This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Gautam Dev, a 61-year-old job seeker in Dallas. He previously worked as a software engineer before resigning in 2024. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
In 2024, while working as a software engineer for an IT company in Dallas, I was told I’d have to relocate to another state to keep my job.
That September, I decided to quit my job, stay in Dallas, and look for a new role. That decision became a disaster.
I didn’t realize how difficult finding another job would be
I’d worked in the IT industry for more than two decades and had gaps of a few months between jobs before, but I was always able to find another one.
This time has been completely different. I never expected to still be without full-time work nearly two years later.
After I resigned, I didn’t immediately start seriously searching for another job, but I soon began applying, mostly to jobs through LinkedIn.
I also tried networking, but it wasn’t much help. Most of the people I talked to said their companies weren’t hiring. Some told me their jobs had gotten tougher, but that they were afraid to quit because they might not find another one.
Still, I’ve managed to land some interviews over the course of my search, including multiple with the same company. I thought some went well, but I never received an offer.
I thought my significant experience in the IT industry would help me find a job. However, I think being in my 60s could be working against me. And after being out of work for so long, I also think the employment gap is making things even more difficult.
It seems like AI can do some of the things software engineers used to do manually. I’ve seen job postings for AI engineering positions, but I don’t have much of an AI background, so I’m not sure they’re a good fit.
Between my age, the long gap, and the state of the IT industry, my expectations for finding another job have fallen.
Jacob Zinkula writes about how workers in tech and other industries are navigating their careers. Share your story with him by filling out this form, emailing him, or reaching out via Signal at jzinkula.29. Follow his work by clicking here.
I’ve largely stopped applying for jobs
For a while, I kept applying and applying, but most applications received no response.
Eventually, I reached a point where I didn’t see much use in continuing to spend so much time applying. I’ve largely stopped now. I need to spend that time earning money instead.
For a while, I tried day trading to earn some income. It was going well for a while, but then my luck turned.
Earlier this year, I started doing gig work through platforms like Uber, DoorDash, and Walmart Spark. I wish I’d started doing it earlier, though I haven’t been able to make as much as I’d hoped.
Still, it’s some money. It’s not zero.
My options are also limited. I can’t carry heavy items, which rules out some gig work options.
Read more about people who’ve found themselves at a corporate crossroads
My long job search has drained my finances
Even with gig work, it’s become difficult to keep paying the bills. I’ve had to drain my savings and take on a lot of credit card debt.
My rent in Dallas is high, and I’d like to move somewhere cheaper. Right now, though, I feel stuck.
I worry that if I tried to rent another apartment, a landlord would ask for proof of employment and income. Without a full-time job, I don’t know whether I’d qualify. Even if I could move, the process would take time away from doing deliveries and earning money.
In January, I started a GoFundMe and received more than $9,000. It’s all gone toward paying my bills. It was hard to ask people for money, and not everyone has been supportive. But some people have been really nice and generous.
For now, my plan is to keep doing gig work. I’m eligible to start receiving Social Security when I turn 62 in January. Once that begins, I’m hoping it, combined with whatever I can earn through gig work, will make my situation a little easier. Until then, it’ll be tough.
I’ve also strongly considered moving back to India, where I lived before moving to the US more than two decades ago and eventually becoming a citizen. But I’m not in a rush to do so, and it would take some time to make the move happen.
I never imagined I’d end up in this situation, but here I am.
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