Late 20s, degrees but unemployed for 2 years – how do I restart my life?

Posted by Jealous-Lake5700@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 40 comments

I’m 29M with a BSc in IT (graduated in 2020) and an MSc in Computing (a conversion course finished in 2022). I’ve had internships on my CV and even managed to get interviews with some well-known tech companies, but I never secured a full-time role. Most of the rejections came after technical interviews, especially coding assessments. Other times it was lack of experience, hiring freezes, or just being ghosted. I’ll be honest, I was also picky for a while and refused to look at lower-level tech jobs, thinking I should wait for the right opportunity instead of settling. Was looking software/data or similar roles. That mindset cost me time. I’ve been on the unemployment benefits about two years now, and it’s affected me more than I expected. I’ve gained weight, barely exercise, don’t meet people as often, and my motivation is very low(cant apply jobs), addiction to social media(comparing people Lives to me) . I’m lucky to live with my parents, but they’ve been telling me for a long time to get any job and stop waiting. I kept thinking something would eventually work out. Now I’m seriously questioning whether tech is even for me. I don’t enjoy heavy coding, and a 2–3 year gap feels like a huge red flag. I feel behind in life, embarrassed, and unsure how to move forward. I want to start taking life seriously again, but I genuinely don’t know where to begin.

40 Comments

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Voodoopulse@reddit

You apply for everything and anything and start working.

paul-techish@reddit

Just applying for anything may not be the best approach. you might end up in a role that doesn't help you rebuild your confidence or skills. Focus on jobs that can provide some experience while you figure out your long-term goals...

When you've spent 2 years on the dole you shouldn't get to pick a job, you do what you can

wrongfully-banned@reddit

The MSP i am working for is hiring for an IT support engineer if you are based near Worthing. Drop me a message if interested.

andjon6@reddit

Civil service jobs website is a good place to start.

fernofry@reddit

You are maybe under estimating how good being able to hold stable employment on a CV looks. The biggest red flag for me when I have to act as a hiring manager, is just someone who hasnt worked or only worked jobs for a couple of months. Get ANY job. If it turns out you can get a minimum wage role in your intended industry then thats a bonus. The job market is not in favour of the job seeker right now so just take what you can.

AssumptionBudget279@reddit

Get any type of job then look for what you actually want to do. If you decide you want to explore other options, I recommend volunteering and also doing temporary jobs or summer jobs. I only realised what I wanted to do when I was 27 years old via a summer job, and that gave me a direction to go in. I got a part time job at a camping store then I moved to a summer job which was unique and gave me new experiences that made me realised what I wanted to do. I then chased that experience and got a temporary job, which I now have the opportunity and hope to turn into a permanent job. I’m 30 now, and still working towards that goal. It took me a while too, I know you can do it as well

double-happiness@reddit

How many applications have you made? Also I'm not clear what you mean by "heavy coding"?

YachtRockEnthusiast@reddit

Youre still relatively young. Not all tech jobs involve coding, and a lot of it can be done by AI now. You can try other paths like architecture, specialize in databases (might require SQL at the very least), or get yourself a certification for a cloud platform that is heavily used like AWS, Azure etc. you can also go the cyber security route which generally doesn't involve code. Look at all your low code options in tech since you already have the education. Failing that go to trade school and learn to be an electrician or welder or something of that nature, those are good paying jobs that will never be taken via AI

Eyupmeduck1989@reddit

If you’re on unemployment benefits, chances are you’ll be eligible for all sorts of free adult education courses and things going on in your local community. Why not sign up to some things? Even if you try it and it isn’t for you, you’ll still be getting out of the house, doing something new and meeting new people. I’ve been unemployed for 10 months now and have just started a very outdoorsy city and guilds course. I’m getting my hands dirty and having a whale of a time, and it’s a complete 180 from the email jobs that burned me out and led to me being out of work. I’ve also started volunteering, which has been fantastic for keeping me busy and giving me a sense of purpose. You might say it’s the “behavioural activation” part of CBT therapy, but scheduling in these things has been so helpful for me. Even if the weather’s crap and I’m struggling to motivate myself, after doing it I’m feeling an enormous sense of accomplishment

charlies_got_a_gat@reddit

Sorry mate, it is indeed time to get any job. Life lessons can be learnt from ‘any job’ Any job is a good place to say, I know it and get moved to their it department

Suspicious_Win8432@reddit

yeah, starting anywhere can open doors. just gotta get the ball rolling again, and things might click into place

Anything-Small9549@reddit

If you're specifically looking for software/data roles with little to no experience, you're going to have a bad time. Junior software dev is one of the first jobs companies try to replace with AI, because it seems straightforward to get ChatGPT to do the tasks that would usually be given to a junior dev. It sounds like you need to do something about your depression, because that's going to make everything more difficult. Then widen your search. IT doesn't just mean software dev and data science, I work in infrastructure and the closest I ever get to coding is some occasional shell scripting. It would probably be worth casting an even wider net than that, something outside of tech. Right now you don't need a forever job, you need something to fill in your CV and start getting you some money.

RattyHandwriting@reddit

Try looking at help desk positions in the civil service or local government. I know lots of people who have progressed very quickly from similar roles. Once you’re in and they see your skills, internal opportunities are available to you. Source: went back to work after kids as a switchboard operator for a council; now an infrastructure engineer.

lightninseed@reddit

Or the NHS and local schools! They always need helpdesk staff and good ones are hard to come by. It’s not what you want to be doing but it’s a baby step in the right direction.

cactusdan94@reddit

Why cant you get any job until you the job your looking for. You can get agency warehouse jobs that will literally start you the same day you apply

55caesar23@reddit

I would look at council websites. We are always looking for IT people

Window-Inevitable@reddit

Hey! I'm sorry to read this. I work in tech and the market right now is tough. Please take care of yourself. Try to exercise a few times a week and eat as healthy as you can. Limit social media consumption. Replace it with a hobby. Do not compare yourself to other people. Every time you compare yourself to other people, you're doing yourself a disservice. The grass may or may not be greener, and it doesn't matter. Right now, you should focus on making your grass greener. If you haven't done it already, make sure your LinkedIn is updated (and your CV too). Apply for jobs in time blocks. Give yourself a break. Maybe consider looking for a flexible role (like Deliveroo), to get your mind off of job applications. You don't need to add this in your CV. Attend networking events, conferences, etc. Make connections with people that work in the tech industry. Ask them questions, find out what they do in their day to day, etc. Don't underestimate AI skills. Play around with tools, see if you can find ways to optimize time. Good luck. ❤️

PutAutomatic2581@reddit

If I were you, I'd start looking at other countries.

LilacScentedStoat@reddit

*"I’ve been on the unemployment benefits about two years now"* If you're on Universal Credit, they would expect you to look for ANY job you're capable of within a 90minute commute. Failure to look, apply and get interviewed for any jobs would result in sanctions and possibly your claim being closed down. Unless there's more to the story, like a illness or disability etc. your work coach should have pushed you to take any job you could do instead of waiting for a tech job.

justitia_@reddit

Try and look for contract based jobs rather than permanent based ones. Those roles are less desired but theyll give you experience. You can also try and do a bootcamp while looking for a job and it will justify your furyher unemployment gap.

hellomoto335@reddit

A 2-3 year gap isn't huge and isn't a big deal especially if you can justify it. but as other users have said CS and to a lesser degree tech is no longer the quick fix for a high paying career that it used to be. Lots of developers have taken the same route you did just a few years before you and the market sucks. You're competing with a lot of people who are usually more qualified. Help desks are usually hiring and you might hate it (I certainly did). It will however give you the breathing room to find if there is any aspect of tech that you do enjoy and are good at. It will also depending on the company, expose you to lots of other aspects of a business that you can hopefully find an interest in. I will say enjoyment and genuine interest will allow you to progress faster but just don't force it because it's what you think you need to do.

SunAdditional3606@reddit

Consider joining the military - naval or RAF signals would be good

ForwardCity9803@reddit

I’d recommend doing some up to date training in a niche IT area , probably cyber security related. With your academic background and some up to date skills you could get a job and then use the experience to springboard back into the industry.

Dry_Winter7073@reddit

I think you've confused "IT" and "coding" quite heavily. I've been in cyber security for over 15 years and never needed to be able to deeply code. Sometimes ego, and I think that is probably what it was off the back of the MSc can be a blocker. When I started out the same day I joined was a bloke, same role, but with an MSc vs my BSc. Right now any tech related role would be better than another. Service Desk, support engineer etc to start getting some traction in the field. The other risk is education is (roughly) 4-5 years behind industry so at this point you are 6-7 years out of step. Longer you wait the bigger the gap. Failing that, or if that isn't of interest to you, literally any job is better for your mental health and wellbeing than none. There are no jobs that you should see as "below" you as currently your net income is £0 - even McDs pays more than that. Have a long thing about where you want to be at 30 / 35 / 40 and work back from there.

PhilTheQuant@reddit

I'll let other people give the usual advice about getting started, ways to motivate yourself and so on, I don't disagree. But. Right now is an unusual time in CS. We a huge new tool, which few people know how to work, but which is clearly going to be a game changer, at least in the eyes of managers. So people who can show that they can corral an AI into doing an actually useful thing are in great demand. In being off work for now, you have a golden opportunity to spend your time doing a thing. Granted, you will be limited budget wise, but if you use Kilo code and select the free models, you can actually code stuff up without needing a huge budget. Maybe put some coins in the slot for Claude to do architectural design at the beginning, but a lot of the grunt work can be done if you just go exceedingly slowly and incrementally. Once you've got a bit of stuff under your belt (build random things like an app, a website, a simulation, an Excel addin) then go hunting for someone who needs it. By all means pick some job descs you would like to apply for and just build the thing they talk about building on your own. To be honest, it will drive you up the wall a bit, but you can get past that. The reason there are millions of people using ChatGPT but still few people who have built stuff (not just proof of concept) is that it is hard and it goes wrong if you try to go too fast. So you will be developing a real skill. If you need ideas for projects to get started, DM me. My area is quantitative, but if that's not your thing we can find something else. Thoughts?

DigitalStefan@reddit

Get into any office job. Find ways to automate or improve efficiency. *Document that shit* Now put those achievements on your CV without using ChatGPT to word it (recruiters have seen every ChatGPT CV in existence, yours will stand out in a good way). How is your interview technique? I found the best possible thing you can do is treat it like a chat and be honest without being negative. Technical tests shouldn’t be designed to trip you up on purpose. Are you keeping current on the relevant tech? Start contributing to any applicable tech’s following on LinkedIn and Reddit if you aren’t already. Nice way to get your name associated with being knowledgeable and helpful.

Few_Lengthiness_2587@reddit

The bubble has burst regarding the ‘break glass in emergency’ idea of going into coding and the likes. It’s the exact reason I did it a decade ago, and I wouldn’t recommend it.

Broad-Truth2099@reddit

I got into IT by getting a entry level service desk role and worked my way up from there , then got into contracting. Your not behind bro one of colleagues was 33 when he got into IT

Fraggle_ninja@reddit

You didnt do wrong by valuing your skills and expectations - but it might not have aligned with a very awful job market. Do you volunteer? Do anything creative in your spare time, do you have any exercise goals? Being unemployed and going to endless interviews takes a huge toll on your self confidence and that comes out in interviews. I needed a hard stop and gave myself permission to chill out and just do fun stuff for a month - you tube drawing classes, longer walks, started running, cooking. Then I started brainstorming what I was good at, what I liked about my career what I hated and where I wanted to work and started some very selective job hunting - 3 interviews and 1 job offer. Your self confidence is being eroded, interviewers smell that. Volunteering can also help with some routine and confidence building and does look good on a CV. And you can say anything you like about the gap - lie and say you were supporting an ill family member, you could say travelling but there’s a small risk the job seekers doesn’t align. Honestly you can say what you like for the gap these days.

xxbtmxx@reddit

I got a non-related job after my degree bc I couldn't find one in law. I worked hard and applied for higher jobs and ended up with a great career. You are more employable if you are employed. In any job. Then you can think about your life direction. Lesser skilled roles can also lead to making more friends if it's in a group environment like retail. You'll feel happier, learn skills and have more confidence. Think of it as a first step rather than a backwards one. As an employer I would be happier interviewing a graduate who cleaned toilets than one who does nothing. One shows a strong work ethic, adaptability and commitment. The other.....

WeSavedLives@reddit

you could get a job in a warehouse/kitchen/pub tomorrow if you chose to.

thatguyjames_uk@reddit

get posting on upworks or freelancer

Luton_Enjoyer@reddit

Volunteer at a charity. Your IT skills will be valued and it'll help you get a job.

trequartista811@reddit

29 is not old in anyway, you have time on your side and life can get better. It sounds like you're not exactly sure what you want, but that's okay too. As others have said, put yourself out there and do any job as lessons can be learned anywhere, a cousin of mine has an engineering degree, but was plodding along working in Asda , it's not great money but he's met this amazing woman through work and he's a happy chappy now. He's going to go into teaching this year.

Glowing102@reddit

I think despite your qualifications, just yourself in a tech company or tech job. Apply for IT Support jobs. You need current and relevant experience right now. I know people who've started in IT Support, then gone into Testing and Quality Assurance, with the company training then as they go along. You could also get the opportunity to become a developer or whatever else you want to do in tech.

Bloe_Joggs@reddit

I graduated last May in audio engineer. I expected to find something instantly as I also have internship experience and years of part time roles alongside education. I’ve been applying since May and I’ve also found nothing. I’m now taking a step back and looking at everything instead of my niche. I’d do the same. Apply to everything you can find and just try get your foot in the door

Sygga@reddit

Get help for your depression first. Try and be strict with social media, delete it if possible, or at least limit yourself to half an hour a day. Fill your time with other stuff, reading, watching movies, doing or starting a hobby. After that, you have kinda answered your own question. You were too picky and some of your rejections were due to lack of experience. You need experience, which means low level jobs. Any job will give you purpose, which will help your mental health.

AM197T@reddit

You've gotta just keep applying, maybe put your CV into an AI tool, don't give up

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