion item on the front page is https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45305845 (Trump to impose $100k fee for H-1B worker visas, White House says) with the large majority seemingly disagreeing with the policy and sort encouraging ramping up H-1Bs and such since it's generally great for the country. But then I see a lot of young grads and unemployed laid off fol…

The thing is pitching your salary lower doesn’t always make you more attractive as a candidate. If you’re going in lower than market rate then many recruiters start wondering about your past performance, confidence, etc.

As a hiring manager in a big company, salary isn’t really much of a consideration for me. The company has salary bands per role that I have very little control over. If a candidate is above that band and unwilling to come down, then I probably won’t even hear from our recruiters that that person applied. So in our process, somebody wouldn’t accidentally price themselves out of an opportunity.

So it’s possible that job seekers are making themselves uncompetitive via high salary demands, but I have my doubts whether its a major factor.

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

#147

Post by plumeria »

aantix wrote: post #57
yodsanklai wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought caffeine was actually good https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/is-coffee-good-or-bad-for-your...

Not if you’re a slow metabolizer. 15% of the population. CYP1A2 Increased heart attack risk: A 2006 study found that slow metabolizers who drank four or more cups of coffee per day had a 64% increased risk of a nonfatal myocardial infarction (heart attack) compared to those drinking less than one cup daily. The risk was even higher for slow metabolizers under age 50, who experienced more than four times the risk No i…

How does one find out being a slow or a fast metabolizer? DNA test?

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

#148

Post by richardlblair »

pluc wrote: post #109
mgh95 wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not the US? Anecdotally, I'm beginning to see the US market pick up again and a TN visa should see you employed pretty quickly.

Because I'm Canadian. There's three places I won't go, the US, Israel and Russia. Happy to work remotely for US, but won't set foot in the place.

The fact you're being questioned about this is insane.

There used to be a 0% chance of being tossed on a plane and deported somewhere else in the world when visiting the US. That chance is now non-zero, which is an unacceptable level of risk for many.

That and everything else going on. There's a reason Canadians have stopped traveling down south...

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

#149

Post by jonny_eh »

selectodude wrote: post #125
pluc wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've done a few rounds of CV edits and reviews early on, it hasn't helped. It's worth noting that the initial CV I had was one where I never had trouble finding work with. Edit: misunderstood "referrals" for "references" so edited my reply out. No, I've never asked for referrals from past colleagues.

Hiring managers check you on LinkedIn 100 percent of the time. Not having a LinkedIn is a huge issue.

In 2025 it basically means you're likely a bot/scammer. LinkedIn provides the social proof that at least you're a real person, with real business connections. It's sadly not optional.

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

#150

Post by codegeek »

com2kid wrote: post #133
pluc wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've done a few rounds of CV edits and reviews early on, it hasn't helped. It's worth noting that the initial CV I had was one where I never had trouble finding work with. Edit: misunderstood "referrals" for "references" so edited my reply out. No, I've never asked for referrals from past colleagues.

Not having LinkedIn is ruining your chances. Candidates without a LinkedIn are going to come across as a scam in the very least, 90% of the time your application will just get tossed if you can't be found on LI.

Pretty much this. I know lot of people hate Linkedin but the fact is that if you are a job candidate and have little to no Linkedin, it's a huge potential red flag in today's world. Lot of scammers, overemployeds/moonlighters out there.
Post reply on HN