IIT tag, 20 years of experience yet he cannot find a job. How one wrong decision turned into a financial struggle for this techie

Gautam Dev, an IIT graduate with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry, quit his job in 2024 with no clear idea of what lay ahead. The 61-year-old software engineer expected to find another position within months, as he had done earlier in his career. Instead, nearly two years later, he is struggling to pay his bills, has exhausted his savings and is considering returning to India.

Dev, a graduate of IIT Kanpur, who lives in Dallas, Texas, quit his software engineering job in September 2024 after his employer told him he would have to relocate to another state to keep his job. So he decided to stay in Dallas and look for another opportunity. However, the decision turned into a prolonged job search that has left him facing increasing financial pressure.

Sharing his story with Business Insider, Dev described the consequences of that choice and the difficulties he has faced trying to return to full-time employment.

Why his job search has not worked out

Dev said he had experienced short gaps between jobs in the past but had always managed to find another position after a few months. This time, despite his long term experience, the results have been different.

He initially searched for vacancies on LinkedIn and contacted people in his professional network. Many told him their companies were not hiring, while others said their jobs had become more demanding but were reluctant to leave because they feared they might not find another position.

Dev managed to secure interviews, including multiple rounds with the same company, but none led to an offer.

“I thought my significant experience in the IT industry would help me find a job. However, I think being in my 60s could be working against me. And after being out of work for so long, I also think the employment gap is making things even more difficult,” he told Business Insider.

The changing technology industry has added another challenge for him. Dev has come across openings for artificial intelligence (AI) engineering roles but is unsure whether his skills match what employers need currently.

“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,” he said.

From software engineering to gig work

After months of applications yielded little progress, Dev decided that spending so much time searching for a full-time job was no longer helping him meet his immediate expenses.

He briefly tried day trading to generate income and although it initially went well, the gains did not last. He subsequently turned to gig platforms, including Uber, DoorDash and Walmart Spark, to earn money.

The work has provided some income, but not enough to restore financial stability. Dev also said his inability to carry heavy items limits the kinds of delivery assignments and other gig opportunities he can take.

Without the benefit of a regular salary, it has become harder and harder for him to meet his expenses.

Rent and debt get bigger, savings disappear

Dev’s financial problems are greater than the loss of his regular income. His savings are gone and he’s picked up credit card debt trying to pay his bills.

Rent in Dallas is a huge issue for him. He would like to move to a cheaper place, but fears a landlord may ask for proof of employment and income before approving a rental application. Moving could also mean losing time that he currently spends earning money through deliveries.

In January, Dev launched a GoFundMe fundraiser that collected more than $9,000. He said the entire amount went towards paying his bills.

“It was hard to ask people for money, and not everyone has been supportive. But some people have been really nice and generous,” he said.

Could returning to India be the next step?

Dev is now weighing whether to return to India, where he lived before moving to the US more than two decades ago and eventually becoming an American citizen.

For now, he plans to continue earning through gig work rather than make an immediate move. He also expects to become eligible for Social Security benefits when he turns 62 in January 2027, and hopes the payments, combined with his earnings, will help ease the pressure.

However, he has not ruled out relocating to India but such a move would require time and planning, so he is not rushing into a decision.