2 hrs ago
Unemployed for Nearly Two Years, US Engineer Considers India Return
Gautam Dev is 61 and lives in Dallas, Texas.
He left his software engineering job in September 2024 because he was asked to move to another state.
He has applied for many jobs and had interviews, but has not received an offer.
He thinks his age and time away from full-time work may be making the search harder.
He now does delivery and other gig work to earn money, but says it is not enough to cover all his bills.
A fundraiser raised more than $9,000, which he used to pay bills.
He is thinking about moving back to India, where he lived before, but is not planning to go right away.
He hopes gig work and Social Security benefits, which he can claim at 62 in January 2027, will help.
Gautam Dev, a 61-year-old IIT Kanpur alumnus in Dallas, left his software engineering job in September 2024 after being asked to relocate.
Despite applying and attending several interviews, he has not secured another full-time position and suspects age and his employment gap may be obstacles.
He says changes in the IT sector, including AI-related roles, have added to his concerns about finding suitable work.
Dev now earns some income through Uber, DoorDash and Walmart Spark, but says gig work has not covered his expenses; a GoFundMe raised more than $9,000 for bills.
He is considering returning to India but is not making an immediate move; he plans to keep working in the US and expects Social Security eligibility at 62 in January 2027.
- Who
- Gautam Dev, a 61-year-old Indian-origin software engineer and IIT Kanpur alumnus.
- What
- After struggling to find a full-time job for nearly two years, he is considering returning to India while earning money through gig work.
- Where
- Dallas, Texas; he is considering a move to India.
- When
- He resigned in September 2024; he expects to become eligible for Social Security benefits in January 2027, at age 62.
- Why
- His job search has not produced an offer, and gig earnings have not been enough to meet expenses.
Dev's concerns
Potential opportunities
Finding another software role
Dev's concerns
Dev has received interviews but no offers, and believes his age and long employment gap may be hurting his prospects.
Potential opportunities
He has continued applying and networking, and has secured several interviews, including multiple rounds with one company.
Career fit amid AI changes
Dev's concerns
Dev says he has limited AI experience and is unsure whether AI engineering openings suit him.
Potential opportunities
He continues to earn through gig platforms and plans to keep working in the US for now.
Returning to India
Dev's concerns
He has seriously considered moving back to India after financial strain and an extended job search.
Potential opportunities
He is not planning an immediate move, saying it would take time and planning; he hopes gig earnings and future Social Security benefits will help.
Key facts
- Age
- 61
- Location
- Dallas, Texas
- Education
- IIT Kanpur alumnus
- Previous job departure
- Resigned in September 2024 after being asked to relocate to another state
- Gig platforms
- Uber, DoorDash and Walmart Spark
- Fundraiser
- GoFundMe raised more than $9,000 in January; Dev said it all went toward bills
- Social Security
- He expects to become eligible at age 62 in January 2027
- Possible move
- He is considering returning to India but says he is not in a rush
Quotes
Gautam Dev
A 61-year-old software engineer and IIT Kanpur alumnus living in Dallas.
“Most of the people I talked to said their companies weren't hiring. Some told me their jobs had gotten tougher, but that they were afraid to quit because they might not find another one. Still, I've managed to land some interviews over the course of my search, including multiple with the same company. I thought some went well, but I never received an offer.”
NDTV
“It seems like AI can do some of the things software engineers used to do manually. I've seen job postings for AI engineering positions, but I don't have much of an AI background, so I'm not sure they're a good fit.”
NDTV
Sources
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