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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?

#161

Post by drivingmenuts »

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.

Well, that sucks. The one thing I hate about Linked in is being up-rated on my skills by people who barely know what I do and certainly have never worked with me in any capacity or even discussed my work in any sense beyond "What do you do for a living?".

From where I sit, it's a tool for marketers and recruiters to gather data and it's otherwise completely useless.

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

#162

Post by Aurornis »

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.

It's relevant even if not a perfect match.

Discouraging people from posting positive anecdotes is not the goal, either. If anything, positive stories are very valuable in threads like this.

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

#163

Post by whatevertrevor »

carrja99 wrote: post #101
jollyjerry wrote: post #74

3 years. Left work because I felt comfortable with finances and family life, but wanted to try something different. It’s been fun working on personal projects and sharpening old tools. Still figuring out what I want to do long term. Some ideas include becoming a CFP because I like helping people with their finances, working for a tech company in that domain, or expanding the personal project (jch.app) and building mo…

> In a good headspace now, right after the first year was feeling lost on where to go next. Glad to hear. I had a similar experience, people act like "being in transition" where you are unsure what is next is solveable in a month, maybe three months. After that first year I still felt so unsure what I was supposed to do.

I'm in that phase somewhat right now. 30 months in, I'm still kinda unsure what I'd like to do. I know going back to a big enterprise software firm is bit of a last resort at this point, I just cannot convince myself that work is meaningful. Thankfully I'm financially secure (for now, who knows how the global trade shenanigans will actually affect my retirement funds), so there's no urgency to jump headfirst into another job. Yet, despite having plenty to do in terms of side projects, it would be a lie to say I don't feel that I need to do something more meaningful with my time.

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

#164

Post by DwnVoteHoneyPot »

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.

In addition to possibly being a scammer, some people found my resume to be less believable without a linkedin profile. One interviewer thought I was lying about my previous job title.

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

#166

Post by mgh95 »

richardlblair wrote: post #148
pluc wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

Business travel from CAN to US has remained stable (see: https://globalnews.ca/video/11436758/business-travel-to-u-s-...). It's leisure that is declining.

Meanwhile, total spending in the US from int'l visitor tourism is up in the US (see: https://www.hotel-online.com/press_releases/release/internat...).

Honestly, I think macro factors -- namely, poor Canadian household finances due to increasing cost of living and declining real incomes in Canada coupled with a strengthening US dollar against the Loonie -- are what are killing tourism from CAN to US right now.

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

#167

Post by w10-1 »

johnh-hn wrote: post #41

I've been out of work coming up to six years. I had to look after my dad during the pandemic. I've been looking for work in London, UK, since January. During that time I've had a total of 2 interviews. Recruiters, who seem to do a keyword search only, message me from time-to-time on LinkedIn. I reply and they almost invariably never respond, presumably because they look more closely and see the large gap in employmen…

FWIW I’m Hoping that the combination of AI and ridiculously powerful small devices will finally get us to the point where we can interact with computers primarily through voice. A limiting factor seems to be misunderstanding what’s actually required, and you likely have insight and can build experience there. So if you were able to on your own time, build some small systems and demonstrate effective voice interaction, that might lead to some interesting work, and benefit others. From C#, you might be able to transition easily to Swift and target the Apple ecosystem, which has an a lot more accessibility support, and also has the possibility of becoming an independent developer.

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

#168

Post by richardlblair »

mgh95 wrote: post #166
richardlblair wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

Business travel from CAN to US has remained stable (see: https://globalnews.ca/video/11436758/business-travel-to-u-s-... ). It's leisure that is declining. Meanwhile, total spending in the US from int'l visitor tourism is up in the US (see: https://www.hotel-online.com/press_releases/release/internat... ). Honestly, I think macro factors -- namely, poor Canadian household finances due to increasing cost of living and…

As a Canadian, living shoulder to shoulder with the very folks who used to frequently travel to the US (and being one myself).

I firmly disagree.

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

#169

Post by selectodude »

pluc wrote: post #153
selectodude wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I have to disagree. I looked for a long time before I found my last gig (that ended in 2022). I had a LinkedIn and it wasn't much different, it took me months to find something. I still have a linkedin account to look for jobs, but that's it. No connections, no work history. What's relevant is on my resume anyway so I don't see what having a regular linkedin account would do. I deleted it when I found that job becaus…

Well, keep on keeping on then. Sounds like you got this.

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

#170

Post by pluc »

yelirekim wrote: post #160
pluc wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to disagree. I looked for a long time before I found my last gig (that ended in 2022). I had a LinkedIn and it wasn't much different, it took me months to find something. I still have a linkedin account to look for jobs, but that's it. No connections, no work history. What's relevant is on my resume anyway so I don't see what having a regular linkedin account would do. I deleted it when I found that job becaus…

You are delusional if you think having a good LinkedIn doesn't improve your chances of getting hired... Maybe not for every job, but for many of them, surely.

I guess my experience hasn't shown value. I think people think of LinkedIn like Facebook - it only works if everyone agrees to stay hostage. I don't like the platform, I don't like that Microsoft is being all Microsofty about your data (have you looked at the new settings lately? That they added without telling anyone? Settings → Data Privacy → Data for Generative AI Improvement) and being a data-aware netizen, fuck linkedin.
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