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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?

#191

Post by johnh-hn »

rhetocj23 wrote: post #138
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…

"I reply and they almost invariably never respond, presumably because they look more closely and see the large gap in employment." Ive long thought about this problem. I think the issue is we dont have an objective mechanism to understand ones capability. Because thats really what matters. Two people can have the same YOE, but how do you know which is more capable? Interviews are a terrible way to guage this, but is…

It's not obvious what a better method would be.

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

#192

Post by CoastalCoder »

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 appreciate the feedback. I often fail to anticipate how my words will be heard until it's too late.

FWIW, the main points I was trying to convey are:

1) Even 14 months was really hard me.

2) Only because I had a 401(k) to tap did I avoid disaster.

3) Even after long unemployment there can, in some cases, be a path back to a reasonable career.

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

#193

Post by CoastalCoder »

melenaboija wrote: post #33
windowshopping wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

I was paid closer to $145k while at Microsoft, and the health insurance fory locality kinda sucked (according to my wife, who manages that part of our lives).

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

#195

Post by CoastalCoder »

melenaboija wrote: post #33
windowshopping wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

I was paid closer to $145k while at Microsoft, and the health insurance fory locality kinda sucked (according to my wife, who manages that part of our lives).

And I didn't stay long enough fory stock grant to vest at all (IIRC).

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

#196

Post by bix6 »

mikhmha wrote: post #100

I'm hitting 2 years of unemployment in a month. Its somewhat intentional, the day after I became unemployed (I quit) I started to learn Elixir and began work on building a MMO-type game (this was unplanned). Why? Because I like distributed systems programming. I didn't expect to still be working on it 2 years later. Honestly there was no plan or expectation. I got sucked into this project and it was better than havin…

Link to your game? Would love to check it out

Nvm found it will try later since I’m on mobile.

https://swarmmo.games/

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

#197

Post by stego-tech »

lazyasciiart wrote: post #165

My husband. Financially we’re fine, because he wasn’t in tech anyway and made 1/4 of what I do. Emotionally I’m really starting to resent it (he is not on the “I sent out 1000 resumes” track, he’s made a lot of progress in EVE).

You've got every right to resent it if he's not at least maintaining the household and providing a better home life for the two of you in lieu of additional income.

There's no shame in being a homemaker, and heck, I'd do it myself if I had a partner that could provide for the two of us. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, landscaping, repairs, upkeep, finances...I like the appeal, but that's because I like the job of a homemaker. It might be worth broaching that topic with your partner, see if maybe they can begin contributing in that sense. You're less likely to resent someone who has a home-cooked meal for you when you get home most nights of the week, or the laundry being washed, folded, and ironed.

And if they balk at such a notion, well...there's more data for you to act upon in your relationship. Either way, you'll feel like you're moving forward instead of stuck in place.

Just an eRando's two cents. YMMV, take with a grain of salt, etc.

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

#198

Post by bix6 »

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…

Beast mode

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

#199

Post by Aurornis »

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…

> 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 sadistic at times. Very hard to control the envy and the average person I interact with evokes envy.

This is textbook major depressive disorder. I know you probably don't want to hear that, but you're basically describing a classic case of depressive symptoms.

> Employment is secondary, and it follows from having a social network and being embedded in a social context.

I'm sorry, but viewing these two things as connected or expecting one to follow the other isn't helpful. We all need a social life and we all need employment, but tying the two of those together isn't healthy. It's important to have a social life outside of work. It's important to have a job that isn't equivalent to your social life.

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

#200

Post by Aurornis »

dmbche wrote: post #92
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…

If you can I'd chat to my doctor about Adhd and trying something like concerta! I'm able to recognize many of the things you are mentionning here and had positive effects from methylphenidate.

ADHD isn't a condition which spontaneously appears mid-life following an obvious difficult event like losing one's job for an extended period.

The comment was clear that these symptoms appeared after the job loss. It's a match for the symptoms of a depressive episode (which can and does appear after a difficult life situation) but not ADHD.

Suggesting that the commenter seek out stimulant medication is not good advice.

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