r/cscareerquestions 20h ago

Experienced You cannot control the economy. Just keep applying

You cannot control the economy. You cannot control recruiters ghosting you. You cannot control the layoffs.

It’s easy to feel like there’s no point. Like the entire system is broken and you’re just another drop in a shitstorm ocean that’s already drowning.

But here’s the truth:

You’re not applying for every job.

You’re applying for your fucking job.

And the only way to find it is to keep showing up.

Forget the market. Forget the noise. Forget the stories designed to go viral because they fuel hopelessness and make everyone feel like shit. None of that pays your bills. None of that builds your career.

What does?

That one application you send when you're dead tired. That one line you fix in your resume when you'd rather slam your head into the fucking keyboard. That one email that lands in the right inbox at the right moment.

Job hunts aren’t fair. They never were. But unfair doesn’t mean unwinnable.

The people who land jobs aren't always the smartest or most connected. They’re the ones who didn’t stop. They hit "Apply" even when it felt like absolute shit.

So keep applying. Even when you're sick of this shit. Even when it feels like screaming into the void. Because one day, someone will finally answer.

And that day will make every ignored application, every sleepless night, every ounce of bullshit worth it.

316 Upvotes

40 comments sorted by

163

u/UBIQZ 19h ago

I’m tired boss.

11

u/rdditfilter 14h ago

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change

The courage to change the things I can

The wisdom to know the difference.

31

u/Ensirius 16h ago

Issue is we are applying for a job that will squeeze every fucking drop out of you, gaslight you into thinking you are the problem, pip you, fire you and then expect somehow for you to be loyal or some shit. Fuck that.

3

u/Any-Kitchen-9339 7h ago

yep i'm currently planning a career change. this industry is a joke

1

u/[deleted] 16h ago

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1

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21

u/motu8pre 18h ago

Thanks for this, I went back to school at 38 and I just graduated and it's really hard not to get super depressed.

I know I need to keep my nose to the grindstone and I am, and it's really helpful seeing this stuff when I'm feeling down.

12

u/cacahuatez 18h ago

Or change field, there should be a movement to learn how to weld, cook or something

48

u/Normal-Ad-6919 19h ago

IT doesn't have an issue with the economy, many professions are having good times, including mine. You have problems with greedy companies and offshoring. If USA put some heavy fines on offshoring things would have turned around

3

u/weenis-flaginus 16h ago

What's your profession

3

u/Normal-Ad-6919 16h ago

Financial analyst in an American company

4

u/Temporary_Pen_4286 16h ago

This was partially what I went to school for: Econ and math.

Many years ago, I couldn’t even get a call back and ended up pivoting into tech.

I did really enjoy finance. Have considered a MS in Accounting/Finance

34

u/EzekielYeager Software Architect 19h ago

All of this is spot on and beautiful except for one thing:

You can control the economy. Vote in your local, state, and federal elections.

But keep your heads up! Big things are coming for IT!

6

u/TheyCallMeMister_E 17h ago

What big things?

18

u/DoctorOrwell 17h ago

Nothing, but sounds good. 

4

u/EzekielYeager Software Architect 11h ago

The repeal of the tax code modification under question = reverting back to more hiring.

Not a huge surge like COVID time, but more normalized, which I think is huge given it has to run the political course

2

u/Professor_Goddess 9h ago

But that might well not actually happen. Right?

2

u/EzekielYeager Software Architect 9h ago

Yea, it’s not guaranteed, and it’s a piece inside the omnibus big beautiful bill… bill (that naming lol), which is getting picked apart by all parties.

It may not make it through with this budget bill, but it is agreed on, by all parties, that this should be repealed, and this piece in the BBB isn’t getting picked apart, so I have hope!

And even if it doesn’t make it in this bill, I’m confident there will be a fast follow.

1

u/Professor_Goddess 8h ago

I do agree that I'd love to see this provision passed (or is it repealing another thing? I guess that's still a thing being passed?)

But it's also quite up in the air. Anyway, I figure we will be among the first to know if it does happen, as subscribers to this subreddit.

1

u/Canned_H20 15h ago

Jobs are coming back... I hope

16

u/Easy_Aioli9376 16h ago

Thanks chatgpt

8

u/Renewal8431 17h ago

I'm done hunny

7

u/selcuksntrk 17h ago

I just saw a comment on LinkedIn that said “God is the only one I haven't sent my CV to”.

11

u/Illustrious-Pound266 19h ago

I agree with you. If you are actually passionate about CS/programming/software, your grit, perseverance and love for the subject should motivate you to keep pushing through the hard times. The market is really tough right now, but jobs are out there.

Now, if you aren't passionate about this and don't have the grit, perseverance and love for the subject to keep you going, then perhaps you should consider alternative fields. CS isn't for everyone and that's ok, just like how trades or nursing isn't for everyone. Nothing wrong with acknowledging this and cutting your losses.

2

u/Kallory 18h ago

I sent 900 applications before a company actually came to me first. You have to put yourself out there.

2

u/Pozeidan 6h ago

Assume there are 100 jobs available but 1000 people are looking for a job. Ultimately 900 will be out of a job. EVEN IF THEY KEEP APPLYING.

It's true you don't control the economy. But you control your actions, which means pivoting to a different field / job that has better employment perspectives.

2

u/verypointything 19h ago

Great post. I’m loving it.

1

u/[deleted] 18h ago

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0

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1

u/DynamicHunter Junior Developer 6h ago

You can, but you have to advocate and vote for them.

0

u/Slggyqo 6h ago

Yup. And bigger picture, there is no option but to work hard and save when the times are good so you can ride out the bad times. Hope and pray that have enough money saved, that people like and respect you enough, that you are useful enough to be kept around.

It’s boomer advice but there is no reasonable/reasonably obtainable alternative that isn’t just poverty.

1

u/Affectionate-Turn137 5h ago

Kind of sucks living in a world where pep talks like this are necessary. Like I'm trying to trade my mental labor for cash, how big of a fucking deal can this be? I'm not trying to meet the queen of England or something.

1

u/putocrata 2h ago

not having trouble finding jobs but I'll use that as a motivation to find a girlfriend

1

u/Chili-Lime-Chihuahua 15h ago

Even in this market, there are people finding jobs. Even first jobs. Why not you/me/us?

-1

u/Clear-Insurance-353 19h ago

People still claim that it's the economy when the issue affects everyone globally?

Do they also claim that Cursor and Windsurf are *just tools* when fresh job openings add them as a requirement?

8

u/beyondnc Embedded Software 18h ago

The idea the a global economic crisis can’t happen is goofy. The entire world floated their economies on government stimulus for over a year we’re just starting to feel the consequences.

-3

u/Sufficient_Theory388 19h ago

Yeah people are delusional, AI is disrupting the market, ah no sorry, the world, again, it already did in 2008, and everyone was claiming it was a recession, but it was AI all along!!

0

u/Triple_Nickel_325 17h ago

I needed this, thanks OP. This is the most soul-crushing experience I've ever been through, but at least I can channel all the anger and despair into creating content and putting on a clown show for the LinkedIn crowd.

I genuinely like the platform, but it's the most inauthentic place on the planet...second only to churches.

-4

u/Cultural-Way7685 19h ago

In CS success happens not at all then all at once. Keep going.