I've been searching for a new job for many months with no luck. I have 10+ years in software engineering and related roles. I need something either remote (US or Canada) or local to Toronto.
I think my resume and background is pretty good, but apparently not good enough to get noticed. I don't have FAANG or top-n schools. I've applied to about 100 places and only had 2 interviews and a few pre-screens.
I have some p/t work for now, but it's not enough. Every month I just fall farther behind, paying my small-time absentee landlord more money than I bring in. I'm giving those parasites what would have been my own down payment, and that is starting to run low. All while trying to stay motivated to keep submitting endless resumes into the void.
My old local org had a good network of hooking each other up with jobs, I really miss that right now. That was a long time ago and nowhere nearby, I have basically no professional network here, and barely even have friends locally.
Shit sucks. I can't keep doing this.
Good insight tbh. Depression and money stress have me unfocused & not thinking long-term. Not sure specifically how to address that, but it's definitely something I need to think through.
Realizing you are in control of some things, such as how you present yourself to potential employers, is a great first step. Momentum can be a big factor with these things - when you have it, recruiters are popping out of the bushes on your way into the office offering new opportunities. When you don’t, it can feel like you’re stuck in the mud with no way out. I’ve been there amigo. Baby steps can get you going again. Consider giving yourself 15-20 minutes per day to write down some things you could learn/improve/change, that you actually have control over, and then pick one and do it. Before you know it you will be an unstoppable force of an engineer, and then the right opportunity will present itself. Good luck, pulling for you!