HACKER Q&A
📣 rcshubhadeep

Dev with 19y experience. I am having hard time to find a job


I have recently been laid off. I have been single handed developed the entire AI / LLM / DS of the last company. I have been working for more than 19 years now. This is the first time I am feeling afraid. Looking at the little chances I am getting. I have always managed to get jobs. I started companies, raised funds. Did a lot of different things. I am completely technical and I am a very strong IC.

Is it because the Job Market is bad? Or is it because I am looking for remote work? I fail to understand the the present trend of "on-site" jobs. I am guessing employers had bad experience in COVID time and wants to get back to the normal setting again.

I am not sure what it is, but I am struggling to get past the first call. First time in my life. Worried about my family. kids... So was wondering if the general situation is really that bad.

  👤 AnimalMuppet Accepted Answer ✓
The world is different when you have more than 10 years of experience. You probably want to get paid for that experience, not just paid like someone with, say, 5 years. That means that you have to find an employer that sees the value that the extra experience brings. That is not every employer.

So this takes longer than it did when you were more junior. Some doors are closed just because you're more experienced, and therefore more expensive.

I suspect - but do not know - that of the places that see value in that experience, a higher percentage of them want you in the office, not remote.

👤 tlack
I have read a lot of reports that the job market is pretty bad.

But, bad or good, I think all you can really do is keep trying! Don't let a few rejections stymie your long term goals. Your family needs you to keep putting one foot in front of the other and applying to more and more places until you find that perfect role.

Maybe use this downtime to build yourself up: open source some stuff that defines you as a subject matter expert, or blog about some of your experiences, etc.

Wouldn't hurt to share your resume here too - lotta industry people lurking. :)

👤 ytNumbers
It is because you are looking for remote work. Drop that, and you'll quickly succeed. Linked In reports that remote jobs get double the number of applicants. I'd say most people have no idea how much harder it is to land a remote job.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lindsaykohler/2024/04/02/fully-...

👤 RGamma
Been laid off by Spotted Zebra? If so, I think they may be taunting you because they have a remote junior AI engineer role open. "Skills-gap crisis" my ass.
👤 jarsin
From what I hear it sounds bad, but imo we are nowhere near as bad as 2008 and dotcom crash. I landed jobs in those markets by taking the initiative way up and beyond just applying. I called and talked to people at the company, and I even walked into companies and introduced myself without an appointment. Probably get arrested for that now, though.

If you're really worried I would drop the remote requirement.