feeling depressed after my startup failure.

I know this will sound like a very biased opinion but just sharing my 2 cents of today’s market. The way with highest probability of success, money and ensuring a better future for your future generations is to startup. It has the highest risk, highest reward. But in today’s landscape: where inflation is always higher than your hike, there’s no guarantee of employment even in next 1 years, the effort to remain in top 1% is humongous and many other reasons like that, really make me feel that if you’re able to start a company and even capture 0.1% of market who’s willing to pay something for your service/product, that’s all you need. Of course the struggle doesn’t end there and you have to keep working for as long as possible? But your capacity to earn and provide for generations to come is much higher than working for someone else. All disagreement is welcome :) Just tired of running this race for years now and still never feeling financially secure.

I started as a fresher at a big service-based company, faced a lot of politics, and was learning nothing. I realized I needed to leave it ASAP. I left it after 8 months, then was jobless for 2 months. After 2 months joined an early-stage startup, and was satisfied with my learning for a while, but in the backend team, there were only two people me and the CTO. And my dynamics with him didn't go very well. There was no culture as well, weekdays and weekends were the same. I was still fine with it but the guy (CTO) became very toxic and creepy. In 2 months, I started interviewing and I got into a mid-sized series B startup that had a good culture. I had to switch tech stack and it was more overwhelming than I thought initially. I tried to do good but I got laid off after working there for 10 months. All the way along I increased my package to a decent level. Now I feel super demotivated and underconfident and it's been 6 months since and I haven't taken up a job. With an increasing gap, I feel I have fucked up my career. In these 6 months, I have tried exploring different career options but haven't been able to crack any or have been indecisive and I feel I should just take up a job.

We’ve all read the software engineer turned PM story. And although very commendable, and kudos to them for doing what needs to be done, I’d love to hear people who’ve gone down the not so traditional career path or have had weird career trajectories. Are you happy about the decisions you’ve made? Are you content? Is there something you would do differently?

It's more difficult finding a job as a founder I've realised 1. If your venture is still continuing, they don't trust that you'll work enough at the job. 2. If your venture is shut, extra questions and judgement as to how and why it happened. 3. If your venture is successful and profitable, they'll ask why you want a job if it's going so well. I've never received any preference because of being a founder. On the contrary it's made getting good jobs more difficult. Thankfully I've managed my earnings through my startup, but I feel stuck because I'm not earning as much as I want to, plus I can't work on new things anymore. I would have liked to work on other things but it doesn't seem like I'll be able to get a chance to do that anymore.

Have u ever resigned without any offer in hand? If yes what was the reason and how things went ahead??

I am thinking of leaving my current job and focus on myself, getting to know myself better etc. Currently I have enough money saved for my expenses for next 6-8 months. Everyone I have asked about this say don't leave your job if you don't have another lined up, in this tech winter. I understand their view point. It aligns with what my parents think as well. Is there anyone who has had done this in the past? Do you recommend this route? Are the consequences far too severe? Does anyone have a different opinion from one stated above?

I interned at a company for more than 10 months. Gave my heart and soul to it They made me work late nights, gave me so much work I completed them all And now they denied a full time offer citing budget reasons I feel like a loser now. This is so not fair. Now placements at college are also over so theres no hope left Completely loss of words. I don't know what to do Can someone please guide me

I am currently working as a senior engineer at a startup (yoe 6+). Initially things were good , but from the last few months The workplace turned toxic and all the nasty things started happening around me. The burn out was deteriorating mental and physical health, so i lost my patience and resigned. Making this ama , so that I can help someone who is going through the same situation.

Broke up in 2020, thought of giving all my energy to my job as my career won't wake up one day and say I don't love you. Jan 2024 update - Got silent laid off from EY. Anyone else going through the same trauma? How to heal?

I am a fresher doing b.tech in cse, I don't have a job right now, my previous company declined thr joining due to which I was not able to apply for other jobs coming on campus. My friends got job somewhere, I feel very disappointed in myself and I can't see my family lower their expectations in me. Mentally I am not in the state to do anything, I think my life is falling apart although it didn't even start. I am lacking motivation, I cry all the times thinking what will happen now. My father is retired, he's getting old, I want to give him that luxury and things but I can't get success thay easily. I am struck at the lowest point in my life. Even my friends are not helping me. I don't share my feelings with anyone. I don't know what to do should I look for a job or start preparing for MBA or MS in USA. I know this point came in life of many people, please help out I can't see myself going anywhere.