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It’s no easier as a later career tech veteran - been laid off for over 6 months now and hundreds of job applications with a total of 3 interviews so far which h

It’s no easier as a later career tech veteran - been laid off for over 6 months now and hundreds of job applications with a total of 3 interviews so far which have led nowhere - I’m running out of unemployment next month I’ve got 20 years in tech: web, mobile, cloud and early in my career I won a NASA medal for software innovation - worked in dozens of industries and led teams of 40 people for MM$$ flagship applications Tried my network but nothing so far and its been really frustrating

haolez 3y ago
How's your salary ask evolving under these conditions?
- wakawaka28 3y ago
  If he got 3 interviews off of hundreds of applications, he probably isn't having a lot of opportunity to revise his salary requirements. Unless it's just absurdly high, that probably isn't the issue keeping him unemployed.
- Gigachad 3y ago
  This is the problem mostly from what I can tell. As a senior dev, if you applied for jobs at the same pay as a junior you’d probably be hired in an instant.
  - wavemode 3y ago
    If I got laid off today, I'd use this to my advantage. Just apply for and work for two lower-paying jobs at the same time, cumulating in a high total comp.
  - MattPalmer1086 3y ago
    Actually it might raise red flags. Overqualified for a junior role, won't stay in the position at that level.
mikeywazowski 3y ago
I have ~10 years' experience and am finding the same. It's reassuring to know that I'm not alone (so presumably it's not just because I'm a terrible developer), but disheartening at the same time because who knows when things will improve? I'm in an ok situation financially (no mortgage, earning a little bit doing AI training) so have the freedom to develop a couple apps of my own. This is something I've wanted to do for ages, but they're a long way from making any kind of money. I can't complain but I'd really rather have a stable income at this stage.
- pluc 3y ago
  20 yrs here, going on my 2nd month. 300+ applications, about 1% return. I tell myself that after 6 months, I'll sell my house and buy a farm or travel for a few months or something. I can't imagine how many qualified people the market is losing to this line of thinking.
salah7252 3y ago
I’m on month 19…
- dkh 3y ago
  I feel you. 18 for me, with the axe falling riiight after I got married. Wedding was expensive, savings have long been dry. Only afloat because the wife has a job in TV. But of course during those months of Hollywood strikes, both of us were unemployed lol It sucks but now but it won't be forever
  - salah7252 3y ago
    Head up! Sadly I can’t even get a local job due to being overqualified and can’t get a tech job cause I’m a junior haha:(
  - salah7252 3y ago
    Also Ty for replying..feels good to know I’m not alone in length. It can get deflating. Congrats on getting married though! It’s why I’m trying to find a job haha.
    - dkh 3y ago
      We're all in it together, this won't last forever. And yeah! Honestly it took a while for me to propose because we were having financial difficulties at the time, too, and I wanted to do things right. But even with hindsight, if I had known I would've run out of money after the wedding, I wouldn't have done anything differently at all. It was an amazing day and worth it all. Do whatever you can to make that day exactly what you want, there is no other feeling like it. Best of luck to you
anotherhue 3y ago
Ping me (details in profile)
dangsoulview 3y ago
Remote only?
brlewis 3y ago
Don't give up on your network. For applying cold, have you tuned your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems? I am starting a new job in April with a company that contacted me via LinkedIn in December.
fpsvogel 3y ago
Author here. I'm sorry to hear that. I've heard similar struggles from other experienced folks, and I get the impression that companies have been less eager to hire for upper-level positions such as staff or architect, relative to plain senior roles. I've added a note near the top of my post clarifying that the "early-career" of the title is only because I'm speaking from my own experience.

haolez 3y ago

How's your salary ask evolving under these conditions?

wakawaka28 3y ago
If he got 3 interviews off of hundreds of applications, he probably isn't having a lot of opportunity to revise his salary requirements. Unless it's just absurdly high, that probably isn't the issue keeping him unemployed.
Gigachad 3y ago
This is the problem mostly from what I can tell. As a senior dev, if you applied for jobs at the same pay as a junior you’d probably be hired in an instant.
- wavemode 3y ago
  If I got laid off today, I'd use this to my advantage. Just apply for and work for two lower-paying jobs at the same time, cumulating in a high total comp.
- MattPalmer1086 3y ago
  Actually it might raise red flags. Overqualified for a junior role, won't stay in the position at that level.

mikeywazowski 3y ago

I have ~10 years' experience and am finding the same. It's reassuring to know that I'm not alone (so presumably it's not just because I'm a terrible developer), but disheartening at the same time because who knows when things will improve? I'm in an ok situation financially (no mortgage, earning a little bit doing AI training) so have the freedom to develop a couple apps of my own. This is something I've wanted to do for ages, but they're a long way from making any kind of money. I can't complain but I'd really rather have a stable income at this stage.

pluc 3y ago
20 yrs here, going on my 2nd month. 300+ applications, about 1% return. I tell myself that after 6 months, I'll sell my house and buy a farm or travel for a few months or something. I can't imagine how many qualified people the market is losing to this line of thinking.

salah7252 3y ago

I’m on month 19…

dkh 3y ago
I feel you. 18 for me, with the axe falling riiight after I got married. Wedding was expensive, savings have long been dry. Only afloat because the wife has a job in TV. But of course during those months of Hollywood strikes, both of us were unemployed lol It sucks but now but it won't be forever
- salah7252 3y ago
  Head up! Sadly I can’t even get a local job due to being overqualified and can’t get a tech job cause I’m a junior haha:(
- salah7252 3y ago
  Also Ty for replying..feels good to know I’m not alone in length. It can get deflating. Congrats on getting married though! It’s why I’m trying to find a job haha.
  - dkh 3y ago
    We're all in it together, this won't last forever. And yeah! Honestly it took a while for me to propose because we were having financial difficulties at the time, too, and I wanted to do things right. But even with hindsight, if I had known I would've run out of money after the wedding, I wouldn't have done anything differently at all. It was an amazing day and worth it all. Do whatever you can to make that day exactly what you want, there is no other feeling like it. Best of luck to you

anotherhue 3y ago

Ping me (details in profile)

dangsoulview 3y ago

Remote only?

brlewis 3y ago

Don't give up on your network. For applying cold, have you tuned your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems? I am starting a new job in April with a company that contacted me via LinkedIn in December.

fpsvogel 3y ago

Author here. I'm sorry to hear that. I've heard similar struggles from other experienced folks, and I get the impression that companies have been less eager to hire for upper-level positions such as staff or architect, relative to plain senior roles. I've added a note near the top of my post clarifying that the "early-career" of the title is only because I'm speaking from my own experience.