Reddit Experience · 2026 Q2

9 months unemployed

95 upvotes 59 replies

Interview Experience

I have 7 years of professional SE experience, last role was Staff. I ended up leaving my last role due to mental health and severe burn out. I had a job lined up, left my last one, then joined in real

Full Details

I have 7 years of professional SE experience, last role was Staff. I ended up leaving my last role due to mental health and severe burn out. I had a job lined up, left my last one, then joined in realizing it was even more toxic. The company wasn’t paying their employees at times - the list goes on. Anyways - I’ve received offers such as this last one, but have been so unlucky with finding a good opportunity, I’ve went though 5 final rounds now, 2 offers, and 3 denials. These are only the final round ones. One offer - I started the role, they weren’t paying their employees, so had to leave. The second offer - was a don’t contract that got delayed due to the shutdown and never started. It fell through. I’ve probably interviewed with hundreds of companies. I’m deciding to start a job next week on a naval base working at a commissary (Grocery store) for $20 an hour. I was making 180k at my last role. I have to do this to cover my finances before I find the next role. Mentally speaking, this is a horrible feeling going from a staff SE to a grocery store worker. I had such a good paying job but so frustrated about what happened, although don’t regret it. Just trying to find something a little more sustainable out there. I was basically strung along with equity and it fell through after I grew the company into the millions. Anyone else out there doing temp work in the interim? Any advice so I don’t lose my mind lol
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