YeojFran's journey

I was laid off in June from my remote software development position where I worked with .NET and C#. The company, a small firm with around 11 employees, faced broader business challenges and ultimately had to reduce staff across the engineering department. I had been with them for three years, starting my journey in tech after graduating from a coding bootcamp. Before that, I served as an army combat medic and held a bachelor's degree in health sciences. Initially, I felt somewhat relieved after the layoff because I had been working 50-60 hour weeks, and I was already considering other job opportunities and studying for certifications to expand my skills. I thought transitioning to another role would be straightforward. However, four months later, I find myself in a much tougher situation than I anticipated. I've sent out over 60 job applications tailored to software development roles, even applying for QA positions to broaden my chances, but I've only landed one interview for an AI Engineer role at a major hospital, which I didn’t progress past the first round. The current state of the IT sector feels bleak, and I’ve been frustrated with how recruiters have handled my applications. I’ve noticed the ongoing layoffs in tech, and with the rapid advancement of AI, I'm worried about how to re-enter the field without depleting my savings—my unemployment benefits will only last for another two months. Some days, I feel down and question why this is happening to me, but I remind myself that many others are in similar situations. It's disheartening to see the industry struggling while society emphasizes the need for employment, especially with AI seemingly taking over many roles without consideration for the workforce. Despite all this, I plan to continue learning new technologies, but I can't help but wonder if I should just let AI handle everything. It's a confusing time for all of us in the tech world.