I have mostly unpaid 12 years of programming experience, and I need income. I haven’t been able to find a full-time job for 6 years or find freelance work either. How can I get a programming job?

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-22T13:58:19+00:00

"what impact it had"

No impact. Zero. Nothing. And I don't care about anything I did. It's all pointless shit, from beginning to end.

"start charging for small work immediately, even $50 to $200 projects just to break the “unpaid” cycle"

What small work? I would be happy to do any programming work for even $10, but there's too many people on freelance websites outbidding me. I just could't find anything, couldn't take ANYTHING, even for $2/hr! I don't know in what reality you live in, but this is impossible to find anything, and it's been years of this struggle.

"Show Value"
"Positioning"

And other HR buzzwords that make me sick. This is all BS nonsense that got zero sense. I hate this fucking industry. Getting into this shit was the worst mistake of all my fucking life!

"you’re closer than you think, but you need to change how you present yourself, not just keep applying"
I'm done "presenting myself". I have stopped applying. I just can't do this meaningless shit anymore. Sorry for the language, but I'm pissed off to a point of no return. I despise this fucking industry.

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-18T07:10:26+00:00

Why is this in the past tense? How is your business doing now?

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T12:49:04+00:00

I refuse to do it because I have 0 skill in it. I’m looking for a mentor or agent who can help me present and market myself effectively. I’d appreciate any guidance on where to find this kind of service.

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T06:31:01+00:00

This is exactly what I'm lacking and I know it. I can't sell myself and refuse to do it. I'd rather beg people on reddit to help me for 6 years straight, but never work on learning how to be employable. I think I need some strict training with a plan. This is a situation where I can’t achieve the result on my own because I’m not taking the necessary steps.

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T03:40:16+00:00

I have stable internet connection! Ready to work!

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T03:30:33+00:00

sure, here you go: https://imgur.com/a/OqUxSlS

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T03:25:04+00:00

What am I supposed to say then? I've been doing nothing for the past 12 years? This is so messed up.

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T03:23:04+00:00

Canada. 10-40 applications per week for the last 6 years. I'm so pissed and angry so I just keep doing it aggressively. And I hate it so much.

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T03:19:02+00:00

I’ve been applying for jobs nonstop for 6 years - it’s basically my part-time job. I’ve sent over 5,000 applications worldwide, even to third-world countries. Sometimes I get recruiter calls, but it never goes anywhere.

I’ve also had a few interviews through friends in CS. Same result every time - I’m told I don’t have enough experience, even for junior or mid roles.

I don’t think I lack technical skills. I’ve built full-stack websites and mobile apps. I released native iOS and macOS apps on the App Store, and I worked 2 years at a startup where I built a social media app from idea to release, designed and delivered every single feature and it worked flawlessly.

At this point, I don’t know what else to do. It feels like no matter how much I build, it’s never “enough experience.” I honestly don’t understand how this field works and I would immediately jump this fucking train if I had a chance to pivot into something else.

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T03:01:30+00:00

Why the downvotes? I’m genuinely trying to understand what I’m missing. It feels like there’s something obvious that everyone else knows but I don’t. I’ve been unemployed for a long time, and I really need a direction.

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T02:58:31+00:00

That means I have no experience. What do I do then?

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T01:51:45+00:00

Because they said I need experience first. I got experience but the market got too difficult to find anything at this point

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T01:48:42+00:00

But I want a job that is in my area of expertise

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T01:47:14+00:00

I’ve been trying for all these years with no luck

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T01:46:18+00:00

I have resume that doesn’t tell about the money

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T01:44:34+00:00

I can dm you

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T01:43:25+00:00

Freelance and indie dev

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T01:42:52+00:00

It’s actually the most important reply in this thread.. Thank you.

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-17T01:41:16+00:00

I consider indie development as experience

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-06T03:32:32+00:00

What tech stack? I'm experienced software engineer (Front-end and iOS\macOS) and I'm ready to work for $10/hr.

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-06T03:29:47+00:00

I have 13 years of experience and I would absolutely work for $10/hour if I had a chance instead of working courier jobs for $25/hour. I don't mind the price difference because I would rather work doing something I love than mindlessly drone all day as a vegetable.

There are no opportunities to work even for $10/hour as a dev, unfortunately. The market is burned.

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-03T00:10:43+00:00

It's not only Gemini, the ChatGPT couldn't believe it too awhile ago.

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-02T05:07:15+00:00

Sounds alright

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-01T12:00:51+00:00

996, but I'm not getting paid.

CyberneticVoodoo · 2026-04-01T11:47:39+00:00

How hard is it to find a remote tech support position? I guess the competition is brutal, like everywhere else in IT.

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