Job hunting in this economy

[Anonymous]

Words of wisdom - talk to everyone and anyone that you may know. One person may lead to another to another. Also, it's not about finding me a job, but talking about experiences, things that may lead to another conversation. The whole I need a job thing is a tough sell from an obligation standpoint.

It's really tough, I admit. I got an interview because my financial advisor's associate's college roommates dad was a VP at a local company. While that didn't pan out into an offer, it gave me confidence as I moved forward with my search.

I lucked out and was contacted through LinkedIn by the company recruiter that I am currently employed. This was back in late 2023, so yeah, times were different.

Good Luck and stay positive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much does he need to make? We cannot find workers.
At minimum, he should be doing something soon to cover the mortgage.

What industry? Location?

Advertising/marketing, DMV area

You’re too picky if you “can’t find workers” to do ad/mkt

No the OP is job hunting in ad/mkt

He replied to the hiring thread, but if they are asking how much he needs to make their problem is salary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spouse was breadwinner and laid off two months ago. Spends time every morning job hunting, applying. Two first round interviews and nothing further. He has contacted every networking contact he can think of.

He has severance for now but will end soon. Have emergency savings to last awhile, but cannot afford our mortgage for more than a year on single income and will really burn savings in the process. We have two kids. I am just being positive and encouraging with my spouse, but privately, I worry. I know he does too.

Suggestions, words of wisdom?

H-1B Fact Check:

India takes ~74% of all H-1B visas … marketed for decades as “the best and brightest.”

Yet in 20 years of the TopCoder Open Algorithm Finals …. the Olympics of coding ….India has zero Top 3 finishes.

So where exactly are all these “best and brightest” hiding?

cphof.org/contest/tco_al…

[Anonymous]

Can he broaden his search to different markets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spouse was breadwinner and laid off two months ago. Spends time every morning job hunting, applying. Two first round interviews and nothing further. He has contacted every networking contact he can think of.

He has severance for now but will end soon. Have emergency savings to last awhile, but cannot afford our mortgage for more than a year on single income and will really burn savings in the process. We have two kids. I am just being positive and encouraging with my spouse, but privately, I worry. I know he does too.

Suggestions, words of wisdom?

H-1B Fact Check:

India takes ~74% of all H-1B visas … marketed for decades as “the best and brightest.”

Yet in 20 years of the TopCoder Open Algorithm Finals …. the Olympics of coding ….India has zero Top 3 finishes.

So where exactly are all these “best and brightest” hiding?

cphof.org/contest/tco_al…

What are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

Keep networking, keep going to industry events, keep linked in updated, and, make sure the 2 of you keep communicating. Went through this multiple times with my spouse- luckily, we were both stressed at different times and each was able to talk the other off the ledge.

Don't keep the kids in the dark - you can keep it age appropriate, and, let them know that as a family you'll be cutting back. Most things they probably won't notice because it's grown up things, but some they will, like you won't be going out to dinner or taking big trips. Keep their world as much the same as you can. Eg, keep the magic of the holidays - see the lights at Brookside Gardens or the LDS church, do smaller meaningful presents, take a trip to grandma's, but drive instead of fly and try to make that an adventure (stop at playgrounds along the way if headed south for example). Whatever activities they havr participated in, DO NOT BE SHY - tell the administration at the soccer/basketball/ballet place that spouse has lost their job and ask for assistance for your children to keep attending. They know if they do that, once spouse is employed agaon, you will stick with them because of that support. This is not the time for pride to get in the way

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spouse was breadwinner and laid off two months ago. Spends time every morning job hunting, applying. Two first round interviews and nothing further. He has contacted every networking contact he can think of.

He has severance for now but will end soon. Have emergency savings to last awhile, but cannot afford our mortgage for more than a year on single income and will really burn savings in the process. We have two kids. I am just being positive and encouraging with my spouse, but privately, I worry. I know he does too.

Suggestions, words of wisdom?

Sell your house. If you can't afford your mortgage on one income you are living behind your means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spouse was breadwinner and laid off two months ago. Spends time every morning job hunting, applying. Two first round interviews and nothing further. He has contacted every networking contact he can think of.

He has severance for now but will end soon. Have emergency savings to last awhile, but cannot afford our mortgage for more than a year on single income and will really burn savings in the process. We have two kids. I am just being positive and encouraging with my spouse, but privately, I worry. I know he does too.

Suggestions, words of wisdom?

H-1B Fact Check:

India takes ~74% of all H-1B visas … marketed for decades as “the best and brightest.”

Yet in 20 years of the TopCoder Open Algorithm Finals …. the Olympics of coding ….India has zero Top 3 finishes.

So where exactly are all these “best and brightest” hiding?

cphof.org/contest/tco_al…

You are confusing coders/developers with software engineers. Companies are not hiring Indian coders because they are the 'best and the brightest'. They are bring them because the cost makes sense to them. Indians didn't invent capitalism. Your fellow greedy Americans are tripping over one another to minimize cost and maximize profits. The people you should complain to are on Wall Street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spouse was breadwinner and laid off two months ago. Spends time every morning job hunting, applying. Two first round interviews and nothing further. He has contacted every networking contact he can think of.

He has severance for now but will end soon. Have emergency savings to last awhile, but cannot afford our mortgage for more than a year on single income and will really burn savings in the process. We have two kids. I am just being positive and encouraging with my spouse, but privately, I worry. I know he does too.

Suggestions, words of wisdom?

H-1B Fact Check:

India takes ~74% of all H-1B visas … marketed for decades as “the best and brightest.”

Yet in 20 years of the TopCoder Open Algorithm Finals …. the Olympics of coding ….India has zero Top 3 finishes.

So where exactly are all these “best and brightest” hiding?

cphof.org/contest/tco_al…

You are confusing coders/developers with software engineers. Companies are not hiring Indian coders because they are the 'best and the brightest'. They are bring them because the cost makes sense to them. Indians didn't invent capitalism. Your fellow greedy Americans are tripping over one another to minimize cost and maximize profits. The people you should complain to are on Wall Street.

Bingo. Already lots of threads on this.

OP good luck to your DH

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spouse was breadwinner and laid off two months ago. Spends time every morning job hunting, applying. Two first round interviews and nothing further. He has contacted every networking contact he can think of.

He has severance for now but will end soon. Have emergency savings to last awhile, but cannot afford our mortgage for more than a year on single income and will really burn savings in the process. We have two kids. I am just being positive and encouraging with my spouse, but privately, I worry. I know he does too.

Suggestions, words of wisdom?

Sell your house. If you can't afford your mortgage on one income you are living behind your means.

Most people can't even afford a rental on one income, welcome to 2025.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I don't understand the sell your house comments unless you can move in with other family members. Do y'all know how much apartments/rental units cost? Plus, they keep raising the prices.

Sorry OP. I don't have anything helpful to say. I don't know what to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spouse was breadwinner and laid off two months ago. Spends time every morning job hunting, applying. Two first round interviews and nothing further. He has contacted every networking contact he can think of.

He has severance for now but will end soon. Have emergency savings to last awhile, but cannot afford our mortgage for more than a year on single income and will really burn savings in the process. We have two kids. I am just being positive and encouraging with my spouse, but privately, I worry. I know he does too.

Suggestions, words of wisdom?

Sell your house. If you can't afford your mortgage on one income you are living behind your means.

This seems very drastic to sell your house after 2 months of unemployment. Selling a house costs a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spouse was breadwinner and laid off two months ago. Spends time every morning job hunting, applying. Two first round interviews and nothing further. He has contacted every networking contact he can think of.

He has severance for now but will end soon. Have emergency savings to last awhile, but cannot afford our mortgage for more than a year on single income and will really burn savings in the process. We have two kids. I am just being positive and encouraging with my spouse, but privately, I worry. I know he does too.

Suggestions, words of wisdom?

Sell your house. If you can't afford your mortgage on one income you are living behind your means.

This seems very drastic to sell your house after 2 months of unemployment. Selling a house costs a lot of money.

+1 not to mention, rent is the same price as my mortgage currently if not more. Fingers crossed for all those searching for jobs currently, my family is in the same boat. So hard.

[Anonymous]

If he is still on payroll, try to get home equity loan. It will be a long slog

[Anonymous]

My dad lost his primary employment at 46. He never worked steadily again until his mid 60s when he got a job selling cars. We had to sell everything we owned and lost our home. In the end, we should have sold it and moved on. It became a ten year fight against foreclosure until we finally lost.