If so for how long? How are you spending your free time?
I completely understand this. It’s been 4 years for me due to a lot of factors (3/4 of those years I did DoorDash if you count that as a job) . It sucks too because I have a degree. I feel like I made mistake going to college. Hoping to eventually get something in my field.
Exact same situation as you, got an engineering degree in 2020, been delivering for UberEats ever since. Failed to land a job in my field of study and now trying to get a job in IT.
University was a waste of time in my opinion, they lure you in with promises of jobs but after graduation, most end up in our situations.
2020 was a rough year to graduate in.
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4d
Going back to school is a risky proposition. From my personal experience, a degree means nothing if you don’t have the experience to back it up. What happens if you have two degrees and 0 years of relevant work experience? I don’t think you would become any more employable.
True, even 2021 was really rough. Graduated in 2023 and it’s still a struggle to find a job. Plenty of people I know got laid off during COVID, and now all of those people are trying to find new jobs, on top of the people who graduated in the past 4 years.
Did you apply on usajobs to govt jobs? They seem to have some engineering jobs up when i was looking for other stuff - pay is not good atleast for the ones i saw
Where did you go to school?
There are plenty of people who went to Stanford for engineering who can’t find jobs. The school doesn’t matter as much
What type of engineering do you do? I find it really hard to believe you’re going on 4 years without a job in engineering.
Trust me ...it's a thing ..
Funny how employers don’t want to hire unemployed people. Like they get surprised when you don’t have a job and you’re looking for work. Like what else do they expect? Lol
“Can you explain this gap on your resume?”
Yeah I was looking for fucking jobs
You should have been working during that time, clearly.
“Can you explain this gap on your resume?”
I decided to take some time off and enjoy life. Now, I'm refreshed and ready to outperform you.
"I was doing drugs, and stealing copper wire. I also have fleas"
Yeah it pisses me off when people get concerned about a resume gap. I was living my life.
I honestly believe that asking and having to explain gaps should be illegal.
Or just eliminate the obligation of putting dates for each job. They should be more concerned about the experience you have, not the gaps.
I've started saying I'm a "Child Care Worker" and self employed. I do babysit my niece and nephew a lot, and it's still work even if I don't get paid (well rarely).
I'm at 10 months. I'm a little worried. But i worked for 25 years, i have no kids, no house, cars paid off. While i was unemployed, i repositioned my 401k and made 80k. Im down to my last 10k in liquid funds. I need to find something this month but am still not pressed. I have lost 40lbs, my hair has grown back, and my skin has cleared up.
Cortisol levels are a real thing. I realized life keeps going now matter what. I am the type that lives in hellfire. It's where I shine. I realized the backhalf of my life doesn't have to be that way.
One week unemployed and I second having clear skin suddenly because of it even though I was breaking out like a teen
Stress does have an impact, doesn't it. What kind of work were you doing, if you don't mind me asking?
Have you tried temp agencies?
hmm I think you need a new hobby. Have you considered dread?
Metroid dread? Yeah. I love that game.
If it makes you feel any better, I moved and started this job about 1 year and 8 months ago today, got a tiny "promotion" (Please I'm not bragging just giving context). But I spend my free time either taking a nap or worring about everything. I take a nap as I am so burnt out with life in general and I can at least not worry while I'm asleep. Otherwise it's "Oh I need to take care of this, I need to go clean this, I should be doing this, etc. etc.
I'm sorry to hear about your Panic and Anxiety attacks I do hope the best for you, better times will come keep your head up.
what’s your job?
This probably will read as empty words on a screen but just because you don't have a job doesn't mean you don't have value. You deserve respect and are an important person to others. Things will turn around, don't give up.
I've been unemployed for three months, but I just found a job online that pays $25 per hour, which is pretty good.
Doing what if u dont mind me asking
Scamming redditors would be my guess
Lmao yup. First thought here too
Chinese scammer lol
I passed through that phase during last year. Horrible times. Good luck!
how do you even survive with being unemployed for 12 months. like how do you sleep or eat. not in an existential way but like literally how you get the money for food or shelter
Be older with an already paid off house and car
Be younger and move back in with parents is a common one too.
For me - marriage. I thank God for my husband. And feel sorry for him and myself
I've noticed that in many cases those who say they've been unemployed for a year usually have some form of income on the side, like doordash, etc. Some have savings to live off of if they budget properly, and some people live with a partner who can keep them afloat. It's easy if you live with family and don't have to pay any bills, but not everyone has that luxury.
Wow. Today is also my unemployment anniversary - except it’s day 1…. I was fired yesterday :(
This was me unemployed for 3 years straight. It was really hard for me to land a job, had multiple interviews and calls but sadly not luck. Until April of this year I finally got hired and im slowly getting back on my feet. Job is decent and decent pay, gonna start looking into getting A+ and work my way up so I can start getting better pay.
Do small achievements like, walking around the park 1 time a week, or workout for 30mins. Thats what I did and it did improve my mentality and health. Smalls goals will turn into big goals.
Best answer ever.
Unemployed for 4 months with a degree in mechanical engineering. I apply to 3 jobs every night and do 1-2 interviews every week. I’ve left every interview feeling like I knocked it out of the park… only to be ghosted
I'm in the same boat, I felt like I've done really at the interview but of course it could be my delusional thinking but hey being delusional is a good thing. Even though I felt I've knocked it out of the park, I still go home and apply to more jobs.
Hiring friends of friends of friends. That's the truth behind everything
Yep. That’s 100% accurate. I got my last two jobs because of connections. Now that I’m looking into companies where I don’t know anyone, it’s crickets….
Even with connections, it's tough. I had at least 3 connections for jobs. These places ended up hiring the internals.
Every job I've had has been from nepotism. Always. It's not what you know its who you know
Dang I'm the complete opposite. Every job I've had the employer knew nothing about me.
1-2 interviews every week means your resume is super attractive to employers. Something you're saying/doing in the interview is throwing them off.
For me, interviews went well with connections. They just already decided on hiring the internal. Wasting my time. Why interview me when they already made their decision. So networking doesn't even work anymore.
They do it so they can "adhere to fair hiring practices". You were the pawn that if taken to court they can say no we tried looking externally with this and that guy but they didn't fit the job therefore we had to go with Joe from our other department.
Pretty obvious.
I had a bosses boss who came to Canada from Australia and loved Canada better. Hrs been in his job for 2 weeks and then I saw a posting for HIS job title on LinkedIn. This was a very small town I used to work in so it was obvious it was his job. When I asked him about why he's leaving after being here 2 weeks he said it was a bs post so HR can do the rounds, do a few interviews, reject all of them and use that as an excuse to sponsor him for a permanent residency. He then proceeded to say how he knows this isn't fair to the applicants applying but what can he do? He wanted the company to sponsor him for a PR so he can move his whole family to Canada.
It sucks but it's just how the game is played.
That is a really good application to interview ratio. I've been unemployed for nearly a year and I've had 5 interviews.
And then my relative who is like 60 years old and doesn't even speak English is able to get a job after one interview and makes more money than me. I have to go through like three interviews and company takes forever to respond. And it seems like all my other co-workers at my current company and get jobs so fast
Unemployed for going on 2 months with a degree in Environmental Geology living in western Washington and I have the exact same thing happening to me.
This is really scary. I have a bachelor in Enviornmental Studies, and had convinced myself the only reason I can't find a job in it where I'm at is because all the related jobs are in the West. My God.
The first time I got ghosted after an interview I was in denial. This isn’t my first time in the job market, so I braced for the hasty but polite, “thanks but no thanks” email. I thought maybe there was some communication I missed, so I followed up twice seeking insight about whether the position was still available. Crickets. This especially seems to be a practice among a subcategory of millennial hiring managers that did a few rails of Ayn Rand at Burning Man, decided Wolf of Wallstreet was a to-do list, and that doing hallucinogens once a year and talking about it for six months makes them “spiritual,” when Law of Attraction simply isn’t enough. I remember Reagan, so I expect my rejection to come with encouragement to keep fighting. I’ve been on hiring committees where every single person in attendance sent an email that was basically, “My friend, it was so close, but we want something bigger for you. We can’t wait to see what you do next!” If anyone would like to hire me to write your heartfelt rejections, obviously I am available.
Can I just say, you’re awesome. Everything about this post made me want to meet you and shake your hand. I got ghosted after being TOLD I got the job during the in person interview. What kind of psychopath does that??
Dude I’ve been ghosted twice after being told I got the job and nobody believes me. They think I’m somehow to blame.
My company happens to be desperately looking for a couple engineers, two mechanical engineers included. If you happen to be in the Orlando area or willing to relocate here lmk and I can send a link for the position. If you can just show solid dedication to problem solving and being flexible with finding solutions, we'll probably hire you. We have a couple deadlines to meet and don't currently have a team capable of meeting it so we're pretty desperate for engineers.
It’s worth contacting anyone you have interviewed with and ask for feedback.
You will probably get nothing but if one or two answer you’ll know why you haven’t been successful and maybe learn something about yourself or interviews
How many years of experience so you have?
Going 5 months, Focusing on working out, learning more about my passion (photography/videography) taking some online trainings as well.
Hey man, i'm in same boat as you. Looking for jobs in IT but photography/videography is my passion and tryna learn that. Lets connect
Let’s connect
Yes for over 2 years. I’m mentally and emotionally exhausted. I haven’t been putting in apps as much as I should. My motivation is low.
I'm about to hit the 2 year mark in August. It's depressing. I graduated in Fall 2022. I quit my job right before graduating because I had a heavy course load & figured that after graduating that it wouldn't take long to get a job. Then, I spent a couple of months casually applying to jobs & working on a cert, & brushing up on Excel skills. Then, I started heavily applying for jobs. I have had 8-10 interviews/screenings. I put in about 2-5 applications in a day. The only feedback I've gotten is that they like my experience or they went with another candidate. Nothing super useful. Meanwhile, my unemployment gap is getting larger, making me look more undesirable. I've submitted to a couple of different volunteer opportunities to have something fresh on my resume, but even those are taking forever. I'm waiting for one to follow up with me & another one has a training/class that isn't until August.
It’s ridiculous. You’re working very hard and trying harder than most. You’ll eventually land something.
That's what I keep telling myself, but it's hard to stay positive with all the rejections and ghosting. I'm trying to keep at it & I'm taking courses on coursera to add on LinkedIn. I'm not sure if anyone even bothers looking, so it may be just a waste of time.
This is where I am, too. I have an unfortunate feeling that the job market is going to be a miserable slog until after the election. If Biden is re-elected, green energy markets can exhale, nonprofits can be confident of future funding, expanded government bureaus can switch positions from contracts, etc. If Trump wins, oil companies will be very pleased with themselves and on a hiring spree, they’ll need more aunts to help run Gilead, etc.
Here in TX the oil companies are already hiring like he has won. The entire TX workforce job page is all oil related. 75% of them are low paying intern positions that want you to have 2 plus years experience, a degree, but also be in school ugh.
2 years?! how can you live? family that supports you/lets you live with them?
Family has been helping. Selling items on eBay has helped too.
I am in exactly the same boat. I had a plan for myself where I would complete my bachelors degree, pursue some professional exams, and learn some technical skills and turn that into a career. I did all of that except for the career part. The first year I went hard at it applying and was getting a good number of interviews. I could not land an offer despite making it to final round interviews a few times and feeling like it went well. Since about a year ago the number of interviews has dropped to almost nothing for months on end. I’ve tried retail and other things to give myself something to do but I’m being ghosted by even those. I wish I had words of encouragement for you but I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel myself. All I can say is take care of yourself… do other things to keep yourself sane, eat well, work out.
Same here bud. Went really hard last summer applying and interviewing. Nothing panned out. Now I’ve been a little unmotivated to apply for jobs. Just trying to focus on my mental health and life in general. Also want to see how this election will go in November. What an insane time to be alive right?
15 months unemployed with 14 years of experience (CPA/CFA with big four experience).
I have a morning routine: written gratitude, meditation, and a short walk for a dose of vitamin d. Job search for usually four hours Monday through Friday. Then I go exercise or spend time outside for an hour. Lots of time spent calling family or friends. The lack of socializing without work is tough (single).
Gotten into cooking at night. I run a D&D campaign every week so a good chunk of my free time I spend having fun with prep.
If I get bored I rest or go for longer walks outside. Self-inventory/journal at night before bed.
Social media scrolls do happen when I need them, as do TV binges. But I generally find them unhealthy and in this unemployed situation are more keenly aware of how they can upset my balance without other structure, so as the months have gone on have continued to trim my use of them.
I read more also.
Keep grinding dude. This is the way. Honestly it’s refreshing to see someone acknowledge the situation but not let it consume them. This is by far the best Reddit post for what everyone should be doing with their time unemployed. I have no doubt something will appear for you…actually, that you will manifest what you seek. Keep fighting the good fight!
What state are you in where you can’t find a job as a CPA. I feel as though a senior accountant position without one can land a job with a recruiter left and right here in California. Hope you find something.
I'm in California. I left Big 4 accounting 12 years ago, so I haven't been professionally working in accounting for a while, 2 years in NFP aside which doesn't seem to count much.
Odd. I have 5 YOE in tax and can get tax senior roles in CA for 90k-120k. What does your resume look like.
2023-now Searching.
2020-2022 Non-for-profit accounting (i ran their books and finance ops)
2014-2020 Business/IP valuation, deal financial due diligence and credit underwriting
2009-2014 Big 4 audit
Damnnn. FDD! You have a good resume. Best of luck to you.
IF anything, IRS is hiring now. And you can always make the switch to a CPA firm and hit up recruiters (RobertHalf if you’re desperate). I think I have it easy because I have a CPA and work in tax.
This sounds like a reel video. Like I can see you doing all that while reading this 💀
LOL
Unemployed for 1 month. Been trying to send applications things. Also, doing daily workout, bootcamp, expanding my portfolio, playing games, and connecting with people. Really hope to land a full-time job soon🥹
Unemployed and unfortunately living outta my car. But I spend most my time at the library or the park.
The library and park sound like the perfect places to be. Keep reading, studying and fighting. I have a good feeling that things are going to turn around for you
Thank you, I appreciate your kind words.
Sorry. I hope things turn around for you.
Im sorry for your situation. I too have been unemployed for 8 months. I wish i could help you but dont have any money
6 months. So many job apps. So few replies. All say “unfortunately we’ve decided on another candidate”
I also broke my back and all my ribs 2 months ago. So haven’t been looking much since then
How did you get that injury?
Mountain biking. Botched a jump and landed on my face
Yes, 7 months, apparently scrolling reddit
A year and 4 months now…walks outside, YouTube yoga/floor Pilates, got back into baking and reading fiction again. Clean my apartment a lot since I can’t just listen to podcasts. I’ve also been trying to teach my two cats tricks (no success, but entertaining). Still applying for jobs and interviewing occasionally. Cut back a lot (and I mean down to a bare bones budget) but still got into a bit of debt trying to keep a float but trying to stay positive and mindful for what I do have!! I was in a poor mental state around the 6month mark but worked through that. I started to journal to work out my feelings and I’ve gotten into the habit of doing it nearly daily. Content, but not quite happy as can be.
I had a friend in college who taught his cat a couple tricks. I'm pretty sure it's possible
My 1.5-year-old cat can jump when a treat is in my hand but my god did it take a long time, we are still working on fetching. But my other cat (11) will not do a dang thing but accept pets and lounge near wherever I am.
I'm feeling the same way. Surviving but not comfortably living. Still gotta keep our heads up
Yes. 6 months
I was unemployed for about a year aside from quick contract gigs... finally landed a long, decent contract so I should be safe for awhile.
im glad to hear that! reading everyones comment makes me nervous about the job market.
8 months - I attend online courses to learn/improve my skills but am I so productive on them? Nope. I get distracted or have burn-outs on regular basis. Ditto: Zero interviews... Changed the CV many times. Applied many. I feel nauseated even when I just see Linkedin's logo now (not even looking at the toxic main page)
I've been unemployed for almost 3 months. I should actively be applying for jobs every day but I've been feeling depressed. I don't know what I want to do and I don't want to work another meaningless job.
What do you do for fun? What topics interest you?
I like music and movies. I'm interested in psychology. If I have the talent I would want to be a furniture designer.
Online applications filled out: 258
random shops walked into to ask if hiring: 76
interviews got : 1
interviews failed: 1
times ignored: 7
times scoffed at: 5
''no we are not hiring'': 64
times hyped up by myself: 3
times i would probably get the job if i was a cute girl: 7
times ive given my address/phone number/ email given to random shops: 8
Times lied on CV about having prior experience: 2
Time spent searching for a job: 23 months
🙂🙂🙂
Man I feel that. I had an interview this week for a secretary position which also covers reception duty, I got to the interview half an hour early to prep, and one of the candidates that walked out before I went in looked like she was born to be a receptionist just by looks alone, probably has the long fake nails too that can clickity-clack on the keyboard whereas mine don’t - I knew then and there that I wouldn’t be chosen! 😂
Also totally feel you on being scoffed at when asking if places are hiring, one place said to me “just look online”, as if I haven’t tried that already. To me going into places and handing in your CV shows way more initiative than just applying online, so there’s no harm in doing both and these places shouldn’t scoff at anyone’s efforts in trying.
I’m almost on my second month of being out of a job, it’s starting to wear me down already. I hope something bites for you soon enough! 🤞
Thanks a lot buddy, good luck to you too! 😁
Yup. Lost my job 3 months ago and my severance just ran out. On unemployment now. I haven't found a job since I was laid off. I have 15 years of working experience and a degree. This shit is going to collapse. There's no way this is sustainable.
Well, unemployed for 1 year and 4 months now. Feeling cooked.
i’m not unemployed but i’d prefer to be working a lot more than i am right now
Yep I'm underemployed too. Sadly 29 hours with no benefits isn't my preference
Same 5 hours a week, plus I technically have another job as well, where I put myself in the schedule and if they need extras they call me. But no one has called me yet.
It is better to have a job than no job to be honest. I can’t even get part time or 0 hour contracts for some reason - just keep getting “we found a candidate more suited for the job, sorry!“.
Yes 1 year and not for not trying to get a job, I feel like nobody wants to hire someone with experience but also studying in Australia 
Yes, this going on my 2nd month, I'm hoping to land a job soon.
I spend free time walking dog, learning new skills on Udemy and on my own, relaxing, etc.
2 months.
Just living in constant fear and anxiety.
It’s horrible isn’t it. I wake up thinking is this really my life right now
Yes. I'm used to it but it is so demoralizing.
8 months
I’m pretty much considering myself retired until companies get their shit together again
Yes I am, I have been unemployed for like 3 years now. I live with my parents so with my free time ( which is all my time since I never go out) I do chores like cleaning, cooking, taking care of the house. And when I'm done i like to watch movies or anime or play some video games
same here. i help out with the chores and a caregiver for my dad. i'm coming 15 months. really hope we get something
Yes. Going on 8 months now. Went from clearing an average of 110-125k/year in sales & headhunting working remotely to…nothing. Luckily I made such solid money for the past 5 years that I’ve been able to fuck off a bit.
I’ve changed my diet, gotten back into the gym, traveled a bunch & worked some side gigs. I just recently started job searching a bit and took a few interviews but nothing promising. Many sales positions are purely 1099 commission and even though I’m supremely confident in my skills and although they say “OUR TOP EARNERS MAKE 250k+ A YEAR!” I grew too accustomed to having a base salary of 65k PLUS my commission so I cannot bring myself to have zero base at this stage in my life.
With that said, any sales business development people, get at me. 2x’d my revenue each of my first 3 years at my previous company and generated over a million in revenue in multiple consecutive years! Get at me!
No, but school's out so I'm not working at present. Currently interviewing for more permanent work
Almost 1 year. Free time I go to the gym, work on art passion projects, edit videos, play video games and apply to jobs. Been rejected so many times im numb. Leaving this up to God and serendipity at this point.
I've been unemployed for nearly 5 months atm. I have a BS degree in Electrical Engineering that i got in september last year. I got my first real job after graduating in december and i stayed there til mid february. It was a PV field job and they wanted to lower my salary before probation ended because tl:dr they were kinda dicks that they accepted my counter offer at the interview. (It is no us salary so i wont mention it, i will just say the salary they accepted was let's say a little bit above any starting salary for the field in my country).
Since then i've been looking for a job that is also remote because i realised i was losing up to 2-2.5 hours of my day by commuting and preparing for the day. Had no real success, i started searching in other fields of engineering too, like telecommunications, qa, every job even entry/junior ask for too much req and exp and no success atm.
Also all the job offers i got from recruiters on LinkedIn so far are jobs that are not releated to my field and i dont want them, jobs that are paid way less, jobs are way below the grade i have and also some of them are too far away from where i stay and i would lose again 2-3 hours on commute.
And in the end every other interview i got (because these days i cant even get past screenings) they told me in the end the classic: you are too fresh/new in the field and dont know anything nearly so someone will have to stay near you and teach you. So i say we should go with X (a very low salary that even a cashier at a supermarket gets more or the same, or they offer a salary a little bit above that). Disgusting, disgraceful and made me sick of the capitalist world we live in.
Since i was like 18 i said to myself i want my own bussiness when i will grow up and i still want to do that in the future, but i can't with no experience and knowledge. How am i supposed to get all of these when people do things like this.
PS: for the people saying i should accept every shit job offer i get just to get experience, i would say i agree with you, but that is not why i busted my ass 4 years in faculty and another 2 now with a master. (Already 1 year passed, 1 more) I know all these papers mean nothing and dont guarantee success in life, but i wont accept to be shitted on like this.
Sadly, degrees are irrelevant without any experience. Being terminated after three months appears to be your only experience. Sometimes you really do need to take something that you think is below you to get that experience. A degree or two will show an employer you can finish something. Employers want someone with experience.
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4d
Unemployed since October 2023 and during my free time I've been working on starting a small business
yeah i am. i been unemployed since november. i mainly play video games and watch youtube. i don't get bored though because i was a homebody before i became unemployed. i have so many video games that i'm always entertained.
Unemployed a year now. Got laid off around the same time that I started a bootcamp for UX Design. Went all in on the bootcamp and didn't apply the first few months but had a little bit of money saved up. Now I finished the bootcamp, have some real world experience but having no luck at all finding a job in my field. Have applied to over 1000 jobs since January. Have a kid on the way now too so I started applying to anything and everything.
Coming to 2 years. Only started actively looking a year ago. Travelled a bunch. Got ghosted/rejected a bunch of times. Hopefully I get a job soon, most recent interview seemed promising.
Edit: To add on, I started gymming 1 year + ago and picked up skateboarding.
It's been 2 years for me. I'm doing odd jobs and applying to places. I got a certificate in data science in the mean time but also going back to school to get a degree I feel like most places want that. I'm trying to get into IT. I'll probably be good for now for another 3 months but I hope I find something soon
I've been unemployed for roughly two years now - but for context, I broke my pelvis in an accident in a foreign continent and then had to have a hip replacement. So it's a little different.
Honestly, I've rarely been bored. There's so much to do with life that doesn't cost anything as long as you have an internet connection. Catch up on shows or games you missed, take on projects you've missed. See friends, family, the library, or even just sleep in.
Admittedly my routine the past month or two has gotten poor and I'm spending too much time on internet message boards... I also can never play most sports again so that's a limiter. But I was suffering extreme burnout from work and I can't fathom why someone would rather be there than free, even given financial insecurity.
My husband is for a year now 🫤 from a Sr engineering to a debt of more than 40k and no light in the tunnel yet.
Unemployed for 8 months. I decided that if I can't acquire wealth at the moment, I can invest on my health. I have no excuse not to be active anymore since I have more time. If I can prevent any sickness that will burden my family financially in the future, might as well do it now. This also helps me mentally as I don't feel useless.
I was let go only 2 months into a job that I didn't care too much for but just wanted to do something and grow my savings. It took me 3.5 months to find that job and I thought heck I'll try to make it work but nope they didn't wanna even allow me to find my way into the role.
No regrets. I took a month long vacay abroad, 2 weeks after my last day and got back 2 weeks ago to restart the search again.
There are more roles than Q4 for sure but sure as heck can't even land an interview now compared to Q4.
Just told my husband "I hope all those companies that reject me despite my qualifications bleed cash, have their EBITA hover just above zero, and barely stay afloat. May their financial statements always be a constant source of frustration and disappointment." 🤣 I choose the petty life to entertain myself. Gotta keep sane in this market!!! 💅🏻
😏 Side note once you're employed and have these companies thirsting for you or your employer to be a client... Take back your power and boot them off as a potential vendor 😂
who ever created this system we live in clearly did a bad job...its important for the rich to have us work 9-5 so they have workers who can make them money for a salary.
Just graduated and doing a post graduate internship right now. I hope to land something more permanent in the future in a place I want to live.
Technically yes. If anyone needs something designed let me know.
about a year now i think but i'm planning to get my professional license soon. for now, i just hang out and spend my free days with a friend. couldn't be more happier than this.
Yep. 2 years. What free time? I'm trying to find a job with all of my time. Even with a masters in Computer Science and a bachelor's in philosophy and 12 years in my field, with Meta on the resume too. Cannot. Find. A. Job.
9 months.
I workout regularly, take walks daily (Min 10000 steps), reads, sends applications and obviously deal with depression and lack of contact (Single and unemployed is a hell of a combo).
However i do take this period of pain and depression as a signal that something needs to be done, rather than pretend it is not there, so i suck it up and it sucks, but that's life, ups and downs.
A lot of replies are unemployed, I know I will be fired soon. How do you all get by? My state’s unemployment is capped at like $350 a week or something, maybe less. That’s not even close to covering bills. Are people just maxing out credit cards or what? I’m afraid of becoming homeless.
A year and 7 months of unemployment in. I work in marketing tech, and i used to make 6 figures.
I got into personal finance and invested my savings on stocks and etf. So yes, ive got money, but i also ensured that im not spending frivolously on convenience like door dash and ubers.
I dont have a car, i dont have a pet/child/husband, i cook all my meals, and i am generally very healthy. I entertain myself with zero to 20 dollars if i do, and i try to keep a positive attitude.
It is rough. I do believe it will get better.
Best of luck to us!✨️
Since March, yes.
Quit my job end of April week of my bday I got suspended so I never went back, it was stupid choice as work was my only form of social interaction and it got me out of bed even tho I hated it, now I stay up all night sleep in stay in my apartment curtains closed and hate going out, hate crowded grocery stores, i hate being in crowds of people, it’s like I developed some agoraphobia, now I waste time on the inernet only good thing is my online classes even that I get lazy and do it last minute. Feel somewhat like a neat but I am taking classes idk why tho
It's been like 2 ½years now and lemme tell you it hasn't been very easy😪.every year I just think it's my year to financial stability but.....Sometimes you get those thoughts of if life at all makes sense cuz there are goals that I had set but till now no sign of that light at the end of the tunnel.i have been trying some freelancing eg writing, Transcription, name them,some you get paid others you don't.for now I am still looking for a job even if it's online to meet my day to day expenses.
1 year of being unemployed. I have a degree and I’m highly qualified for my age but sending application after application and not a single interview. I’m trying to pivot into a slightly different corporate career but I’m so close to giving up!
Yes and no! Around 5 years ago, 6 months before COVID-19. I started my own company because it seemed like the best time to do it. Right now, I don't have any active client because finding clients is still extremely hard despite all of the hearsay about how our economy is the envy of the world.
I think we found more clients, made more revenue, and made more profit in our first year compared to last 2 years combined.
We are not starving yet, but savings are melting away. I'm currently considering becoming an employee once again. But I doubt I will be able to land any job earlier than 6 months.
Currently coming up on 1 year of unemployment and after spending years in the workforce with great pay and benefits, it is quite a change. My husband works for minimum wage and we live in my brother’s basement. I am working on my mental and physical health. I am doing things for me and I am fortunate to be able to not panic too much but there is some guilt associated with not contributing financially. I am focusing on spending time with my family and seeing people I didn’t have time to visit before while I wait to hear back about applications or interviews. It is hard to stay positive after a year but I find having a social schedule instead of hiding is better for my mood. Good luck fellow job seekers!
Yes. Over a year. Cowarding in my room trying to hide from my live-in landlord who has npd. Letting the spiral of increasing social anxiety happen naturally. And applying to job after job, trying not to collapse with the auto decline responses or no responses at all.
Been unemployed for a month, and after everything I’ve been reading on Reddit I feel like I’m going to be unemployed forever lol. I’m just trying to live my best life while I’m out of work.
No but this job is testing my patience big time. I often think about quitting with despite not having a backup plan 💀💀💀
Unemployed since Jan 2023. Soooo 15 months now? 17ish yrs exp.
I took a break the first two months to be there for my twins, who turned 1 in March of that year. Didn't think I'd get unemployment benes (because technically i was a full-time contractor) but eventually applied anyway and actually started receiving unemployment checks! Turns out I was actually a w2 employee for the third party, but considered a contractor at the big company. Was given the wrong information at some point regarding unemployment benes.
I started applying/interviewing Mar 2023 all the way thru... Oct? Sometime midway thru last year I had picked up a contract that paid little but just barely was enough to keep me afloat, stopped applying to focus on the project til it wasn't renewed Apr 2024. Picked up a similar contract in June 2024, but now getting back into interviews and getting thru to final rounds, waiting for one that hits.
This entire time, i've been doing some major self-education and looking back at my skill set in Jan 2023, I'm much more confident in the SWE that I am now and prepared for the next role.
I've hung in there, racked up some nice CC debt, but i think i'm close to the finish line. I don't panic because I've been though this before and it's just how the tech industry is. Comes in waves. You just figure out how to stay afloat. In these moments I've never been interested in changing careers, this is what I want to do.
Unemployed for 6 years now. Since I came here in the USA. I became a SAHM and my husband decided that I would stay home and focus on our daughter until she starts in school. I always worry that I don't earn anything and cannot help our bills. I was a little excited that our daughter will start going to school this August and maybe it's time for me to find a part time job but then we decided to try having another one. If I get pregnant, it means I have to wait another 5 years again before I start thinking of a job. I'm turning 31.
I’ve been unemployed for 8 months. I have dreams of working but it’s a nightmare sometimes.
Kind of...I started pet sitting again and luckily am pretty busy. But, I dont have a "real" punch the clock job. After 6 months of being unemployed, I dont know if I can go back to having a boss. Maybe under the right circumstances.
Yes since mid May. Haven't started looking but need to soon
Industrial society and its consequences have been disastrous for the human race...
This is my 7th month.
I work out, house chores, cook, grocery shop, play video games, watch tv, read, weekends spent with family/friends.
I'm a casual worker and got cut to 3 hours a week, so I might as well be
No, but my job keeps having layoffs even with a record year of profits. I received no raise and I’m treated like crap. So I’m looking and I’m getting to final rounds often but no job offers yet.
No
I’ve been unemployed since March(4months). I’ve been able to pick up some hobby’s while studying for a certification. I have rediscovered my passion for music, cycling, and get to visit Hawaii for a week. Counting my blessings everyday. Hopefully i find something this fall, but enjoying the time to myself.
I’ve been unemployed since December 2020. Life threw me for a loop, I was in the military from 2013 to 2018 and was planning on staying in longer because why not but I ended up unexpectedly pregnant with twins who ended up being medically complex. Born very premature, they ended up being diagnosed with autism and adhd while still being toddlers. This made working really hard because daycares are rather discriminatory against children with special needs. I got out of the military on partial disability and have worked small dead end jobs here and there when I could but once my twins reached the age where daycares would no longer accept them because they weren’t potty trained it became impossible to find adequate childcare. I couldn’t afford to pay for sitters out of pocket and my parents and siblings still works full time. The pandemic really exacerbated that problem too. I’ve resigned to being a stay at home mom to them until they’re old enough to stay home by themselves. They’re 7 and my daughter is still in pull-ups due to a GI dysfunction so during the summers I have absolutely no childcare. Having special needs twins also means I rarely have free time to myself. I am thinking about going into teaching though, I know at least the breaks would line up with them being out of school as well. Haven’t applied yet but I will planning to come this fall.
I even suspect that my computer posted this question without telling me? Being idle all day looking for a job.
This is what a job market in a recession looks like, seems to me we are heading to harder times before things look any better. I hope you all the best and stay healthy and positive. Mental health is the most important and understand that a job will come, but your health won’t if you don’t take care of yourself. Blessings to you all!
Almost a year now. Went through various stages of panic, anxiety and then began to occupy my days and be productive. I picked up reading, working out more, dedicating time to walking, started therapy. It hasn't been the easiest journey but everyday brings me closer to the realisation that everything will work out the way it's meant to. I have a very supportive family, my daughter makes me laugh (and mad sometimes lol). The more you keep yourself occupied, the less time you have to panic. It doesn't wish the problem away but redirects your energy.
Yes going on 8 months
Got laid off on friday, without any warnings, after my contract extension for 3 months
It’s been a week since I was laid off. Was at the previous company for a little under a year (was promised a raise but got shafted the week it would of been a year) only got 1 week of severance and unemployment wouldn’t kick it under the severance was paid out.
So far had 2 phone interviews with 1 having a virtual interview and 1 rejection. Been applying everyday but there’s not much right now with my like of work (admin assistant).
While not applying I’ve been mainly trying to clean and downsize some stuff along with cooking and cleaning since husband still works. Our landlord just informed us they will be looking into selling the home we are renting next year in March so we have been occasionally looking for a home as well so trying to find a job before then will be tough.
I lost my job after 24 years then have had 5 retail jobs since within 4 years. I can’t bring myself to make a resume. I send my old one without the five jobs so it looks as if I haven’t worked in 4 years . I started then quit because I compared it to my prior job. I sit daily thinking about my old friends from work and I miss it so much it was my life. I think about the person who went out of their way to get me terminated and how her life is. I want bad things to happen to her. I have lost everything
Three months unemployed, applying for everything I can, getting interviews, no jobs. In my free time I go for walks for a few hours a day, I visit a work coach once or twice a week and I'm doing some education shit for new skills and qualifications so I can get higher paying jobs. I also play video games with my only 2 mates I've known all my life, for a few hours a week, I've recently been going fishing with them as well, I watch lots of movies, and I some times edit videos, and I'm my mothers gardener and window cleaner apparently. 🤣
Hitting 9 months now. Graduated back in October with a BBA from a top European school with a high class ranking. Had a 6-month internship at a big4 end exactly a year ago. Been leveraging multiple personal contact, temp agency, and referrals but all led to nothing. Fixed my resume a dozen times and had very few interviews I think I did well in and a ton of rejections. Have around 400+ applications out (I stopped counting after 100). It's depressing and humiliating. Feels like I went to college and worked hard for absolutely nothing.
Spending my free time staying fit, learning new skills (trading, technical softwares, programming languages, etc.), hanging out with friends, and trying to apply to at least 5 jobs a day. I'm tired boss...
I spend my free time trying to sell nudes and videos of me. I absolutely hate it but it helps me a lot ! It helps me get diapers and wipes and have money for gas, I can’t wait till I’m at a point in life where I don’t have to degrading things for money
I was unemployed for about 10 months. When I started interviewing, I got ghosted by a HR fool in a company who had expressed interest in moving the conversation forward. I hadn’t done any interviewing in about 15 years and I was shocked to say the least.
Well, jokes on you Millennial HR fool, I’m connected to your boss on LinkedIn. I messaged him, told him that if ghosting was an ok thing to do in his company, I would NEVER recommend his niche software product to my clients (his target audience) because I couldn’t be sure that they would have adequate customer service with his platform. I immediately got an apology email from him and then 3 hours later, one from the HR dumdum.
Ghost away, idiots. Just don’t be upset when there’s consequences. People are often emotionally vulnerable when looking for work. Why make people feel worse by interviewing them and then just leaving the candidates to twist in the wind with no response.
Not employed by any government and I mainly work in cash. Society and my mom still call me jobless tho. Those silly delusional people. 😅
Yep, laid off in a company purge at the end of May. Currently I'm upskilling my skills and programs to stand a better chance.
For anyone interested, I'm upskilling via Coursera and Udemy. Both offer free full length classes that you can learn at your own pace, earn transferable degree credits (some courses), and from both major and minor learning institutions.
I'm also learning conversational Spanish, eventually Corporate Spanish, and I have Italian and German on the list as well.
Besides that, just watching reruns of Fraizer and Big Bang Theory while dreading what's going on in government right now. And applying at everything that's WFH and pays well enough.
Just graduated with finance degree in May. Been applying to 10ish jobs a day. Only 2 interviews. One rejected me and one wanted to hire but didn’t want to pay me for three months while training. Otherwise all ghosts or rejections. My dad was an executive at a Fortune 500 company before retiring and tweaked my resume with me so I doubt there’s anything super wrong with it. Shits tough rn unless your resume is wildly impressive.
Honestly outside of the 2-3 times a day 5 minute stress sessions about my future or when people ask me about it, the time off has felt like a blessing. I am very happy 90% of the time.
I’ve been aggressively applying to places and just waiting for a response. Yeah I’ve been unemployed since 2022 only doing odd jobs to get by
Yes, I worry and frantically search online for jobs
About to hit 8 months of being unemployed. Have major anxiety about not landing jobs due to now having a resume gap. I had a lot happen in my life before I quit causing me to quit, and a lot happen after I quit preventing me to apply for jobs.
But, i’m spending my free time working out, reading, and taking online courses to hopefully land me a good job.
Have you considered endless existential dread as a hobby?
Walked off the job yesterday after 1 month of dealing with a narcissistic, misogynistic, toxic boss. Before that I was unemployed for 3 weeks, worked for 8 weeks before that and laid off, then almost 3 years at a startup before that. I'm a senior with 25 years' experience so it's not as easy as it used to be. Agism is real and rampant. It's been a bumpy 6 months. With my side gig and unemployment and tightening my spending I'll make it until I find something I really want to do. In my spare time I flip thrift store finds, restore furniture found on the curb and in the trash. I write, I read, I enjoy spending time with my pup, feeding the ducks and birds and help people organize and pack / downsize (for $$$). I made $50 today selling stuff I got for free. More than anything I just want to do my side gigs and build my own business.
Reading reddit.... Been out of work since February. Applied for over 400 roles.
I graduated 2022, couldn’t find a job and was jobless for over a year before I decided to apply for a MBA program. Currently just studying full time and hope I’ll get a better job but people aren’t willing to hire someone with no experience so it’s rough,
Yes, I am unemployed. I used to run my friend’s (and I use the word friend very loosely) comic shop until March 2019 when he decided to recoup his losses and poor money making decisions by holding a contest to “give away” his shop. He didn’t tell me about it, I found out from the internet and I certainly didn’t come with the shop. He collected the contestants money and then turned around and gave the shop to a friend who gave it to a friend who couldn’t make the shop survive the pandemic (not his fault). I decided to give the housewife life a try until 2020 when my husband lost his job. In 2021 his severance ran out and he finally found a job. Because of this crazy inflation and whatnot I was forced to try and find a job. Despite having a BA in psychology, most of my experience is in retail and retail management, but I’d honestly take anything at that/this point. I got hired by Guillermo at the Shoe Carnival in Woodridge, IL and then completely ghosted. I have not been able to find a job since. I literally celebrated when I thought I had the job. My husband and I got take out from one of my favorite places and bought some beer and whiskey and went home to celebrate. I didn’t really have the money for all that but I figured I was going to be making money soon so who cares. I am older (40) and have never been ghosted by a job before (or anyone for that matter), but I’ve learned my lesson and will not be celebrating a job until I’ve been there for at least a year…if I ever get one that is. Wow, that’s a load off. Thanks for letting me vent.
Yup. 5 months so far. It’s horrific. I’m about to run out of unemployment.
It's been 6 months since I've lost my job, still looking for a job at the moment
Two years since my last job. Been taking courses for credit towards a BA, recently completed a draft of a novel, in three different book clubs, lost 50lbs, started dating my boyfriend… and just enjoying life
Unemployed since I graduated 1 year ago with a degree in math-cs (basically the degrees merged)
Someone please hire me I'm not going to make it much longer
Today marks my 1 year of being unemployed. In my free time I have anxiety and panic attacks worrying about my future and questioning about my life decisions.