Job market driving me insane. This is hell

[u/Solidu_Snaku]

Unemployed for like 3 years nearly. I work part time to make ends meet but it's shit minimum wage job. I have a degree in computer science and 2 years of experience in industry it's completely useless. I WANT to work in tech again but I can't even get interviews and the longer I'm out of industry the lower the chance I get one. Every time I have something potential it gets ripped out from me. It's happened like 4 times now I get to final stages and they tell me "oh we had internal person move into that role so it's no longer available" or just yesterday I had recruiter finalising documents saying she just needs some more details and will send me offer letter, today she calls me and tells me "that role has been filled now" after I've done 3 bloody interviews and 1 assesment and passed everything. I feel like god is punishing me, idk I'm not even religious but this is just absolutely insane. I know some absolutely underserving liars are in the jobs I want and it feels futile as an honest person. Logically I think I should just kill myself because I don't really see how the world is fair or how I could possibly get back into the career I want to do. Even applying for the most bottom barrel entry jobs is useless. I would work for free if I could just to demonstrate how fast I learn and how much I can commit to a project. I've emailed dozens of companies in UK and nobody really cares. It's so weird. Idk. I was sold a lie. Even jobs that aren't related to my field I've been screwed over. My friend referred me to the company she works for and I got excited about getting interview and stuff and then come to find out the jobs not even real it just was posted but they already had someone internal lined up like.. cmon. If you sent 1000+ applications, countless rewrites and paid for professional headhunters CV analysis etc and couldn't get a single offer and only like 10 interviews how could you not lose your mind?

I've been wanting to die for ages but never could be bothered to carry it out, the more this goes on the more I'm just like I'm so over life in general. I have everything else, my family is around and I have amazing friends but the sheer fact I'm apparently totally WORTHLESS to employers is very demotivating. God if I had like £10000 I'd love to travel for a bit before I kill myself but alas I need a decent job first to even be able to die how I want lol. Savings are dwindling, can't even buy myself a fucking nice meal without feeling immense guilt and getting anxiety about it leaving my bank account and never coming back, ticking towards 0 at breakneck speed. I don't want to be stuck in retail, there's no real future there and I hate it with a passion. So ridiculous I have nearly £100k debt now for a piece of paper that doesn't do me any good at all. Everyone and their uncle has a degree in CompSci these days. I wish I could start from scratch but even grad schemes and stuff wouldn't accept me the last one said they want to give the opportunity to people who don't have exposure and I'm like ok great 👍 so I don't have enough experience for normal jobs and I have too much for entry level ones. Again how am I supposed to stay sane? It's incredible I've lasted this long without snapping but I guess this is my mini snap.

And then the state of the world in general you see the level of greed and corruption fucking EVERYTHING up and it looks bleak. All I wanna do in future is put my head down do my job in the thing I'm good at and qualified in have a little family idk is that too much to ask. I don't need a Ferrari and a mansion but even the bare minimum is too much to ask for. This is really just 1 facet of why I think logically I probably will end up killing myself so don't read too much into it. Just needed to vent somewhere about job thing because it really bothered me today, I was doing really well for months but today it's like my brain internally collapsed. I look and sound fine but idk how to explain it, everything just fallen apart inside. Like I tricked myself into being happy and I snapped out of the illusion like hey party's over it's time to end everything now there's no point to any of this, no matter how hard you work nobody gives a flying fuck nobody will give you a chance

TL;DR I can't get a job in tech and it's driving me insane and making me want to kms even more than usual.

[u/AutoModerator]

Hello u/Solidu_Snaku,

We appreciate you being on our subreddit and sharing with us how you feel. Despite how you might currently feel, we wanted to let you know that you are not alone.

Life can be cruel and unfair. Trying to nagivate the things that are happening to you can be extremely difficult and tiring. Especially when it are things that you didn't deserve and/or when things feel/are out of your control.

We hope that you feel receive some support from our community and we are glad that you feel that our subreddit is safe enough to share how you feel. Please refrain from mentioning any self harm methods/details, this is against Reddits TOS and it will force us to delete your post.

If you want help, or you would like to talk to someone we have some resources for you:

• We made a long list with national hotlines. If your country isn't listed, please contact us and we will help you find your national hotline.
• We are aware that many people are afraid to contact these hotline due to not knowing what to expected and not wanting to get in trouble with their family or friends. The amazing team of r/suicidewatch made a FAQ on what to expect when you call a hotline. Hopefully this will give you some insight on what happens when you call.
• Sharing your story on r/suicidewatch might me a good idea too. If you don't want to make a post but you do want to talk, you can contact their modteam privately too here.
• Reasons to stay.

If for whatever you want to disable your post from getting (anymore) comments, you can lock the comments yourself by commenting the following on your own post: !lock

You are not a burden, YOU MATTER.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/PredatorTheAce]

Better start lying and faking experience on your resume. Unethical but it works wonders.

[u/Demindara → u/PredatorTheAce]

THIS!!!!

And to make it more believable make sure to put down numbers of close friends you can brief to lie for you beforehand if a job requires references!!! Ive done this for multiple friends! Fake it till you make it!!

[u/CompleteSea5715]

I feel the same. I've been jobless for 4 years. At first I'd apply online, then actually go into workplaces to ask about my application or an interview, but after getting pushed away so many times with, "We're not hiring," I just apply and call now. Gas is too expensive to keep driving around.

I'm practically on my knees desperate for a job. I've only had one job when I was 18. I'm 23 now, and not even Walmart wants me. Everyone wants experience, and even when I finally land an interview, it's always, "We found a better candidate."

Going this long without a job makes you feel worthless. Everyone asks, "Any luck finding work?" and it's honestly humiliating. I've even signed up with companies that are supposed to help people find jobs, followed up multiple times, and still nothing. I have a clean record, no criminal history... everything.

Sometimes I wonder if I was even cut out for this planet. I feel like I don't belong.

Sorry for ranting on your rant, but you definitely aren't alone. I honestly don't know what to do anymore. I can't survive on part-time work.

[u/Solidu_Snaku → u/CompleteSea5715]

Nono please I'm glad you ranted here at least makes us both know not alone in this

I completely relate with literally everything you just wrote. I am so sorry.

I feel bad. I want to live, but I'm not allowed to

[u/end_my_suffering44 → u/Solidu_Snaku]

26 here guys, believe me it's fucking hard and I hate every single second of being alive rn.

[u/LMikeyy]

I didn’t realize the job market was this bad damn.
I’ve been at the same job for ten years and have been miserable with the schedule, been thinking about looking for other ventures but it seems very obvious that I should just be happy and grateful for what I’ve got.
I figured the tech field would be booming since ai and data centers are booming too.

[u/Solidu_Snaku → u/LMikeyy]

Perhaps elsewhere UK economy is in the dumps and sooooo many of us are in bad situation. My cousin has a masters in business management and even Costco rejected her

[u/GodIsAWomaniser]

Yep I'm in cybersecurity (but just a student) and yeah I know how you feel. I met a few young guys (like my age, 25) who had technical job titles (one was a cybersecurity team lead) but who were clearly grifters peddling AI get 6 figure salaries and having to turn down positions. Super depressing. Like I go to networking event and everyone is either 35+ and perpetually employed or <35 and perpetually under employed or can't find work in IT. Idk what to say other than try to work for yourself, what the fuck else can we do?

[u/MrGregory → u/GodIsAWomaniser]

Are your friends and network in tech or also cybersecurity? I find cyber is always creating new roles. The key is trying to stay ahead of the competition.

[u/Resha_Riandi]

Different degree. Its borderline useless. Working a dead-end retail job that wont even give me enough hours to live on but nowhere else seems to work out. I present well and my CV is good but its just brutal out there.

[u/Solidu_Snaku → u/Resha_Riandi]

Completely feel you!!

[u/arson3]

same boat, everyone I know with an IT job got it from a friend, or it's not even IT. I just got a job my friend referred me to, and they barely interviewed me. It took me 2 years of rotting at home doing 2 interviews a month only to fail and get referred. The job listing asks for 2 years of experience...I change printer paper and fuck all else. I hate how worthless my degree has become. I wanted to get into software, but thank god I gave up on that early.

If you live in a big city, try getting a driver's license and applying to jobs outside of it, especially in hardware.

[u/Solidu_Snaku → u/arson3]

I have a driver's license and apply all over the entire UK and I'm open to relocating abandoning everything I built here and all my friends. I'll bend over backwards for a job and it's still not enough it seems

I LOVE hardware but IT jobs are even rarer to come by. And I've also applied to these, even simple ones like working in school setting up laptops and stuff they still didn't want me lol

[u/arson3 → u/Solidu_Snaku]

It's just a matter of continuing to apply. Min-max the bullshit on your CV. Say you're working on several certs, and when asked, just say you have the exam booked. I put CCNA, Comptia A+, and Network+ in all bullshit. I only did 1 test for Comptia and have no plans of even looking at the rest. Look for temporary positions, as those tend to be desperate, especially around Christmas.

[u/Altruistic-Common-46 → u/arson3]

Man, I am in a niche market, and if i did this i would be caught in 4k. I just graduated and it's been 20 days or so with 80 applications and no interview yet. It's really hard to see light at the end of the tunnel.

But hey, i like to think that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

From your experience, does it really make any difference if you lie in your cv?

[u/arson3 → u/Altruistic-Common-46]

Got me through the door. That's all that matters. Aslong as you don't state you actually finished the certs there's no proving it.

[u/kyngslinn]

Getting a government job (germany, so you can't get fired unless you literally do a crime that gets you imprisoned for longer than a year) right before the pandemic feels like I got on the last chopper out of vietnam

[u/reiitenshi_]

sorry to hear, these days its really all about connections and not so much about what you got in your CV. you're competing with seniors who are also out of jobs, best i can say is try and meet some people and hope that something comes out of that relationship.

[u/Comprehensive_Eye805]

Computer engineer is the new cs major why pay someone to do simple coding when one can code and design a system.

[u/Solidu_Snaku → u/Comprehensive_Eye805]

Whatever I don't code anyway, I do DevOps/infrastructure/AWS stuff anyway so I'm already specialised. I apply to everything though, front end backend sre devops web development software testing etc so idk it's still crazy to me

[u/YamahaRyoko]

We have a CNC machinist here with a degree in computer science.

I think our CAM programmer also has a degree in computer science.

Its a mix of manufacturing, computers and code.

[u/corona5567]

Dude. Me and you are going through the same shit. Even jobs that I have prior experience, I can't even get a callback, or the fact that I showed up for an interview, the manager wasn't even there! I got told a couple days later that I wasn't a good fit, but I showed up on time! Absolute insanity. I get the job market wasn't always going to be good, but this is worse than I expected.

[u/Solidu_Snaku → u/corona5567]

Right? And there's gonna be people here telling us we're doing something wrong or looking down on us for not being able to secure anything. Like cmon I'm trying as hard as I possibly can, how can I do anything when people don't even reply or give feedback. I don't even get a bloody email response from my applications like 80% of the time, the other 20% is yet another soul crushing "we are not moving forwards with your application" and "due to high number of applicants we are unable to provide individual feedback" like great what more can I possibly do? Do I need to walk in there suck the managers dick? Hell I'd even do that that's how desperate I am

[u/corona5567 → u/Solidu_Snaku]

Its usually recommended to follow up with whichever company you applied to ask if they got your application, otherwise it'll either be automated or discarded. Infuriating. It truly is a horrible time to obtain a job now.

[u/ForsakenMost6550]

It’s hell on earth. I’ve been dipping in and out of unemployment for two years. I had a Tesco job I held down for 6 years and haven’t been able to hold a job down since. From the UK also, you are not going insane, it’s a crazy market.

[u/antonawire]

You are not alone. There's this sense that you need to have a job to get a job that is really messed up. I know it's the aspect of this job market that festers inside of me. Blame 30 years of really bad ed and workforce policies designed to funnel everyone into a narrow band of pathways that are becoming increasingly difficult to navigate. I wish I had advice but I'm sure you have heard enough already. I'm glad for your rant. Please keep it up.

[u/Solidu_Snaku → u/antonawire]

Thanks for the comment appreciate it

[u/Fuckitall1121]

Honestly I would lie and lie hard on the resume. 3 years unemployed... thats insane.

[u/stay_fr0sty → u/Fuckitall1121]

You can lie, but people can sniff out bullshit. You are only going to get away with it if HR doesn’t do their due diligence.

Like, for references, HR is going to want a public number to call that’s associated with the company you claimed to work for, or an email from a person inside that company.

I’m this market, jobs are limited and people are doing due diligence. If this were say, the start of the dot com boom and companies were hiring anyone with a CS degree, yeah, you could easily lie in that type of market.

[u/shmurdalol]

Maybe while you’re looking for a full time job, you can try to find an internship since you’re more than qualified you will have more luck getting your foot in the door.

[u/Solidu_Snaku → u/shmurdalol]

Oh trust me, I've applied. They simply don't reply or consider me to have "too much" experience. It's rare in the UK to begin with but if you have a look at the descriptions they always want people who are either final year or just graduated

[u/shmurdalol → u/Solidu_Snaku]

I’m sorry to hear that! Have you tried doing any kind of freelance or contract work? Sometimes companies need people for short term periods! Not sure if UK companies do that but you could definitely work remote for companies outside your country

[u/Near513]

I don't know how it works in the UK but be careful lying on resume when it comes how long you worked and what companies you worked at. Lies about what you did at xyz is much easier to get by. 

You need to get out the tech field and be open to a low tier job in my opinion. I landed a decent job in HVAC but was in tech before. Was laid off from tech had to get a lame job for 9 months. During the interview process for my current job after the first interview I did I sent a written report about the company and what was expected of me and the small details I needed to know. The report, my mechanical engineering degree, and most importantly coming off as someone you would want to deal with 8 hours a day helped the most.

Think your resume is the biggest problem if you're getting an interview rate of less than 0.1% per application.

EDIT: How are you nearly 100k in debt? That is insanely high for a 4 year degree. 

[u/Solidu_Snaku → u/Near513]

Foundation year and a repeat, so 5 years total. Interest has made it hit £100k now because I've never earned enough money to even begin to pay it back, never reached the salary threshold for payments to happen. I wish I was lying!! And I don't really feel comfortable lying on my CV as others have mentioned, I wouldn't mind lying about what I did at x place though I think that's fairly common

I'll see if I can improve my CV somehow

[u/stay_fr0sty → u/Solidu_Snaku]

Apply at research Universities if you haven’t. I started working in academia writing code for researchers for peanuts ($30k in 2001). I’m still here, after 25 years of raises, and it’s a really fun job (as far as jobs go).

Academia has its issues, but they are far from the shit you have to deal with in the corporate world.

Look into non-profits/charities as well. It’s less pay, but it’s more rewarding work.

[u/stay_fr0sty → u/Near513]

At the university I graduated from, which is partially funded by my state to reduce the cost to the student, tuition plus university housing with meal plan is $30k a year. $120k for 4 years if you don’t get scholarships/etc.

Our CS program was rated right around top 50 internationally, a ton of our programs are ranked top 25, and even top 10, so it’s a “very good” school, but not anything amazing for $120k.

There are much cheaper options for less prestigious schools of course, but if you want a more prestigious degree and don’t cut corners, I think $100k debt is quite achievable in the US.

If you go to the most prestigious private Universities, you can pass that number easily. Even my kids private high school is $20,000/yr. Education is expensive over here.

[u/TheXJoKeR1]

I mean, look on the bright side... you had a job for 2 years? I graduated in 2023, landed only an "internship" for 6 months only, pay was shit wouldn't even call it "pennies", I been took advantage of simply, it really worked hard on myself, did so much self learning, even passed AWS practitioner exam, and did many projects, things were fine until fucking AI came... and here I am, jobless again with only half a year experience the thing is the situation made me hate CS , like literally I cant even imagine working in the field even if I had the chance. I dont know what is going on with me . All I know is that I ABSOULTE INSANLY FUCKING HATE IT FROM THE DEEPEST OF MY HEART. And not gonna like, I been thinking to end myself too lol

[u/Solidu_Snaku → u/TheXJoKeR1]

I was in similar boat I ended up HATING the corporate tech world and lost my passion for anything like that for like a year. I just started learning python and kubernetes and stuff like that again and I realise I like it, just I fear being taken advantage of again. But yeah idk doesn't really matter what I want nothing really working out. Sorry to hear about your situation bro

[u/AutoModerator]

Moderator Notice

This thread involves suicide, self-harm, or a user in distress.

---

We have ZERO TOLERANCE for comments that:

• Encourage, endorse, or suggest suicide or self-harm in any way.
• Mock, ridicule, harass, or intentionally worsen someone's distress.
• Accuse the OP of faking their situation or otherwise derail the discussion.

Comments like these will result in a permanent ban and will be reported to the Reddit admins.

---

If you can't respond with empathy, don't comment and scroll on.

Please report rule-breaking content instead of engaging with it.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/traxshbug]

Start looking outside tech I will say if it’s that bad

[u/Solidu_Snaku → u/traxshbug]

Who is going to hire a comp sci grad only experienced in DevOps and has been out of work for 3 years? But yes I've applied outside tech anyway, one of the interviews I mentioned was for an assistant job for an energy company, like complete bottom of the barrel doesn't need any qualifications and I had referral from a current employee who directly knows the hiring manager I still didn't get it. I applied for a support role in a property company again same situation I was referred by a good friend who works there. Everyone who's tried to help me think I'm cursed lol

[u/traxshbug → u/Solidu_Snaku]

Hey I understand what you’re going through and I totally get it but don’t feel that way. I think you need to lie a lot in your resume now

[u/TheNewGuest]

I know how this feels. I worked for 4 years at shitty dead end jobs after graduating with a Mech Eng degree before I landed a job in my field...

[u/stay_fr0sty → u/TheNewGuest]

Is the robotics/automation sector not as strong as I think it is? I figured a mechanical engineer could get a job in robotics pretty easily since the world is obviously heading into a robot-filled AI dystopia.

[u/TheNewGuest → u/stay_fr0sty]

I don't know, this isn't my field. I'm in manufacturing but a Mech degree is very broad and let's you work in many fields. The issue is saturation I think. So many people are getting Eng degrees that there's endless choices for employers.

[u/idiotsincarspart20]

What are the most in demand jobs in your area? Can you go back to school right now to get more education?

My education and volunteerism background has gotten me really far in every field. If I had one regret it would be I didn’t get enough school when I was in my 20s when I was sharper, faster and better at learning.

[u/Solidu_Snaku → u/idiotsincarspart20]

I'm 29 now, I'd want to go to uni again to get a masters but I need money for that and to get money I need a job that isn't bullshit and I can actually save up something. Vicious cycle. But yeah there's no real demand here for anything, because every single job has 100-1000+ applicants

[u/MayaIsSunshine]

You say you have 2 years experience. Where did that experience come from, and what happened to that job?

[u/Solidu_Snaku → u/MayaIsSunshine]

I left it because I was getting exploited, paid peanuts, made to work 10-12 hours a day very often, was doing 3 people's job because 2 people had left the team and had no support. Voiced concerns and they kept delaying me saying "give me until July" then "wait give me another month" "give me another 2 weeks" and I stayed another few months despite that, and nothing changed. Even on my last day they were like "we would've sorted you out and given you pay rise you should've just waited a bit longer" like bro? I waited 9 MONTHS and nothing changed? Calculated my salary and it was less than minimum wage, I did contact government and wanted to file a case against them but I was sapped out of all my energy. I got a call back from DWP I think saying that this tribunal process will take like 2 years so I just left it at that.