Been working in information technology for almost 12 years now, systems engineering, implementation engineering, cloud engineering, whatever the fuck was asked of me I've killed myself to learn and implement.
I relocated over covid because I've been working remotely for over 4 years now and I couldn't stand living in a HCOL area, so I moved to a LCOL area with the idea that I will always be able to find work, companies need talent and I can do the work. I apply myself, I certify, I do whatever is asked of me. Fucking 24/7/365 for no extra pay, no bonuses, no whatever the fuck.
Go on the LinkedIn to look for jobs, jobs state fully remote, looking for mid-senior level systems engineers. I apply, they get back to me telling me I have to comfortable with hybrid or I have to live in a specific area (always HCOL area) to be able to apply for this position.
I'm being squeezed out of the fucking job market because I don't live next to a headquarters that I don't even go to? Not to mention I wouldn't be able to afford to even live in this city with the salary they're paying me without having 45 fucking roommates.
Then I find jobs that are willing to interview me, they're offering 50k for a senior systems engineering position for 24/7/365 and basically be the end all be all at their org. Manager, implementation engineer, the guy who maintains the entire ship and fucking drives it as well.
Every single industry is downsizing right now, salaries are down 30% from my own anecdotal experience of interviewing for the past 6 months.
I'm about to just go down to the local shop and start digging holes for 9 dollars an hour and bury myself and get it over with.
It just feels like all companies are doing is lowballing salaries so they can use it as an excuse to not find talent and then outsource the position to India for fucking 3 dollars an hour.