Current Milestone of Career
For the year of 2026, I really wonder how much demand of software engineering and web development is needed for actual humans, not AI. Some market analysts would deny that human forces are not that terribly being replaced by AI; instead AI would be used very helpful tools on the side to enhance development performance. Is that really all true for engineer team specifically? More likely companies have been plenty of hype and demonstrations of success using AI, and would be worth to spend only portion of an engineer's salary. So only the highest level of engineers would be needed to analyze codes generated by AI and fix all levels. Even now there are news that huge corporations like Meta are regretting that thousands of employee layoffs, but the regret is not known everywhere. Even so, would need some time to realize the problems and recycle the work force. Unfortunately unemployed ones like me are sucked into the recycling process.
Search in Job Market
Since November of 2025, I have been unemployed after the layoff of principal software engineer position in a cancelled project. Since that moment of the year was near holidays, I only casually searched for similar web developer or software engineer jobs while I went to couple vacation trips. So around half year I've been trying hard to search for proper jobs online, ranging from mid to senior levels. The considerable job applications of mine are recorded in spreadsheet for myself to avoid reapplying for ones that I'd be already rejected. Only 1 to 2 out of 10 would respond with status update, whether rejection or offer to proceed to next step, but that wait time would take weeks and months. With hundreds of applications overlapping with such wait timelines, no way I can estimate how much longer I can wait and keep trying. In general, not only the tech industry but also other ones that can confirm many of the online job postings are "ghost" ones there to either fake out little hype of job demands or only to fetch tons of worker profiles, but no intention to hire. Guess the most reliable path to get considered for the positions is really via our networks of friends and ex-coworkers, which unfortunately I have small circle of.
Reflection of Career Performance
During this mysterious period, without doubt that I worry my own skill levels compared to the market's demand and AI capabilities. After conversion from Java to Ruby programmer for more than 15 years, in my mind would consider I'm pretty good master in web development. When working in engineering projects, when I was focusing mainly within the circles of the projects and using their selected technologies. Along the way, we'd best to follow up on updates of the same technologies, and enhance via time. In mid-age that has started a family of 4, I really don't know how I'd have many hours of off times to actively participate in research, open source, assistance of others, etc. Additionally, expansion of skill set is also wanted by companies: learning more languages and practice to production level. Without actual practice projects, it's really difficult to have the energy and time to master that many technologies. The industry keeps evolving at fast pace that I cannot catch up, especially further escalated by AI. How to balance between work and private life? Personal hobbies like going to events and parties would use up time. Honestly over these several years, I have not even had enough time for my main hobby, playing video games. I still have 2 games that I purchased but have barely played.
How Much More Hope for Progress?
Just spent 3.5 days to complete an assessment exam test, an online Blackjack game. As usual, this is the second step of software engineer job application. So far I have been given 5 assessment tests for those applications reaching to such phrase. Previously I was rejected for those when only couple of them were notifying status update, and the others were either unreachable or required my request for status. This latest job that can reach second step would pay less than usual salary range for an experienced software engineer. It could be the load of the role is just junior level, which would be fine for a desperate job seeker. Maybe later I'll give status update in this article in the future. Would the reason of my failures for previous assessment work be the weakness of my imperfect codes or my disappointing profile or interview conversations?
Future Plan
After almost half year of the expiration of unemployment benefit, definitely would need to get back some income. Guess when the end of year is reached and still no luck in software engineer jobs, I would need to take any normal office jobs and even possibly low labor jobs. Money still matters.
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