Hacker News Reader

Comment by lusus_naturae | Hacker News Reader

What keeps you from being employed as a store clerk or something like that? Is it citizenship issues?

Have you tried remote work sites, or something like upwork? Is there an unemployment office near you? It might even be your location, per my understanding jobs are more abundant in urban or close-to-urban areas, but require having a car or housing in that area. What if you secured a job first via an unemployment office (don't mention activism stuff, or political stuff), and then apply for something like housing for low-income folk? Just some suggestions.

I suggest doing odd jobs for the couple helping you, as it might at least help them understand you're not exploiting them. Good luck.

Edit: not sure if the tone of my message is coming out right, but its not meant to be judgmental or challenging you :)

View on HN

The citizenship issues are not clear. I thought that he is American, Canadian or something and is trying to get Italian citizenship due to family ties.

> Did you speak to an embassy? This was an odd question from him.

Working without a home is very difficult. Also, your expenses are much higher. (Can't cook at home etc.)

> What keeps you from being employed as a store clerk or something like that? Is it citizenship issues?

I mean, like many people I'm not best suited to working a register if I can code in bash and python. It's the typical issues when you're raised Catholic, have to rely on family for support.

I'm a US citizen and eligible for an Italian passport, but I don't have the funds to continue the process.

> if I can code in bash and python

I'm sorry to reverse the take a bit here, but what makes you think that these qualifications deserve a job as an SWE? These aren't sought after languages - pretty much anyone with a pulse and three working brain cells can be a python programmer these days (no offense to any professional python devs here, but I doubt your main qualification in your CV is "python programmer"). It's the same for bash.

Do you have any formal education? Qualifications? A degree?

I could be an analyst.

I have a master's (PhD ABD) and have worked as a pentester, I was laid off prior to covid.

Oh. Apologies then, I sounded a little harsh there.

Do you have an academic network you could reach out to? Maybe a former prof or some colleagues? I found that networking via people I knew from uni usually worked best.

It's also okay to be a little bit pushy, i.e. reach out to someone daily. Just be sure to stay nice, explain your situation.

Can I ask what your degree is in?

EDIT: I just read your credentials from one of your other comments.

My guy, I am sorry to hear that things aren't going so smoothly right now, but with your references, ever considered reaching out to european employers for a work visa? I.e. a reverse H1B if you will?

If you have a legit claim on italian citizenship, you could get a job in central europe, work here for a few months and then change citizenship in an italian embassy. You'd instantly be Schengen recognized, meaning you could work in _every_ EU country and you could migrate to italy, where you would have access to healthcare.

Other than that, I'd agree with the rest of the posts here, mainly because I have little experience on US specifics when it comes to social welfare.

Maybe try an internship while you're looking for another role, anything to help you get steady income. Can you get feedback on your resume somehow? A good resume can make a big difference.

> I mean, like many people I'm not best suited to working a register if I can code in bash and python.

I worked a fast-food job for a month (and was proud of the effort I put into it - the customers were getting the best quality sandwiches while I was on shift!) when I fell on hard times earlier on in my life despite having been a successful developer in the past.

That job carried me through the job search & interviewing process for my next position which meant I could have a roof over my head (helps with keeping a good appearance and looking presentable), afford to actually make it to the interview (it was an office 2 hours away) and allow me to not be desperate about it. I can guarantee you that I wouldn't have got the job regardless of my technical skills if there was any hint that I was homeless, so having a roof over your head and being able to afford basic necessities is a major priority.

Get the menial job and rebuild from there. Right now your priority should be any job so you can rent a survivable place. It doesn't have to be pretty (neither the job or the place), it should just be enough so you can keep yourself together and maintain appearances when hunting for your actual, long-term job.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com