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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?

#261

Post by dzhiurgis »

james_marks wrote: post #242
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…

No connections and no work history, I would blacklist as spam.

How do you ensure linkedin history isn’t falsified?

I’ve seen all sort of false claims, but ultimately small programming task is best to sift out people.

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

#262

Post by scarface_74 »

pluc wrote: post #118
sanswork wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

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.

If you are trying to get a job based on your resume and blindly submitting it to an ATS, you are doing it wrong. Every open req gets hundreds of applications and it’s impossible to stand out from the crowd.

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

#263

Post by mycall »

jonny_eh wrote: post #149
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.

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.

any other not-optional sites to think about connecting with?

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

#264

Post by ethbr1 »

craftkiller wrote: post #205
ComputerGuru wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t have a LinkedIn and it has impaired my job hunts in the past but I always worry that creating one now (without the references of colleagues from decades of past work) would look worse than not having one?

Do people still do endorsements on LinkedIn? There was an initial flurry when that "feature" launched but I haven't been endorsed for anything for I think the past decade. Really the only things I do on LinkedIn are update my job history and accept connections from coworkers.

Imho, anything past where you've worked on LinkedIn is a waste of time.

And arguably even a negative signal. Productive people have jobs to do instead of grinding Monopoly karma. Yes, this absolutely includes LinkedIn thought leadership.

I know MS and recruiters love to push the 'it matters' line, but I'd ask the reader -- who would you rather hire: someone who wow'd in an interview or someone with LinkedIn flair?

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

#265

Post by mycall »

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…

What industry do you want to work in? Pick a vertical market and make stuff for it. Look at government RFI/RFP to see what is needed, follow the trends.

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

#266

Post by HocusLocus »

fellowniusmonk wrote: post #45
OsrsNeedsf2P wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So apply to thousands of jobs then? That's only a couple applications a day for 2 years. And I'm not saying this from an ivory tower, my first job took 700 applications in 2021. But until you have a job, your job is to apply 8 hours a day

2021 and 2025 are different. I have a friend who is a SSE. Mid 30s. Been fully employed his entire life. No degree. Has been writing production code since 15. His entire local professional network got nuked and people stopped hiring because of that stupid software engineering R&D amortization budget deception of Section 174. And I assume the double whammy of ai. He had his resume reviewed, ran it by friends it looked…

I'm trying to understand Section 174 impact especially because your friend's persistence seems like a good litmus test that positive changes are afoot. Also I have a daughter who will be looking for R&D/R&E EE position when she graduates in 2026.

Needing to amortize expenses over 15 years puts a big damper on anything corps may be excited about today but with less than 100% assurance of in the long run? Restoring the pre-2022 regime for domestic expenses only is for the most part supporting domestic workers? So your friend is back in a more familiar job market... maybe college grads too? Thanks.

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

#267

Post by anondual »

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…

A tip about independent projects on a resume. Put yourself as an employee, a hired contractor, or just a technical co-founder. Don't mention that you're the solo or main founder, unless it's a far past project. I've learned the hard way that regardless of what they may say about looking for autonomous, free thinking, resourceful, self-starters, basically all the qualities of an entrepreneur, employers balk at the label. Some will reject a good profile if they don't feel that you'll be around for more than 2 years, even though many of their recent hires are gone shortly after a single year.

List what the technical challenges of the projects were, what its promoters expected, and how you addressed everything. Don't let entrepreneurial merits overshadow technical ones, especially if you're not after a position like product manager in a company that truly understands how to employ entrepreneurs.

Another way to think about it is that the perception that someone else took a risk on you seems more valuable to employers than you being crazy enough, audacious enough, or courageous enough to dare take on life.

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

#268

Post by bananalychee »

mgh95 wrote: post #111
greyb wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can managers/directors of engineering even qualify for a TN under the recent renewed scrutiny?

Yeah. That's actually the only way to get a TN -- to oversee technical work in a managerial capacity. Technical managers of software engineers are 100% able to enter under TN.

What do you mean it's the only way? Computer engineering is a valid TN employment category, among many others.

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

#269

Post by [deleted] »

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.

[deleted]

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

#270

Post by wjamesg »

Aurornis wrote: post #220
stego-tech wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 homem…

> 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. The parent comment didn't mention that at all. > And if they balk at such a notion, well...there's more data for you to act upon in your relationship. Wild how quickly a comment about someone's husband being out of work but applying for jobs jumps to as…

Not a stretch at all, the OP alluded to it
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