#CareerChallenges #JobSearch #Networking #Cybersecurity #CareerPath
Hey everyone! 😊 I’m in a bit of a conundrum with my career, and I’d love your insights. Here’s the scoop:
- 👨🎓 I graduated with a degree in computer science and have been working in tech until I got laid off in October 2023. Talk about a curveball!
- 💔 After four frustrating months of job hunting, I faced some rude interviewers that knocked the wind out of my optimism.
- 🤖 I’ve been proactive by joining a job search group, enrolling in a full stack development course, and working on personal coding projects. But when I bring these up in interviews, they don’t seem to resonate with the interviewers.
- 🧐 I visited a local employment agency to explore options outside of tech, only to be encouraged to pivot towards cybersecurity. While it’s an interesting field, I’m still grappling with my career identity.
As I near one year of unemployment, I’m feeling lost. Development has always felt like an art and a problem-solving challenge for me. I thrive on seeing my work make a real impact, especially in someone’s daily life! But with the current job market, I’m feeling the pressure. 🤯
I’m trying to stay positive through my cybersecurity program, but it brings its own set of worries! Really, I’m open to starting fresh in a helpdesk role if it’ll get me back into the workforce.
On a personal level, the layoff has made me reflect on relationships too. I’ve experienced some painful losses and have been overthinking everything lately. I attended counseling for a bit, but financial constraints led to those sessions ending. Now, I feel stuck in my thoughts about unemployment and anxiety, making my daily routine feel chaotic.
Despite these challenges, I’ve learned so much about myself and have been expanding my networking skills. However, this journey can only go on for so long without a clearer path.
So, *here’s where I need your advice*: How can I navigate these mixed feelings about my career direction while still keeping the door open for tech roles and exploring new fields like cybersecurity? Have any of you faced similar crossroads? What steps did you take? Let’s chat! 💬
I understand. Funnily enough, but this has happened to me for several months on end. Thankfully, I have a semi-large reserve of money, so I’m okay, but not for a while. I think what you should do is keep it simple, find something that will keep you afloat*, and stop the job gap from growing anymore. I think you should calmly and carefully rehearse explaining said job gap (aswell as why your current job is what it is if you followed my advice). Try to reason with them, be open, and admit that you [may] be nervous, but you’re still going to give it your all.
That’s what got me to realize that I was 31 and still didn’t know how to tie my shoes.
*DO NOT GET A JOB AT MCDONALDS ***PLEASE***
I’m very sorry that you’ve gone through all of this, but you should be proud of yourself for pushing through and soldiering on
The recruiters were smart with recommending cyber security to you – more doors will open for you
You could work for the government or police detachments too…
Tech has been tough lately so don’t be too hard on yourself! I’m based in Canada and work in tech so I know just how hard things have been. At least you’re actively networking and participating in mock interviews so you’re not doing nothing. It’s also pretty common for early career folks to have prolonged resume gaps so it’s ok – as long as you’re doing something to upskill which you are.
Since you’re in this position, perhaps it can help to see other college grads talk about their post-grad experience and struggles. If you think that can help, you can take a look at the GradSimple newsletter for some inspiration (or comfort). t’s a resource meant specifically for lost graduates who want inspiration in life and career. They interview graduates who share things like what degree they got (and why), their job search struggles, what they’re working as now, and if they’re happy with the path they’re on. Some people speak about their mental health struggles, some about being unemployed for a while, or just being unhappy. It could be a decent way for you to zoom out and see what other people have faced. Maybe that can give you added perspective or even give you new ideas on what to do next!