There was a LOT in this article. Some great points and advice. A twinge of anger blended with frustration. Maybe even a bit of hurt. I relate to all of it - but (and there is always a but, right?) - there may be an intense, long, and painful transition period to go from corporate crap (with a paycheck) to the financial freedom and joy of freelancing. And I'm unsure if people are prepared for that ... at least for me, the transition has been neither fast nor easy.
Love this Tim, I am completely unemployable. Spent 18 years as an entrepreneur and apparently have zero employable skills. 2 years ago I contemplated getting a "real" job and applied to 135 postings which zero replies. Went on to build a successful business quite quickly after realizing the reason I wasn't employable was actually my super power.
Brilliant...this is a global Phenomenon...just said F...Off...to someone offering me a 9-5 with the audacity of an assessment where they wanted a 5 year strategic plan!!! Told them to ChatGPT and refrain from sending me any mails in the future!!!
"I find it absolutely insane that right now it's easier to make money off crypto, the stock market and self-employment in that order than it is to land a full-time job."
Of course. My stock market teacher used to say that capital markets would take on a central role in the foreseeable future. There's a lot of money in the world. It's distributed unequally. You can get a chunk of it if you participate in capital markets. Investing skills will become important. Trading skills will become important.
I have a high-paid 9 to 5 but even I realize going to work five times a week is unusustainable. Those who don't invest get left behind.
I've felt unemployable since 2022 when I changed my job. Not that I'm complaining. I work less but earn more. It's that a looming layoff back then forced me to think out of the box. My response was: I must grow my capital in financial markets. Then I stumbled upon writing online. And the journey began.
Hard relate - but in a different way. I'm a creative and have danced around as an actor, writer, director, producer and now breathwork and mindfulness coach. My last full time job was in 2011. I'm officially out the matrix and having spent years pitching ideas to broadcasters etc, I have finally come round to the conclusion that commissioning system is archaic and riddled with politics. So now I am attempting to build an online business. It's not easy, but I'm enjoying learning new things and seeing the impact my work is having on others
That's for sure, Tim! After 50 job changes I got tired of turning myself into a pretzel to meet the "requirements' of my bosses. I went with my strengths, editing, proofreading and tutoring, and became a much happier self-employed camper. I do online course upgrades to keep my skills sharp and to prospect for new customers. I like being the one with "customers" that I can help directly. They also refer me to new clients, which is what being self-employed is all about.
No, Carol. I know self-employed people who hate that and dream about a 9-5 job as the embodiment of holy peace, transparency, and even safety. Also, the paperwork associated with self-employment is not smaller but simply different from that of a 9-5 job. Perhaps this is connected with the difference between the US and Europe (I live in Poland).
I am working as an IT-Consultant. It really stinks to see how big the difference is between my daily rate and the actual money I am getting. I also hate the current corporate culture - my boss thinks that she is my nutritionist. Unfortunately, I am afraid to get out of this arrangement and my area of expertise is boring as hell. Do you have any idea how to get out of it?
Working in IT for many years I have seen the rise of Contractors slowly creep into the light. Now many of the positions in IT do tend to be Contractor type jobs, there are full time jobs as well but it seems now that being a contractor is easier to get jobs than a person trying to get a full time job. I have experienced this myself while living in Florida. The majority of my jobs were Contract positions and after a while of working with many recruiters and developing a good relationship I get many calls! Still sometimes you can get dropped from a position for whatever reason.
Tim, I've been unemployable since I was a kid, and proud of it.
That might be because I was raised by a git-er-done mom. When I was 10, she bought a credit bureau from a woman at our church on credit and put the files and desk in my bedroom.
So I was raised IN a credit bureau, and was running the business by the time I was 16.
After graduating from college, I applied to numerous jobs, and was rejected by every one because I didn't fit in.
I'm profoundly grateful that being unemployable is encoded in my DNA, Tim!
I love this post. I genuinely feel that I don't wanna work at a 9 -5 however I never have worked before because I'm in college. I do have some internship work experience and at the same I freelance for 6 months until my client left. That 6 months of freelancing taught me more than my college degree and now I don't feel like going to a job in fact I want to start my own agency.
How do you know you’re “unemployable”? What are the signs the universe sends you to let you know that seeking employment opportunities is THE WRONG WAY?
Would love to hear some stories.
For me - after getting laid off from global corporate tech - applying to over 700 jobs and not even landing interviews - well, I just have to take a look at myself and above and ask “God, do you not want me here? Where do you want me to look into? Show me the way.”
I’m still looking. Still waiting. But stories and comments like this here are proving to be very provocative and powerful in my consciousness and I’m allowing it to resonate. These are thoughts I’ve had for quite some time but hearing it outside of my own head feels certainly validating and comforting.
Thank you for your words and thanks everyone for the detailed comments.
There was a LOT in this article. Some great points and advice. A twinge of anger blended with frustration. Maybe even a bit of hurt. I relate to all of it - but (and there is always a but, right?) - there may be an intense, long, and painful transition period to go from corporate crap (with a paycheck) to the financial freedom and joy of freelancing. And I'm unsure if people are prepared for that ... at least for me, the transition has been neither fast nor easy.
Love this Tim, I am completely unemployable. Spent 18 years as an entrepreneur and apparently have zero employable skills. 2 years ago I contemplated getting a "real" job and applied to 135 postings which zero replies. Went on to build a successful business quite quickly after realizing the reason I wasn't employable was actually my super power.
Brilliant...this is a global Phenomenon...just said F...Off...to someone offering me a 9-5 with the audacity of an assessment where they wanted a 5 year strategic plan!!! Told them to ChatGPT and refrain from sending me any mails in the future!!!
"I find it absolutely insane that right now it's easier to make money off crypto, the stock market and self-employment in that order than it is to land a full-time job."
Of course. My stock market teacher used to say that capital markets would take on a central role in the foreseeable future. There's a lot of money in the world. It's distributed unequally. You can get a chunk of it if you participate in capital markets. Investing skills will become important. Trading skills will become important.
I have a high-paid 9 to 5 but even I realize going to work five times a week is unusustainable. Those who don't invest get left behind.
I've felt unemployable since 2022 when I changed my job. Not that I'm complaining. I work less but earn more. It's that a looming layoff back then forced me to think out of the box. My response was: I must grow my capital in financial markets. Then I stumbled upon writing online. And the journey began.
Always enjoy, you make me think in the abstract, seeing the box from both sides refreshing.
You go Tim
Barry Hicks, longtime old fart follower.
Hard relate - but in a different way. I'm a creative and have danced around as an actor, writer, director, producer and now breathwork and mindfulness coach. My last full time job was in 2011. I'm officially out the matrix and having spent years pitching ideas to broadcasters etc, I have finally come round to the conclusion that commissioning system is archaic and riddled with politics. So now I am attempting to build an online business. It's not easy, but I'm enjoying learning new things and seeing the impact my work is having on others
That's for sure, Tim! After 50 job changes I got tired of turning myself into a pretzel to meet the "requirements' of my bosses. I went with my strengths, editing, proofreading and tutoring, and became a much happier self-employed camper. I do online course upgrades to keep my skills sharp and to prospect for new customers. I like being the one with "customers" that I can help directly. They also refer me to new clients, which is what being self-employed is all about.
Some people really think of “unemployable” as a bad thing 🤣
Once you've tried self-employment and freelancing, you'll never go back to the 9-5 treadmill.
No, Carol. I know self-employed people who hate that and dream about a 9-5 job as the embodiment of holy peace, transparency, and even safety. Also, the paperwork associated with self-employment is not smaller but simply different from that of a 9-5 job. Perhaps this is connected with the difference between the US and Europe (I live in Poland).
Best wishes for you and happy freelancing!
Dame Amy, believe me, not "some people". Many people.
And I have not forgotten about "algorithms making our thinking black and white". But give a bit more time.
Best, JKiii
Can’t wait to hear your take. 😊
I am working as an IT-Consultant. It really stinks to see how big the difference is between my daily rate and the actual money I am getting. I also hate the current corporate culture - my boss thinks that she is my nutritionist. Unfortunately, I am afraid to get out of this arrangement and my area of expertise is boring as hell. Do you have any idea how to get out of it?
Working in IT for many years I have seen the rise of Contractors slowly creep into the light. Now many of the positions in IT do tend to be Contractor type jobs, there are full time jobs as well but it seems now that being a contractor is easier to get jobs than a person trying to get a full time job. I have experienced this myself while living in Florida. The majority of my jobs were Contract positions and after a while of working with many recruiters and developing a good relationship I get many calls! Still sometimes you can get dropped from a position for whatever reason.
Tim, I've been unemployable since I was a kid, and proud of it.
That might be because I was raised by a git-er-done mom. When I was 10, she bought a credit bureau from a woman at our church on credit and put the files and desk in my bedroom.
So I was raised IN a credit bureau, and was running the business by the time I was 16.
After graduating from college, I applied to numerous jobs, and was rejected by every one because I didn't fit in.
I'm profoundly grateful that being unemployable is encoded in my DNA, Tim!
I love this post. I genuinely feel that I don't wanna work at a 9 -5 however I never have worked before because I'm in college. I do have some internship work experience and at the same I freelance for 6 months until my client left. That 6 months of freelancing taught me more than my college degree and now I don't feel like going to a job in fact I want to start my own agency.
How do you know you’re “unemployable”? What are the signs the universe sends you to let you know that seeking employment opportunities is THE WRONG WAY?
Would love to hear some stories.
For me - after getting laid off from global corporate tech - applying to over 700 jobs and not even landing interviews - well, I just have to take a look at myself and above and ask “God, do you not want me here? Where do you want me to look into? Show me the way.”
I’m still looking. Still waiting. But stories and comments like this here are proving to be very provocative and powerful in my consciousness and I’m allowing it to resonate. These are thoughts I’ve had for quite some time but hearing it outside of my own head feels certainly validating and comforting.
Thank you for your words and thanks everyone for the detailed comments.
I am unemployable
.