@ my wits end: Overworked, over educated, over debt-burdened, and completely unemployable
I have almost 23 years of combined experience as a design engineer in semiconductors, embedded systems, software IP, and product management/marketing. I have a bachelors of science in biomedical engineering, a masters of science in electrical/computer engineering and an MBA in technology management/global strategic marketing from a top 5 business school. I have spoken as a keynote speaker at two large tech conferences in the Bay Area and Vegas in the past 5 years. Got Laid off from a huge med tech company earlier this year year only to get laid off again only two months after joining another shitty company that hid all of its financial and organizational chaos from me during the interview. Little did I know that literally two weeks into the job, the CEO would get fired and almost 50% of the people who I met during onboarding would be ousted as well. So basically, I’ve been actually working only 3 months this year and have been job searching 24/7 and stressed out of my fucking mind for the rest of the 9 months. Although I was getting interviews at the beginning of this year, these last few months have been completely radio silent. I am just tuned 52 this year as a prime gen x’er and I know for a fact that in the US no one over 45 gets hired. I’ve burned through almost $40k of my life savings to support my family and me am completely sick of this bullshit that forms the paradigm of life in this country. Started to look for part time jobs at the local supermarket and am looking into driving for Uber. Short of me entering a life of crime, living in the streets, or jumping in front of an oncoming train to basically escape this shitty world, I have no idea what my options are, if any. Congratulations…and I wish you could tell me where I went wrong in my life because I feel like I followed all of the common knowledge advice to a T (work hard, make contacts, study hard, network, etc.). However, now I have younger PMs, almost 20 years my junior, email me asking for advice on how to pass a case interview. Let that sink in - they are asking me for guidance as they think I am a well established thought leader in technology who can impart wisdom and mentorship to them - yet I’m the only who can’t secure employment no matter how hard I try and they either are happily employed or are actively interviewing. Most of my successful friends my age are almost at the point of retiring or at the C-suite level yet here I am grasping at the ranks of senior or even an associate PM. It doesn’t make sense and I seriously have had it. I have a mountain of student debt as well and I just as well wish an earthquake took out the entire infrastructure of the world tomorrow so that nothing else matters. My two cents.
Standard advice for women in tech may help get you in the door past HR. drop at least a decade of experience off your profile and resume, no grad dates, look more junior by tweaking titles, and less info rather than more until you meet the hiring team. Alternatively only apply to VP roles in small or medium enterprises. Lastly, either dye your hair or shave it all and create a new profile picture on linked in using that curated image. Most women in my circle opt for the hair dye, a lot of the men prefer to adopt the bald look instead. It's stupid but it works to get you past at least 2 layers of reflex discrimination
Thanks for the advice but the problem I struggle with is that my early career experience is very relevant, even more so, to the jobs to which I am applying. What do I do in that case?
Also, the whole concept of “leaving off degrees and downgrading titles”, while may be true is a sign of something truly messed up and odious in our society. I mean stop and think about what that has to say about the institution of higher education in America. Imagine how it would be if the actual truth was told to young adults a d students in high school aspiring to learn and earn degrees: “Hey, get yourself educated and spend over $300k to earn something that will basically handicap you later in life and that you must avoid publicizing on your resume. You see…a university education makes total sense!”
45 is the easiest time to get a job. Tons of experience, but not so old that it is “strange” for you to be in “just” a Senior role. Should be easy to compete with others if you have relevant knowledge and passion. I’d take a hard look at yourself and why you aren’t passing interviews, you have to be doing something very wrong in them.
How do people even know your age without interviewing you? On your resume, only list past 10-12 years of experience, anything before that is irrelevant. Scrub graduation dates from College, just list the degree.
thanks for your advice and it may very well be the case but stop and think about what that has to say about the institution of higher education in America. Imagine how it would be if the actual truth was told to young adults and students in high school aspiring to learn and earn degrees: “Hey, get yourself educated and spend over $300k to earn something that will basically handicap you later in life and that you must avoid publicizing on your resume. You see…a university education makes total sense!”
The issue right now is that the whole industry is being shaken up. This will take time to pass. It’s not particularly about who is good and who is not. Companies haven’t been able to balance out. The layoffs are bound to have caused a lot of damage in various ways. They’ll have to start to reassess in a year or so but until then try to do something productive to take advantage of the time. Most people who are employed are instead very stressed and most won’t have time to learn all that much new material. Everyone is in a bad place. However this has been a very good learning experience for everyone which may change of people view work going forward.
Burning 40k a year without a job seems actually very reasonable. Didn't you save enough money during your illustrious 23 year career?
So the private life is the real root cause here then
Surprising to see someone with 20 yoe in tech struggling. Couple actionable steps to take from reading your post and responses in the comments: 1. Revamp your LinkedIn 2. Revamp your resume with multiple versions 3. Send different resumes based on whatever more closely matches the JD 4. Apply to jobs on a variety of platforms, not just LI 5. Always respond to recruiters who reach out via LI. It boosts you in the algorithm. Remove opentowork - having that flag actually harms you That will get you interviews^. The following will help you get offers: 1. Interview prep 2. Research every person who interviews you. That includes stalking their LI, FB, any social accounts you can find 3. Make the interviewer remember you. That won’t be from your YOE/background. It will be because they liked you. 4. Numbers game. Always fill your interview funnel. (If you are in finals round interviews, continue to schedule first rounds until you accept an offer)
You're wishing death on thousands because you took out more debt than you can afford and didn't save or invest enough during the decade-long bull-run. Real great guy. You don't deserve anything because of your debt-funded degrees or your BS keynotes. If you had made the contacts you say you made you wouldn't be in this situation.