I'm 61 and can't find a job. I've drained my savings and started a GoFundMe to help pay the bills.
A 61-year-old former software engineer in Dallas is struggling to find full-time employment after two years of searching. He attributes his difficulty to ageism and long employment gaps, leading him to rely on crowdfunding to cover basic expenses.
Why it matters
This story illustrates the challenges faced by older tech workers in a shifting labor market and the potential impact of AI on job security.
Gautam Dev turned to gig work after struggling to find another full-time tech job. Gautam Dev Gautam Dev worked in tech for more than two decades before quitting his job in 2024. Two years of job hunting later, he's still without a full-time role. The 61-year-old is struggling to afford rent and is considering leaving the US. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Gautam Dev, a 61-year-old job seeker in Dallas. He previously worked as a software engineer before resigning in 2024. The following has been edited for length and clarity. In 2024, while working as a software engineer for an IT company in Dallas, I was told I'd have to relocate to another state to keep my job. That September, I decided to quit my job, stay in Dallas, and look for a new role . That decision became a disaster.
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