It’s been six months since I lost my job. Nobody is hiring and padding my CV with certifications is getting me nowhere. I have to skip meals and go without my medication.
Everyone who claims the moral high ground and wants to make the world a better place is leaving me to starve in the streets. I just got out of an interview for minimum a wage job, that has quite a bit of competition. I was making six figures.
I haven’t ruled out joining ICE. If you click on my profile you’ll see my banner is Tezcatlipoca the Aztec god because I revere him. When you have no one and nowhere to go it’s easy to become a hypocrite.
I don’t know how much longer I can hold out to afford my soul.
No thank you. I have real references, it’s just hard finding a job in my niche.
I’m technically a web developer/engineer with heavy frontend design focus. What I am is a React web Developer that can design. I can’t do coding challenges to save my life. I’ve taken courses and grinded out l33tcode and Hackerrank challenges to be better, but after 2 months of that I made zero progress in getting better.
If you know anyone that needs a UX/UI web guy then hit up my DM’s.
You need a bit of luck, but if you’re willing to travel a lot, employers usually love that.
The field varies from the 4-5 guys building little machines in a workshop, with software written by a guy “who’s good at computers”, to the giant corporation with frameworks, guidelines and huge teams of engineers.
I think the median is closer to the first than the latter, with simple logic running on a PLC and with an HMI (touchscreen) as interface. Often the same person takes care of both… Of course things can and do get complicated, but from a computer programmer/engineer/whatever’s point of view, it shouldn’t be complex.
The most common languages are those specified in IEC_61131-3, essentially Ladder, where you draw logic circuits, FBD, where you draw MORE COMPLEX logic circuits, and structured text, which is a sort of Pascal.
You need a basic grasp of electricity, as long as you know what Amperes and Volts are, and remember Ohm’s law, you’re fine. Most devices have quirks which only experience can teach you, but whatever.
Of course there’s more advanced programming as well, but it’s usually on the SCADA side, and there it may get interesting for you, as some of those now support web technologies, like Inductive Automation’s Ignition.
Pay is usually good, and gets better with travel pay, and seeing machines DO STUFF and make people’s work easier is a great feeling.
If you join ICE you are the enemy hell getting into Breaking and Entering or drug trafficking would be much more moral. There is no excuse to use your poverty as an excuse to violently oppress or kill others for money.
Whether this suggestion matches your circumstances depends on too many different factors, so take it for what it’s worth.
Your still-employed neighbors are exhausted hanging on to their own jobs, they need things done and still have money. So, are you comfortable doing handyman things, or landscaping? Hanging out a shingle and hustling as a handyperson can be reasonably rewarding, if you have any ability at all in a home maintenance task people with money but not time might need.
A person who can SEO a website and maybe some Google ads will be head and shoulders above the average joe in terms of getting first customers, then reputation takes off locally. Homeowners talk to each other.
It pays much better than minimum wage. A friend runs a one man tree-trimming service and can clear $2k a day. That’s extreme because tree work is hard as hell and he is jacked, but even changing people’s furnace filters on a schedule will earn more than retail.
Healthcare is an issue, I understand, so maybe this isn’t for you. Just trying to explore alternatives that help you avoid that awful choice. Good luck, you aren’t alone.
The only issue is that I’m an old man. Doing physical labor will wear on me instantly. I don’t know SEO, but I can make the entire application a business needs ( I have AWS certs). I’m studying to get project management certification so I can do management stuff. The min wage job I mentioned is a customer service role.
I see. Tree trimming is definitely out then! Other hustles are less demanding, but may be too much or not depending entirely on your health and vigor. I was shocked to hear how much another friend made trimming rose bushes in swanky neighborhoods, still physical but easy compared to trees.
Good on you for being open to ideas though. It is hella tough to stay mentally flexible under sustained unemployment stress, right at the time when lateral thinking is what is needed.
Best of luck to you, I hope you can keep body and soul together
It’s been six months since I lost my job. Nobody is hiring and padding my CV with certifications is getting me nowhere. I have to skip meals and go without my medication.
Everyone who claims the moral high ground and wants to make the world a better place is leaving me to starve in the streets. I just got out of an interview for minimum a wage job, that has quite a bit of competition. I was making six figures.
I haven’t ruled out joining ICE. If you click on my profile you’ll see my banner is Tezcatlipoca the Aztec god because I revere him. When you have no one and nowhere to go it’s easy to become a hypocrite.
I don’t know how much longer I can hold out to afford my soul.
Good luck homie, job hunting in 2025 is pure hell.
Theft is an option. I’m serious. Which is more morally acceptable? ICE or robbery?
Need a reference from “Some weird scandinavian entity that is technically a real company?”
No thank you. I have real references, it’s just hard finding a job in my niche.
I’m technically a web developer/engineer with heavy frontend design focus. What I am is a React web Developer that can design. I can’t do coding challenges to save my life. I’ve taken courses and grinded out l33tcode and Hackerrank challenges to be better, but after 2 months of that I made zero progress in getting better.
If you know anyone that needs a UX/UI web guy then hit up my DM’s.
What about trying industrial automation? Can you travel?
Technically yeah! How do I do it and how hard is an entry level job to acquire?
You need a bit of luck, but if you’re willing to travel a lot, employers usually love that.
The field varies from the 4-5 guys building little machines in a workshop, with software written by a guy “who’s good at computers”, to the giant corporation with frameworks, guidelines and huge teams of engineers. I think the median is closer to the first than the latter, with simple logic running on a PLC and with an HMI (touchscreen) as interface. Often the same person takes care of both… Of course things can and do get complicated, but from a computer programmer/engineer/whatever’s point of view, it shouldn’t be complex.
The most common languages are those specified in IEC_61131-3, essentially Ladder, where you draw logic circuits, FBD, where you draw MORE COMPLEX logic circuits, and structured text, which is a sort of Pascal.
You need a basic grasp of electricity, as long as you know what Amperes and Volts are, and remember Ohm’s law, you’re fine. Most devices have quirks which only experience can teach you, but whatever.
Of course there’s more advanced programming as well, but it’s usually on the SCADA side, and there it may get interesting for you, as some of those now support web technologies, like Inductive Automation’s Ignition.
Pay is usually good, and gets better with travel pay, and seeing machines DO STUFF and make people’s work easier is a great feeling.
If you join ICE you are the enemy hell getting into Breaking and Entering or drug trafficking would be much more moral. There is no excuse to use your poverty as an excuse to violently oppress or kill others for money.
An example of exactly what I was talking about.
Opposing becoming an armed enforcer of fascism is not a bad thing no matter how you try to present it.
You’re completely missing the point of what I said and condemning me for something I haven’t done.
I bet you’re a rich kid. Pay my mortgage and my grocery bill then judge me. Until then you’re not helping anyone.
I’m the farthest from rich but whatever you say. Make whatver excuses you want to justify punching down to help yourself.
If you feel you have to join maybe you can work to sabotage their operations from within? I don’t think that would be so bad if you are good at it.
Whether this suggestion matches your circumstances depends on too many different factors, so take it for what it’s worth.
Your still-employed neighbors are exhausted hanging on to their own jobs, they need things done and still have money. So, are you comfortable doing handyman things, or landscaping? Hanging out a shingle and hustling as a handyperson can be reasonably rewarding, if you have any ability at all in a home maintenance task people with money but not time might need.
A person who can SEO a website and maybe some Google ads will be head and shoulders above the average joe in terms of getting first customers, then reputation takes off locally. Homeowners talk to each other.
It pays much better than minimum wage. A friend runs a one man tree-trimming service and can clear $2k a day. That’s extreme because tree work is hard as hell and he is jacked, but even changing people’s furnace filters on a schedule will earn more than retail.
Healthcare is an issue, I understand, so maybe this isn’t for you. Just trying to explore alternatives that help you avoid that awful choice. Good luck, you aren’t alone.
Thanks for the suggestion.
The only issue is that I’m an old man. Doing physical labor will wear on me instantly. I don’t know SEO, but I can make the entire application a business needs ( I have AWS certs). I’m studying to get project management certification so I can do management stuff. The min wage job I mentioned is a customer service role.
I see. Tree trimming is definitely out then! Other hustles are less demanding, but may be too much or not depending entirely on your health and vigor. I was shocked to hear how much another friend made trimming rose bushes in swanky neighborhoods, still physical but easy compared to trees.
Good on you for being open to ideas though. It is hella tough to stay mentally flexible under sustained unemployment stress, right at the time when lateral thinking is what is needed.
Best of luck to you, I hope you can keep body and soul together
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