Mitsa21's journey

I was laid off in early April 2026 and had to switch to a dependent visa. Currently, I'm on a waitlist, facing an 8 to 15-month delay before I can legally work or interview again. At first, I thought I could use this time to focus on interview prep and side projects, but after about two months, I hit a wall and felt burnt out. I've managed to create a couple of AI systems-based projects and contributed to some open-source initiatives, but I'm at a loss for what else to do to fill what will likely be a significant employment gap once my visa situation is resolved. I initially aimed to dive deeper into open source, but the competition is fierce, and opportunities are snatched up quickly. I'm reaching out to see how others in similar situations are managing their time productively without burning out. What strategies have you found effective for bridging the resume gap beyond personal projects? How do you explain this forced gap to recruiters when I eventually re-enter the job market? Any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated!