1. Always save your money; things can change really fast.
2. Keep a backup plan ready, no matter how well you're doing or how important you think you are to the company.
3. If you get laid off, you might feel tempted to go back to your hometown. Sure, you'll save some money, but you'll also lose momentum, drive and confidence. Life moves slower there and you may end up leading a sedentary, denial‑filled routine. Don't move back.
4. Don't count on friends to bail you out in tough times. You'll soon realise how little people care when you're not adding value to their lives. Some "close" friends aren't that close at all; people move on faster than you think.
5. While you're employed, network like crazy. References matter a lot. Being shy or introverted can be a real disadvantage in IT, so learn to network.
6. When you're unemployed, you'll hear harsh things from people close to you that you wish you hadn't. It can shatter your confidence and self‑respect. It's better to stay alone or with folks in a similar situation, rather than living with family for a long stretch.
7. At the end of the day, the only person who can truly help you is YOU. Funny how as we grow older, life becomes more about every man for himself.
8. Don't overthink. Stay open‑minded and flexible. Worry less about losing money and more about wasting time.
All of this hit me hard too, brother, especially the part about friends. Finding a job now feels like hell. Employers don't even see you; bots filter you out first. I only got noticed after using a tool that automatically tailors my resume. jobowl.co - that's the tool.
This hits too close to home; I've been unemployed for two months and I'm already feeling like I'm in the depths of hell.
One of the best pieces of advice ever.
What could you have done differently while you were employed?
I agree with everything except point six. Emotional people shouldn't be left alone right now; you never know what your mind might make you do.
Unemployed for the last 1.5 years; the only thing I see is a fan.
The IT market is so cooked that I'm thinking of switching sectors now.
Money doesn't last forever. Savings shrink and melt away just like ice‑cream. It's important to understand the balance between money and relationships early in life.
I've been there, and all those points hit hard. I was unemployed for almost two years after graduation, tried a bit here and there, but gradually lost momentum as time passed. The worst thing I did was staying in my comfort zone and not moving out.
This is absolute gold, thank you for sharing. Hope you're doing great now, OP.