After graduating from college I was unemployed for over a year. I'm now super anxious about my career (particularly about how to find the "next" job after this, because I want to be safe/certain of being employed even if I get laid off for any reason (even with a full intention of working hard and long hours if needed to avoid that) So, how does everyone else avoid this (apart from finding jobs easier than me, I guess)?
If you are not crazy with TC, and you like to work at companies like Paypal, you should be fine
Gaps don't really matter if you were employed after them, which it seems you were.
Same. I struggled for a long time to find a good job (the struggle is on). It has made me believe I am not good enough and has developed anxiety in me to an extent that I take decisions out of fear now. I know it's not good but really don't know what to do.
You will never be safe. It’s better to accept this. There’s infinite number of reasons why you may get in big trouble of some kind. Life is hard. Once you come to terms with this the liberation from your anxieties may come too Notice how consultants are free from anxiety. They know the check may stop at any moment so they stop worrying about it, and live like 🏄♀️, whatever comes comes and they deal with it when it happens
A leetcode a day keeps the unemployment away 🤷♂️
I have the same anxiety but it's because I've worked at lesser companies for years now and I want to get into a top company ASAP so I can validate that I'm actually a good software dev...
Things that can help with anxiety also are: (1) save (and invest) as much as you realistically can so that you have a safety buffer, (2) avoid costly financial tie-ups like kids, expensive houses, or a stay-at-home partner, (3) stay on top of labour market trends (Blind, Glassdoor, levels.fyi etc are good sources of information) and make sure to acquire valuable skills and (4) interview around every few years and jump if your comp isn't competitive.
Lol you work at PayPal. Stay there for 2 years and any small-mid sized company will hire you easy (even if you are laid off).
Precisely, OP is at PayPal lol