Personal timeline

Chemical_Bat_5395's journey

Milestones, reflections, and progress updates connected as your layoff-to-next-step story unfolds.

  1. 2
    Feeling Miscellaneous Thinking

    Today marks Day Zero of my journey into unemployment. After 1 year and 5 months of working a grueling overnight shift at $16 an hour in an expensive city, I finally decided to quit my job. I’ve been working from 11 PM to 7 AM, trying to stay afloat while dealing with the crushing weight of $50,000 in student loans. I thought having a job would make me a more attractive candidate for future roles, but it only led to physical and mental exhaustion. The late hours have left me with permanent back pain, brain fog, and aching feet from those concrete floors. I even developed an alcohol addiction just to cope. Despite my degree in computer science and various efforts to secure interviews, I received very few opportunities, and the ones I did have ended in rejection. I ghosted one interview that was related to my major, feeling overwhelmed and defeated. Now, I’m left questioning everything I sacrificed: my time, effort, and money spent on a bachelor's degree, internships, and certifications. I just wanted to afford basic necessities like rent and food, but it feels like the world is stacked against me. I’m struggling to see a way forward and wondering how much more I can sacrifice for a chance at entry-level employment. The future feels bleak, and I’m not sure what to do next.

    0 0

    Loading comments…

    Comments

  2. 1
    Feeling Miscellaneous Planning Thinking

    I just completed Day One of what feels like Eternal Unemployment after quitting a job that was seriously harming my health. I was making $16 an hour, which was not only insufficient but also led to me losing 30 pounds when I was already underweight. I experienced hair loss, back pain, and constant brain fog. The job simply wasn’t worth the toll it took on my body and mind. I couldn't even afford basic necessities like a car or gas, let alone rent amid rising inflation. After spending four years earning my bachelor's degree and working hard to gain experience in software engineering and tech support, I thought I would have better opportunities. Instead, I graduated into a job market that feels like it doesn't want me. I’ve been trying to pivot to entry-level positions in other fields that offer salaries around $50-60k, but I've had no luck. I can't afford to go back to school for more education, so I'm feeling pretty stuck right now. This is my reality.

    0 1

    Loading comments…

    Comments