I'm 61 and can't find a job. I've drained my savings and started a GoFundMe to help pay the bills.

This as-told-to composition is according to a conversation alongside Gautam Dev, a 61-year-old job seeker in Dallas. He earlier worked as a application engineer before resigning in 2024. The following has been edited for dimension and clarity.

In 2024, during operating as a software engineer for an IT business in Dallas, I was told I'd have to relocate to another province to keep my job.

That September, I decided to discontinue my job, remain in Dallas, and look for a new role. That decision became a disaster.

I didn't acknowledge how difficult finding another job would be

I'd worked in the IT industry for additional than two decades and had gaps of a few months between jobs before, but I was continually capable to discover another one.

This period has been entirely different. I never expected to motionless be without full-time activity nearly two years later.

After I resigned, I didn't immediately commencement earnestly searching for another job, but I shortly began applying, mostly to jobs through LinkedIn.

I additionally tried networking, but it wasn't much help. Most of the group I talked to stated their companies weren't hiring. Some told me their jobs had gotten tougher, but that they were fearful to discontinue since they power not discover another one.

Still, I've managed to district several interviews complete the way of my search, including multiple alongside the identical company. I idea several went well, but I never received an offer.

I idea my important cognition in the IT industry would assistance me discover a job. However, I think being in my 60s could be operating against me. And following being out of activity for so long, I additionally think the occupation gap is making things equal additional difficult.

It seems akin AI can do several of the things application engineers used to do manually. I've seen job postings for AI engineering positions, but I don't have much of an AI background, so I'm not certain they're a fine fit.

Between my age, the lengthy gap, and the province of the IT industry, my expectations for finding another job have fallen.

I've mostly stopped applying for jobs

For a while, I kept applying and applying, but most applications received no response.

Eventually, I reached a item anywhere I didn't see much use in continuing to expend so much period applying. I've mostly stopped now. I need to expend that period earning prosperity instead.

For a while, I tried day selling to acquire several income. It was going fine for a while, but afterward my fortune turned.

Earlier this year, I started doing gig activity through platforms akin Uber, DoorDash, and Walmart Spark. I desire I'd started doing it earlier, although I haven't been capable to create as much as I'd hoped.

Still, it's several money. It's not zero.

My options are additionally limited. I can't transport dense items, which rules out several gig activity options.

My lengthy job hunt has drained my finances

Even alongside gig work, it's rotate into difficult to keep paying the bills. I've had to drain my funds and obtain on a lot of credit cardstock debt.

My rent in Dallas is high, and I'd akin to move location cheaper. Right now, though, I awareness stuck.

I concern that if I tried to rent another apartment, a landlord would ask for evidence of occupation and income. Without a full-time job, I don't cognize whether I'd qualify. Even if I could move, the procedure would obtain period distant from doing deliveries and earning money.

In January, I started a GoFundMe and received additional than $9,000. It's all gone toward paying my bills. It was difficult to ask group for money, and not everyone has been supportive. But several group have been really nice and generous.

For now, my scheme is to keep doing gig work. I'm eligible to commencement receiving Social Security whenever I rotate 62 in January. Once that begins, I'm expecting it, blended alongside any I can acquire through gig work, volition create my circumstance a small easier. Until then, it'll be tough.

I've additionally powerfully considered moving rear to India, anywhere I lived before moving to the US additional than two decades ago and eventually becoming a citizen. But I'm not in a hurry to do so, and it would obtain several period to create the move happen.

I never imagined I'd end up in this situation, but current I am.

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