Its interesting to note I wasn't in tech in 2004, so I went back and started digging around because I honestly don't remember much about that year. I do remembe

Its interesting to note I wasn't in tech in 2004, so I went back and started digging around because I honestly don't remember much about that year. I do remember vividly the first dot com bust in 00'-01', but 2004 is kind of a weird year. Comparing what 20024 feels like compared to 2004 (what I've read), the times are very similar. Lots of contracting. Lots of layoffs and waiting to see if the economy gets better. Lots of companies tightening their belts and right now? I'm not getting nearly the interest from recruiters I did even a few years ago. The few interviews I have taken, the process has become increasingly more complex. It used to be two, maybe three interviews. One screen, one technical and one onsite for "cultural" fit. Now? I just had a company tell me the have SEVEN stages of interviews, including two all day interviews on site. I have no idea why its gotten this crazy, but here we are. An article from CNN at the beginning of 2004: https://money.cnn.com/2004/02/09/news/economy/jobs_model/index.htm https://money.cnn.com/2004/02/09/news/economy/jobs_model/ind... Confounded by sluggish job growth, some economists are starting to suggest that underlying changes in the labor market -- including globalization -- mean it may be time to throw out the old forecasting models. If they're wrong, then the current labor market could look a lot like that of the early 1990s -- a "jobless recovery" followed by a job boom. If they're right, then the next job boom could be a long time coming. The final quote is kind of interesting considering we're 20 years on from 2004: "The United States has long drawn comfort from the quality differential of its educational system," Roach wrote. "However, in the Internet Age with its ubiquitous diffusion of knowledge, innovation, and technological change, that may turn out to be an increasingly false sense of security."