Ask HN: How to self-teach while unemployed, without feeling like unpaid work?
I'm unemployed and have been job searching for a while (though I took a recent break due to burnout). Recalling the common questions I get asked like, what tech stacks I have worked on, and then realizing when my experience is far from what they're doing. But, I learned that, sometimes, saying that I am willing to learn these technologies at home can turn a so-so outlook to a good one for the interviewer. I want to learn new techs without it making it seem like I am just "paying my dues" or doing an unpaid trial version to show the companies what I got.
It's become a tricky tightrope to walk with the pro-side of self-learning is that it's necessary to stay attractive in the job market, but one downside is that it can feel like unpaid work because you're unemployed but learning these things for your career, and not for personal enjoyment or passion.
I have no job for which to learn new things on paid time- all my time right now is unpaid, and sometimes I can't help but think that any sort of career improvement when you have no job still needs to be compensated in a more immediate, consistent fashion. It sounds like you're applying for jobs where your experience isn't a good fit. If you want a job that doesn't match your experience, there's no way to avoid doing some grinding to understand the tech. Your other option is to interview for jobs that are closer to your prior experience. Start a new business based on what you want to learn. If you can make a go of it then good else you get to learn something new at worst. Excellent point. I recently started an endeavor that is way, way over my head, and immediately bought a domain even though I have no clue what I am doing yet, while trying to absorb all that I can. > I can't help but think that any sort of career improvement when you have no job still needs to be compensated in a more immediate, consistent fashion. Absolutely. I agree 100% and also think that that’s something you’d get in a “perfect world” ran by non-greedy people that care about others.