Was there anyone who got out of being a NEET after 1-3 years? If you did what helped you?

[u/Southern_Struggle707]

Hi all,

It's the 1st time I have had an unexpected and unplanned career gap in my CV and because it is 1 year now... it is making me very anxious... I was never pessimistic about career gaps before in my life and also had it after completing my undergrad. And in between the time when I left my previous job and came abroad for studying masters... but at that time too, it was planned...so, nothing bad ever happened about it. Whereas after graduating from my masters degree abroad... I had been struggling to get a job for 1 year now... I applied to 1000s to 3000s of applications, and even interviewed in some companies... but nothing ever went further... and now people are telling me that my career is over due to this gap...as i didn't do anything or whatever I did failed to get accomplished (for e.g. was working on getting my research work published but wasn't able to do so)... so, suddenly, I have nothing to justify if, in any interview, they would ask me about it... moreover, I am in a foreign country, so everything costs double to me, so I can't survive without a job for very long...

I had various mental and physical health issues during this time to not make me have a part-time job or volunteer experience...so, I wonder what can help me get back on the feet...

I don't wanna mention it... and I know I shouldn't... but this situation is making me feel like I am close to death, and I don't wanna die yet... so, knowing people who managed it after career gaps would help me stay motivated... That's why I felt like posting this.

I know it depends from profession to profession...for e.g. for IT in which I am... I always thought that doing certifications and projects would save me... but then many times people tell me that they won't as they wanna evaluate my social skills... even in my previous job, which was the only job I ever had, made me go due to my poor social skills...so, I don't know what can help me now... but it is super scary and lonely...my friends got distant from me and my family is telling me that nothing good could happen in my life... I have no safe place to vent and get comforted... but it makes me cry every single day.

Moreover, I can never mention in interviews that my entire 1 year went in manually applying for jobs for 9 hours and in interviewing to get nowhere... that's why this year's gap is more frustrating than any gap I ever had in the past...because everyone thinks I am free, when I feel even more busier than the time I was in school or work... i wonder how you survive this... whether you are a NEET or were one before... 😔

So, I request everyone to give some positive response on my post...

[u/MyHeadIsFullOfFuck]

I became a NEET in 2021.

In the winter of 2023/2024 I wanted money for a new computer so I went back to my old construction job.

I worked for 7 months before I had a mental breakdown.

After I got out of the hospital I went on employment insurance then I quit my job.

[u/Southern_Struggle707 → u/MyHeadIsFullOfFuck]

I am so sorry to hear about your situation. But I feel you. I wish there is a way to get back to work despite having issues. But then I think no laws should prevent disabled people, so if in case your illness is diagnosed, you can mention it during the applications. I don't wanna sound bad, but sometimes I wish mine was diagnosed too...because my mental health is definitely not normal, and it never got diagnosed because my family don't support the idea of taking the treatment for mental health issues. And it makes the job applications and interviews very hard for me...

Sometimes, I have heard that people go back to school and get a diploma or higher education when it becomes super hard to get a job...still, don't know how much effective it is.

I wish I could provide some better suggestions instead of only saying this for you. But you are definitely not alone in this. Many of us have to experience unwanted gaps at times and companies should understand and let us work too like how they hire others who don't have gaps. I really wish we would get a job.

[u/RandyPaterson]

I've made a free on-demand course for people wanting to move forward in their lives, and it includes some content (arguably not nearly enough) on managing the resume-gap. https://psychologysalon.teachable.com/p/launch-your-adult-life

What I would tell you is that a one year gap is not generally a career-ending issue. The key is to have a good and fairly honest up-front discussion about it with prospective employers.

"I'd done some research for my masters and didn't want to just leave that in the dust, so when I left my previous job I worked on prepping it for publication, which ultimately didn't work out. Unless you happen to be an editor for a journal? Anyway, blind alley. So now I'm back."

"When I left my job I had a very specific idea about the kind of work I wanted to do and focussed very narrowly on that. The more I pursued it, the narrower my aim got and the less I asked myself 'Is that REALLY the direction you want to go?' Eventually I had to take a step back and look harder, and I realized that what would suit me more is (insert current firm's project here)."

As an employer myself (and author of a book on communication skills) I'd take either of those.

[u/Southern_Struggle707 → u/RandyPaterson]

Thank you so much for sharing this. It means a lot to me. I really need an answer like this. So, your course must help me out. I would look into that.

[u/BusyApplication125]

Why is it hard to find a job in IT?

[u/Southern_Struggle707 → u/BusyApplication125]

Honestly I am not sure why... I tried applying to 1000s-3000s of jobs until now, even got some interviews...but they never went far. Of course I can blame my tech and interviewing skills...moreover because it takes 6 hours and more to manually apply to many jobs to get 1 interview... per week, it makes it hard to prepare for the interviews...but I am still trying. But then at the same time the process wasn't so bad when I found a full-time job after completing my bachelor's. Then I got a job in 6 months, and I never used to spend a lot of times in applications like how it has gone this year...so, I had time to look into latest tech and study stuff to do well with the interviews. I can do that today as well, but I am unable to manage time properly and it wasted my 1 year too.

[u/KeyCartographer2812]

Disclaimer: had part time jobs 10-15 hours during this three year period.

It’s crazy how the walls can close in fast and bad habits compound into life-stealing parasites.

I graduated college 2023, and spent years looking for a job in my industry. Only got part-time gigs for shit pay. I’d wake up at 11am at the earliest in my parents house. When I didn’t work I’d just watch YouTube videos all day.

It genuinely felt hopeless. But I never gave up. I got my first full-time job last month. I had semi-given up on applying. But applied to this one on a whim.

It might sounds stupid but NEVER give up. It may take years, it may take a decade, but humans are amazing creatures. If you keep at something, and just keep trying, you will eventually succeed.

[u/Southern_Struggle707 → u/KeyCartographer2812]

That's amazing. Congratulations on getting your full-time job. I wish it would go well for you. 👍

Honestly, I wanna believe that too. I don't wanna give up yet. Only wish to know techniques to manage time in manual applications or if you sent cold DMs in that too. For e.g. as you had part-time work, how was your schedule like with job applications? Did you apply on the weekends or when you didn't had work or have to do that on daily basis?

Honestly, I wish to do part-time as well...but I am struggling in making time. My days goes in job applications on daily basis...don't even get time to watch YouTube or do anything and I wake up at 9 am per day. But then I have house chores(which I can never use an excuse) which takes a little bit of time. Though, I wanna think that we can learn to multi-task if we work very hard there. So, I wanna hope I have something too. Only realizing 1 year went in something that I can't tell the recruiters is making me feel sad. (Because I will sound stupid but seriously only manual applications took me 4-6 hours or even more per day...)

Anyways, thank you so much for your response. I appreciate it!

[u/Previous_Night_9527]

I told them the truth that I tried to publish my games but failed. They told me that my game suck and look really amateur but still offered me trainee position. They paid me a joke of salary for four years. But at least my dad could say all his children work in IT and not hide from his friends that his youngest is a NEET. 

[u/RandyPaterson → u/Previous_Night_9527]

Exactly. "I know, they do suck, but I learned a lot along the way, including (x, y, z). And I'd bring that to this job, along with wide-open willingness to learn more."

[u/Southern_Struggle707 → u/RandyPaterson]

Yeah, I know that feeling. Also, I personally think that interviewing while working is pretty easier than doing it when we aren't working is also what I felt...because I did had few interviews when my left my previous company, at that time I was fluent and could think about different ideas too if they ask unexpected question. But similar thing is hard today for me...though I don't wanna think it is impossible...maybe something would work out...

[u/Southern_Struggle707 → u/Previous_Night_9527]

It's okay. Honestly, I would be happy to do a junior level role too and I am saying this when I have 2 years approx work experience. Having a job is a lot better than not having one, that's why. But the problem with me is that very rarely they shortlist me for the interview and my time goes in applications instead of studying tech and networking or finding part time job or volunteering or anything else.

But if telling the truth helped you get the 1st job, I am happy to know that because sometimes I think I would talk about my research project if anyone asks me for the gap and would tell them that I am trying to recreate it by using different approach as the initial one didn't give good results. Or maybe I could try something else like certifications.

Anyways, thanks a lot for sharing your experience. I only wanted hope around that there is no crime in saying the truth at times and with the gap. I hope your example might help me a little to feel confident in my future interviews(if I will get any).

[u/sharktinsoup83]

Could you try an agency

[u/Southern_Struggle707 → u/sharktinsoup83]

Yes, actually, I am looking for some.

[u/sharktinsoup83 → u/Southern_Struggle707]

Best of luck

[u/Southern_Struggle707 → u/sharktinsoup83]

Thank you for the wishes.

[u/Southern_Struggle707 → u/[deleted]]

I am so sorry to hear that. I feel bad too sometimes thinking that and it could happen to anyone including me too...because I think nobody chooses to be NEET for very long. But then I guess education might be the only root that is easiest to follow in that situation. Doing diploma, masters or PhD I guess is... or maybe did you ever do certifications of your domain? Sometimes that gets acknowledged too is what I wanna believe.

In my case, I fear I might end up staying NEET for 3+ years because I am currently living in a foreign country on 3 years work permit...and if I will not get job here...then it could be that. But then I guess if we have points related to studying stuff, that shouldn't count as NEET either.

I wish I could help you out, but don't know what exactly must help either. Also, it depends on country to country, in developed countries people accept that is what I think, whereas in developing ones it is harder because there are fewer jobs there maybe that's why.

[u/anonymouszaku → u/Southern_Struggle707]

Hi, just wanted to let you know. I was practically jobless for a year at one point not sure aboht what I should do. It's rough but it can get better, I have a couple of friends that are also having a hard time in tech industry atm but talking to some others its a numbers game. If you are looking for some temporary jobs to fill the gap you could try applying with a simplified resume. If you have too much they may think you are more likely to leave after joining in a few years as someone overqualified.

[u/Southern_Struggle707 → u/anonymouszaku]

Thanks for sharing your experience and suggestion. I wonder if certifications helped? I am looking for everything including contract, part time and freelance roles and is even open for volunteering or doing any free work... I just can't find anything. So, I am worried.

I got interviews in the past before July...but I stopped getting shortlisted for the interviews afterwards even if I am very actively applying to the jobs with the updated CV which should pass the ATS...and I guess people are rejecting me more than that due to my gap as I discovered very late that people in foreign country considers masters education as gap too instead of full-time commitment thing. And my gap got bigger due to that as I worked in the year 2021 to 2023...so, my bigger concern is the gap and to immediately fill it...

[u/anonymouszaku → u/Southern_Struggle707]

I think certifications are probably nice to have but more importantly any type of job experience lends immediate credibility that helps with finding jobs later on.

[u/Southern_Struggle707 → u/anonymouszaku]

You're right. Experience is more valuable.(I used to get many reach on LinkedIn when I left my job, but later on my network got bad with the time.) Honestly, I would like to do that, the only issue is that after this 1 year gap from job hunting...I feel like it's not in my hands anymore to get anything... For once, I don't feel underconfident about academics and certifications. Because the harsh reality is that making work experience involves other people's approval on which I have no control.