Honestly, it was probably having to search for jobs and hearing all the advice about "networking" and all that bullshit about "hidden jobs" and how most people don't get jobs through open job postings. To me, that was the sign of a system that didn't work and the proposed solution was for everyone to do neoliberal "self improvement" and utilitarian social relationships instead.

That and realizing how much of our supposedly great social democratic safety net was being gradually destroyed and the succdems were all in on it. reasons, I know.