A 38-year-old man shared a very emotional post online. He said he has been without a job for the last 16 months after he was laid off. He explained that this long time without work has badly affected his life and mental health.
The man said he had around six years of experience and worked at one of the top six big tech companies. During his job, he received good reviews from his coworkers and managers. But even with this experience, he has not been able to find a new job since he lost his last one. This has made him feel very frustrated and tired.
He said that in the past 14 months he only got three interview calls. Sadly, none of those interviews turned into a job offer. To deal with the stress, the man said he goes on long walks so he can stay calm and mentally stable. He explained that being unemployed for so long has been very stressful. He also shared that during his career he worked extremely hard. He said he gave up his health, relationships, and peace of mind just to keep earning a steady income. Now, after losing his job, he feels very disappointed about the situation.
Job search struggleHe also said the pressure of work and career struggles damaged his marriage and other personal relationships, leaving him single now. The man added that he had experienced discrimination at work earlier but never complained, because he wanted to keep his paycheck and financial stability. Recently celebrating his 38th birthday made him feel even worse, as he said the long unemployment period has made him feel “useless.”
He clarified that although the situation is emotionally tough, he does not have harmful thoughts and is trying to stay strong. To improve his situation, he said he is trying to build his own product or startup, but he feels the market is crowded because many people are building AI products now. He is also considering going back to school to study something new, but worries it may not help because he would graduate around age 40 or 41.
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Fear of workplace ageismThe man said he fears ageism in the job market, questioning whether companies would hire someone starting a new career in their 40s. He explained that he is now applying for jobs at levels lower than his previous position, hoping that might increase his chances of getting hired. He has also looked for opportunities in other countries, especially since he is now single and more flexible to relocate.
The post was mainly written as a personal vent, and he asked others online if they had gone through similar experiences that eventually improved. One commenter advised him to adjust his resume when applying for entry-level roles, warning that recruiters may reject him if he appears too overqualified. The commenter suggested changing job titles and wording on the resume so it does not look like a senior candidate applying for beginner roles. Long job search advice from other usersThe user also recommended that the tough time of job search could be eased out by doing something for themselves, while another user lamented how they have been jobless for 46 months and have sent nearly 700 job applications without getting a job offer. The user shared their long haul of 27 interview processes involving multiple rounds, tests, presentations, and case studies, but none resulting in jobs.
The commenter also revealed that they went back to school at age 50 and completed an MBA, but said it did not improve their job prospects in the current market. Now almost 55 years old, the commenter said the job market is extremely difficult, especially for older professionals. They advised the 38-year-old to protect his mental health and stay active, recommending daily exercise and meaningful activities.
The commentator suggested a mentoring initiative by them, where people on job searching are involved in community service and other productive initiatives to make use of their unemployment period and stay connected to human beings through people-to-people interaction. He said that he had experienced working at a bicycle shop fixing and selling bikes. They also said they mentor startups in fields like medical technology and medical devices, using their professional knowledge even while unemployed. The emotional discussion quickly gained attention online and sparked a wider debate about layoffs, age discrimination, and the mental toll of long-term unemployment in the tech industry.
FAQsQ1. Why did the 38-year-old man say he cannot find a job?
He said he has been unemployed for 16 months after a layoff and believes age bias and a tough tech job market are making it harder to get hired.
Q2. What advice did people give the unemployed man online?
Some users suggested changing his resume for lower-level roles, protecting his mental health, staying active, and doing community work while continuing the job search.