4 years unemployed despite having a BSc, MSc and two tech internships – what should I do?

[EazyDuz]

I'm in my early 30s, an EU citizen (Male) living in Ireland, relatively close to the UK. Despite having a BSc (2020), MSc degree (2022) in computing-related fields and two internships, I've struggled to get a proper job in tech for around four years.

I've faced constant rejections, ghosting, hiring freezes and difficult technical/ coding assessments. Even graduate and entry-level positions seem to require experience. With layoffs, huge numbers of applicants and AI potentially affecting junior roles, breaking into tech feels increasingly difficult.

Due to personal circumstances and other factors, things haven't gone as planned. I'm now living with my parents and relying on government benefits. I'm grateful to have their support, but being in my 30s without financial independence has taken a toll on my self-esteem and mental health. My brother has even called me a leech, which makes things harder. Atm, im struggling with self esteem issues, struggling to get out out of the house properly, binge eating and gained weight, etc.

I'll admit I've probably been too focused on finding a job in tech instead of considering other options (low tech jobs or minimum wage job) I genuinely want to work, get out of the house, meet people and move forward with my life.

I'm considering applying for minimum-wage jobs, but I worry employers might see me as overqualified, so perhaps I'd need to remove my master's degrees from my CV. I also have a car and have considered doing delivery work, although I'm not sure how worthwhile that would be.

What should I do in this situation? Should I keep trying to break into tech, look for a different career entirely, or take whatever job I can get for now? If you were in my position, what other careers or options would you suggest?

It seems a shame to waste your qualifications but yes it does seem like you have an imbalance in terms of qualifications v experience. How are you applying for jobs? Do you have a recruiter who can work with you to find you positions to apply for?

May I ask how your internships went? Did they give you any feedback or letters of recommendation?

As an employer I would be impressed by someone who did any job whilst looking for the job. It shows a certain resilience, willingness to much on and get stuff done.

Someone who is otherwise able, who claims benefits whilst waiting for the best option to come along? Not so much.

Do yourself a favour and take something which gets you into the workplace, you will do your self esteem some good by getting up and out to work each day and earning something, you might meet some interesting people, and you never know where it might lead.

Sorry things are so difficult. I don't know if teaching would be something you are interested in and an option to investigate, there's a big shortage of computing teachers in the UK.

I agree that you need to get out there in any job in order to abort the downward spiral.
Was there any feedback from your internships that might inform your next steps? Were they positive placements on both sides?
Do you have other interests that might act as a springboard?
I know it is frustrating to have worked so hard and be so well qualified and yet ve meeting a brick wall. But you have to stay positive and proactive because no one else is going to do it for you.
Ignore your brother ... he needs a kick up the arse.
Wishing you lots of luck.

My ds graduated this summer with a degree in CS. He applied for grad schemes over his 3rd year but didn't find anything. He seemed to struggle with the technical assessments not sure why, he went on to achieve a 1st class degree from a good uni.
He got a job after graduation doing tech support at a tech company. He wanted to do soft eng but he is hoping he can pivot within the company to a different role.

So my advice is to look at tech support roles it may be an easier route in. Be prepared to relocate for a job. If you can't find one straight away look at volunteering in this area in a library or somewhere.
If not I would find any job for now at least it will give you money and get outside the house. Good luck!

There's a huge shortage of computer science teachers and a very generous scholarship for doing the training.

I'm considering applying for minimum-wage jobs, but I worry employers might see me as overqualified, so perhaps I'd need to remove my master's degrees from my CV. I also have a car and have considered doing delivery work, although I'm not sure how worthwhile that would be.
it’s would be worthwhile, having any job would be an improvement and give you a safety net. Simplify your cv a bit for some roles as you will often be bottom of the pile as they will think you will leave the minute something better comes along.
get a job (any job) and do tech projects and open source software contributions etc etc on the side to keep skills up while applying

Have you tried looking north of the border? I’ve seen on a news large investments in tech companies. I don’t know if the jobs are available now and I can’t remember the names of the companies.

Maybe you applied for too competitive jobs and should start from the very bottom tier of a corporate tech job? Forget about coding though, these entry-level jobs got wiped out by AI. I did a master's in finance and my first job was inputting purchase invoices into the accounting system (supplier, category, amount, next invoice), which is a job which can be done by a teenager doing work experience. I was humble and only did it for a few months though - it was my foot in the door because once I had some experience I found a better entry-level role, which lead to a higher level role where I did chartered accounting exams, which lead to a promotion. If you have no experience apart from internships maybe try looking for a very very basic and underwhelming job in tech, anything that will get you into a corporation where you can work your way up. Explore other entry-level corporate jobs, not necessarily in tech - I work in finance and I used to work with people with BSc in biology or sport science, who were doing chartered accountancy exams. In this country it's not that crucial that you stick to your studied field. Foot in the door - you might get a good non-tech job because people will think you're smart since you gave a tech degree. Anything to avoid hospitality/retail

Have you tried data centre work? There are heaps of employers in Ireland in that field.

I'd look for any job - as employers tell DH im HE that they like any job experience.

At same time widen to tech support and jobs outside immediate area as well - or teaching in your area and then try pivoting back later.

I think any job would be better than no job, yes. But if you can find a related job that would be even better. You probably have lots of transferable skills, for example excellent IT skills, which might help in all sorts of roles.

Project management. Most people in the tech fields doing well despite the AI impact are project managing. I would look to get a part time BS job doing anything and then using the wages to fund qualifications in IT project management. You will be better qualified than a project manager with no technical expertise.

Agree that you have to go get yourself any job for money and your mental health. Otherwise how would you answer questions about teamwork/ dealing with conflict etc? You need to focus on related entry jobs to get your foot in the door.

If you did decide to pivot into teaching (as someone suggested) you need to volunteer at youth groups/ etc. to show you’ve got experience in working with young people rather than applying as a last resort!

There’s a lot of pharmaceutical companies and manufacturing based in Ireland, take a look as I’m sure there’ll be tech jobs but in an industry you might not have considered.

Can you look for "any job" in a big company? Often, once you're in a company it's far easier to move onto other roles than it is to get those roles from the outside.

I agree with all the above posters about getting any job.

When I was starting out I worked in retail despite having several postgraduate degrees, and temped in basic admin roles (and worked in pubs in the evenings/weekends at the same time). No one’s expecting a lifelong commitment to entry level work.

Sign up with a temp agency and do anything. You go in, do a good job, and if the workplace is that bad you leave them with a good impression of you and go back to the agency saying you’d rather go somewhere else next week please. If that FT minimum wage job doesn’t pay enough you add bar/evening/weekend work on top. You’re young, living at home with no dependents. You can do it (most of us did).

There are many benefits to taking any job:
• Reduced gaps in employment- shows commitment, initiative, humility, determination, etc.
• Gives you a sense of purpose, self respect, routine.
• You meet people (and you’ve heard the saying that it’s not what you know but who you know. It’s true. But you have to get out there to meet the people).
• You earn money, you pay NI, you pay tax and contribute to the shared system. You save up for a deposit on your own place or contribute to the household.
• You get references which say this person can turn up, be punctual, follow policies, work hard, support others, even when we know it’s not their favourite thing.

Progress, not perfection.

Have you had any interviews? Perhaps if you aren't quite getting to that stage you need to reflect on your application, ask for feedback?
Are you working with a recruitment agency or recruiter?

The main reason people are not hiring you right now is because you have not done any work at all for the last four years. Even if you look qualified for their vacancy, they will view your long-term unemployment with disfavour and assume that there's a reason why nobody will give you a job.

I agree with others on the thread, you need to find a job - any job.

What paid-jobs have you had in your lifetime?

Did you have a Saturday job when at school?

Did you work part time whilst at Uni?

Did you work during the summer holidays, Easter and Xmas holidays whilst at Uni/doing further studies.

Were the internships paid work? If not, did you work in the evenings and weekends, say in a bar or restaurant whilst doing those internships?

If so, great, revisit all of those employers and see if they have any vacancies, they’ll know that (hopefully) you’re a hard worker and will be happy to rehire you if they have a vacancy.

If you have genuinely reached the age of 30 without any paid work experience then it’s likely you will be the least qualified applicant at any job interview you go to.

So yes, at this stage you need to get a job, any job, that pays actual money. Aside from anything else, how have you financially supported yourself for the last decade or so? I’m imagining that’s why your sibling has called you a leech, because maybe your parents are paying for every meal you eat, every hot shower you have and everything else inbetween.

You have spectacularly failed to launch, and the only person who can change this is you. So apply for every job advertisement that needs someone with zero work experience and don’t expect to get a senior level job when you are competing against people who have your qualifications, plus over a decade of work experience.

Minimum wage jobs aren’t something to be looked down on, you seem to think that as you have a few certificates you’re better than the people working those jobs and I can assure you you’re not, all those people are contributing to society, where you, currently, are not.

Had an university job. For teaching assistant. Conducting programming lab classes to IT first year student. It was part time and lasted for 6 months (semester ended).

Did a temp job as exam invigilator for my local university. It's seasonal job and only happens in the summer and winter exams only (worked for like 2 weeks). Was doing that for years. But don't consider that as proper job anyways.

But other then that, unpaid internships, no paid job (weekend job). My brother and I never did a minimum wage job or part time (during school/college years). Our parents have a good jobs/career so relying on them. In my experience, we see most kids that comes from upper middle class will never do part time job and only focus on studies. The parents will pay college fees. My patents did blame me for not finding work during my time in college.

Based on that last post, reiterating but rrally get any job you can no matter how far away from tech it seems, supermarkets and stores are getting Christmas temps now. Apply for them and everything.
giving yourself some kind of job history shows you can work a days work, turn up etc all the basics, it will massively help your future job hunt

I agree you need some work experience. I accept that it's common in some backgrounds not to work prior to or during university terms (though not working in summer holidays is less common). But it's been 4 years since you finished your Masters and that's the gap that employers will notice. How much of that 4 years was spent on the internships? Have you done other things e.g. self study that can attempt to fill the space?

They were unpaid internship. Got them through nepotism. Good experience but not a proper Internship interms of the structure and proper mentorship.

My college course did not offer workplacement/internship. But regret for not applying internship Myself rather then relying family connections. The easy path to get into tech if you get proper internship as part of the college course (depends which university) with a good company. You will likely to get a full time offer.
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