I got laid off in March as a software engineer 2 and since then I’ve hardly applied to many jobs, of the few I’ve applied to I got a handful of interviews which I couldn’t even clear the first round of Leetcode test. I can barely solve 1 or 2 LC questions a day, and I’ve tried to read system design for a while but can’t find any interest in it. Even if I solve the interview questions we’ll I’ve been rejected, everything feels so pointless. I just want to play video games and watch movies till these darks days pass and there’s another boon in tech hiring. But with AI it feels like many jobs won’t ever come back. Should I consider changing careers or moving to another country. I don’t think I have any real passion or talent for programming, but it’s the only skill I have right now. I don’t know what level of panic I should be feeling right now. I don’t have any close friends or supportive family to talk to about any of this.
- Got a degree in game programming
- Every big game developer is doing layoffs
- Indie studios are full or closing
- Guess I’ll just go fuck myself
You had me in the first half. To go from programming to game programming right now? shivers
At least you’re getting interviews
I don’t know if getting online assessment counts as a interview, I think so far I’ve only had 1 face to face interview
This system is broken, there is no longer a social contract, our country takes everything and gives nothing
Crime is unironically more accessable and rewarding than being employed in America.
Nothing will meaningfully improve until the rich fear for their lives
I’m in the same boat; I no longer have any motivation to self study and pursue excellence in these skills - ‘AI’ has destroyed that. At least back when searching Google / Stackoverflow / reading Documentation was still a thing I saw the value in making my own notes so as to reduce the friction in recalling the concepts, but with AI it’s become trivially easy to get an answer to any question.
I’ve been distracting myself with learning other skills (i.e. how to drive, taking certifications, applying for Working Holiday Visas), but these are dead ends.
I’m still employed, but only a matter of time before I get laid off I think.
- I couldn’t even clear the first round of Leetcode test.
- I can barely solve 1 or 2 LC questions a day
- I’ve tried to read system design for a while but can’t find any interest in it.
- everything feels so pointless.
- I just want to play video games and watch movies
- till these darks days pass
- I don’t think I have any real passion or talent for programming
- I don’t what level of panic I should be feeling right now.
Sounds pretty depressive to me. And a depression does not help with tackling a depressing situation. Get any help your able to get in your area for your mental health – therapy, medication, self help groups, sports, yoga, whatever. You deserve a happy life, don’t let depression destroy it.
Yeah I was about to start looking for local therapist before I got laid off, can’t afford one now, I’m hoping to motivate myself with some short term goals, trying to take it one day at a time till I can get access to Healthcare again
Therapy is not accessible to most people.
Finding time to go to therapy would be a problem.
Finding a good therapist for you would be a problem.
Paying for therapy would be a problem.
Implementing the solutions that therapy provides would be a problem.
Nobody ever seems to be willing to admit that therapy adds more problems on in the hopes that one day it might possibly reduce the number of problems, but any time you mention you have a problem in your life, people seem to crawl out of the woodworks to tell you to go to therapy.
Yeah it’s a slog to find someone who A - gives a shit about you and B - is good at their job to accurately diagnose and help you. But what other option is there, you just have to keep putting effort and money towards this till something clicks. I had been to a psychologist in the past who just diagnosed me as bipolar 2, and gave me some meds, the Ritalin helped for concentration and energy, the other meds just gave me bad sideffects that he wasn’t even interested in talking about, just wanted to prescribe me some more meds and end the session. Had to drop him.
Where are you applying? Is it only locally for in office or hybrid jobs? I said “fuck it” and applied worldwide: Japan, Singapore, Portugal, Switzerland, Australia, Thailand, Canada, South Africa, Fiji, etc. You’d be surprised how many are actually willing to provide a work visa for candidates.
Also, if you’re willing to move or just work remotely, there are many more options. I was open to seeing a different place and so far that’s been to my advantage.
Relocateme, ethicaljobs, jobsforgood, ratracerebellion, 4daywork(week), offerzen (post your profile and let employers find you), remote dot com, and other sites all make this kind of stuff possible.
This is something I’ve thought about but didn’t think there would be many companies interested in me enough to file a visa for me. But maybe it’s worth trying, which countries did you get companies that showed interest so far?, how far along did you get in the interview process?, are you actually considering accepting any offers and moving to another country right now?
