A 61-year-old Indian-origin software engineer residing in the United States is planning to return to India after struggling for almost two years to find a full-time job. The prolonged job search drained his savings, left him struggling to pay his rent and bills, and forced him into credit card debt. Gautam Dev, who lives in Dallas, Texas, resigned from his position as a software engineer in September 2024 after being asked to move to another state to maintain his position. He decided to stay in Dallas and look for another job, but the search proved much more difficult than expected.
Talk to BusinessInsider, the IIT Kanpur alumnus said he had spent over two decades in the IT industry and had faced brief gaps between jobs before, but always found a new role within a few months. This time things were different.
After leaving his job, Dev began applying for positions, primarily through LinkedIn. He also tried to network with people in the industry, but many told him their companies weren’t hiring. Some said they were reluctant to leave their jobs because of the uncertainty surrounding the job market.
Despite several interviews, several with the same company, Dev did not receive any job offers. “Most of the people I spoke to told me their company wasn’t hiring. Some told me their job had become more difficult, but they were afraid to quit because they might not find another one. Still, I managed to land a few interviews during my search, including several at the same company. I thought some went well, but I never received an offer,” he said.
He thinks his experience should have helped him find another role, but he suspects his age may be working against him. He also believes that the long gap in his work history has made it more difficult to get interviews and get a job.
Developments in the IT sector have also added to his concerns. “It seems like AI can do some of the things that software engineers used to do manually. I’ve seen job postings for AI engineering positions, but I don’t have much experience in AI, so I’m not sure they’re a good fit,” he added.
turns to gig work to make ends meet
For months, Dev continued to send applications, but most went unanswered. Eventually, he decided that spending so much time applying for jobs was no longer worth it and began focusing on ways to make money. He briefly tried day trading to generate income, but the initial gains did not last. Earlier this year, he began working on gig platforms such as Uber, DoorDash and Walmart Spark.
Although the income was less than he had hoped, he said his job at least provided him with some income. However, his options are limited because he cannot carry heavy items, which rules out some delivery and other gig work opportunities.
Savings run out as bills pile up
Although he earns money from his gig job, Dev finds it difficult to meet his expenses.
“My rent in Dallas is high and I’d like to move somewhere less expensive. But right now, I feel stuck. I’m worried that if I tried to rent another apartment, a landlord would ask me for proof of employment and income. Without a full-time job, I don’t know if I would qualify. Even if I could move, the process would take time to make deliveries and earn money,” he said.
In January, Dev started a GoFundMe fundraiser that raised more than $9,000. He said the entire amount was used to pay his bills. Although it was difficult to ask for financial help, he said some people responded with kindness and generosity, while others were less supportive.
For now, he plans to continue working through gig platforms. He will become eligible for Social Security benefits when he turns 62 in January 2027 and hopes those payments, combined with his gig work income, will help ease his financial woes.
Consider a return to India
Dev also seriously considered returning to India, where he lived before moving to the United States more than two decades ago and eventually becoming a U.S. citizen. However, he does not plan to take the plunge immediately. Returning to India would require time and planning, and he intends to continue working in the United States for the time being.
“But I’m not in a hurry to do it, and it would take time for it to come to fruition. I never imagined I would find myself in this situation, but here I am,” he remarked.
Gn bussni
