*Warning Long Post* Updated and Reposted* Back in September I was laid off my job of 5+ years. I was given a severance but only a few hours notice before I was let go. From what I can tell I wasn't the only one on my team that was laid off. There was a few more. My TC was 56K (Grossly underpaid for a Senior Systems Engineer). Since then I have been applying to jobs day after day. (And even before since 2018) I had some personal problems and had to break my lease, move in with my parents, and hire a lawyer. A lot of my severance went to paying off those things. Once my funds started to get low I knew I needed to get a part-time job. So I applied at a department store. One day I received an offer for the department store AND a contract position as a Cloud Solutions Architect at a major transportation company in my city that I interviewed for a week prior. However I was originally told that the start date would be 3 weeks away. So I accepted the position at the department store for the time being. During the three weeks I stayed in contact with the recruiter about my position and their communication was horrible. They sent my 1099 contract to sign and a few more documents. During the last week of the three week period I asked the recruiter to make sure that my date was the following Monday so that I can tell my current job that I could no longer work there. He assured me that was the day. So I quit my part-time job. In December I got a notice from the recruiter that they had to postpone my start date. In the second week of January I was told that the company no longer had a budget for the position. Back at square one. I'm upset because my severance has run out, I am now doing courier services and graphic/web design work to supplement my income, an no matter how many jobs I apply for I am either told I am overqualified, not technical enough, or not a good culture fit. After speaking with dozens of recruiters they have told me that I need to dumb down my resume because jobs at my level are not looking to train for anything even if it's one system/program that I'm not familiar with and other companies don't want to pay a higher salary so they'd rather train than hire someone like myself. This month makes my 6th month without a job and I'm trying not to loose hope or my sanity but I don't know what else I should do at this point. I spend hours applying for jobs. I get interviews every week with huge amazing companies but nothing comes from them. Is the market in my area really that competitive or is it something else? I and also searching for referals to get a job in my city of Atlanta. I am in a serious relationship and I don't want to have to move to another state. I have never been without a job before and definitely not this long. I remember hearing that it's career suicide to be out of my field for this long. It's super discouraging and honestly depressing. At this point I am looking for anything stable in my field. I cannot continue to live on someone's couch. Please help! #layoff #referral #atlanta #jobhunt
Yes this could be true. I am open to learning and starting anywhere at this point if I was given a chance. I have experience with a lot and I am completely open.
What do you mean by you’re open? What did you do in the past 6 months to learn and improve yourself? What did you do to learn from your failed interviews attempts?
How many YOE? Have you tried looking for non-senior roles?
I have 10 years experience and yes I have. Those are the roles that say I am overqualified and they don't want to risk me getting bored and leaving.
The worst thing you can do is show up desperate to job interviews. It’s self defeating. Dumb down your resume and apply for jobs that might seem junior compared to your experience. All you need is one. Then you can continue applying and get better leveling/ TC. It took two years and different resume versions before I found my job. For the gap time, I listed my own consulting company and only had to provide one single reference. You already have one consulting client so include them under the same consulting umbrella. Don’t worry that the engagement didn’t last the whole time. DM me if you need more info. Or see a VMware job that you want a referral to.
Okay thank you so much for your help! I will message you
Curious what you did as a “senior systems engineer” for 56k @10yoe? 15 years ago fresh out of school as a systems engineer in defense (low paying industry) in a low COL area, starting systems engineering salaries were higher than that. Not a dig, just trying to understand if your role was really a systems engineering role or title inflation
I worked for the local govt in VA first and that's what they paid their top level sys admin/engineers. I was at my last company for the last 5 years and I was given multiple promotions but not many raises as they said they could not afford it.
Multiple promotions but no raise? That's a red flag
The thing is you want to look smart on a resume but not smarter than your PM
Dm me for referral
Are you on h1b?
Hi no I am a citizen
You can DM me for any OneTrust openings that appeal to you.
Where are you located?
Have you tried applying to jobs at Cisco?
No I have a close family member that works for them I am not sure if that would hinder me but I am open.
If you have a close family member that works there it doesnt hinder you at all. You just wouldn't be able to work on the same project /same leadership chain. But Cisco is so big so it shouldn't be that big of an issue . I recommend speaking with your family member and seeing if they can refer you to a job.