I was happy, and I loved my job, until two acquaintance I barely know convinced me it was bad, and I've been depressed for over a year now. EE 38,500 for 17 years. Is it that bad?
I've been working as an Electrical Engineer at the same company for close to 18 years now. (Philly Area). I have a bachelors in electrical engineering technology and a bachelors in technical management. Now I was helping a friend out last July with a volunteer assignment / training where they help out people with disabilities find jobs, but they used me as a training person. They had me pick topics to talk about and I happily talked about things, but when they had me do the job survey, they started asking questions about salary, growth, etc. Things I never thought about. See the thing is, I've paid off my house, car, and college, and just have been saving for retirement, but I'm pretty frugal.
I told them my salary which was 38,500 annual, which they didn't think was a big issue, but the issue came when they said how often do I get a raise, to which I said I've never got a raise. Its been 38,500 since early 2009. This made them question more things about my employer, like if I think I'm treated well, which I said yes, except we have a simulated commute policy that everyone hates, where we have to work one hour before and after the shift unpaid to simulate the commute office workers have. (While that policy stinks, it is legal everywhere except WI and CA). So its like you're actually working 50 hours but paid for 40.
This made them search up my salary, where we had a debate about what is normal. They said I should possibly be making twice as much, if not past 6 figures. I said the 6 figure thing is a tiktok street interviews thing. I assume everyone is struggling.
After talking to someone else, I mentioned the same interaction, they told me they make 240k as a software engineer for a video game company and something is wrong with my salary.
I was starting to be convinced maybe I'm getting it bad, so I started applying last August 2024. To this day ive applied to 2450 jobs, had no interviews except one phone screen. After seeing reddits like recruiting reddit, and others like this one, ive come to realize that no matter how good or bad my resume is, in 2025, its too late for me. I waited too long, I lost a lot of money over time to a bad salary, and I'm still stuck in this job and will never find a new one, as nobody I've heard of since 2023 has found a new job due to all the AI slop and nightmares of applications.
I'm so depressed I just want to quit what I have, and give up working forever. I feel cheated, and its all over now.
Jobadvisor
This is a very serious situation, and it sounds incredibly stressful and upsetting. It is completely understandable that you are feeling this way, especially after two people highlighted issues you hadn't focused on before, leading to a long period of applying without success.
Let's break down your situation into key areas.
1. The Salary and Job Condition
The hard truth is that your salary for an Electrical Engineer with 17 years of experience is extremely low, and the no-raise and simulated commute policies are highly problematic.
Salary Comparison: The average salary for an Electrical Engineer in the Philadelphia area with 15+ years of experience would typically be in the high five-figures to well into six-figures, depending on the specific industry, role, and responsibilities. The friends who said you should be making twice as much or more are likely correct in terms of market rate.
The Issue of No Raises: Staying at $38,500 since early 2009 means your salary has been significantly eroded by inflation over the past 16+ years. Your purchasing power is much less now than it was then. This is the core issue, more so than the starting number.
Simulated Commute Policy: While you state it may be technically legal outside of certain states (it could be argued if it violates federal labor laws regarding non-exempt employees and minimum wage/overtime, but that's complex), it is an unethical and exploitative policy. Effectively, you are working 50 hours for 40 hours of pay, meaning your true hourly rate is even lower than what the $38,500 annual salary suggests.
Your initial happiness was likely genuine because you met your needs (house, car, college paid off) and valued frugality, but the acquaintances brought to light that you are being severely underpaid for your position and experience. Feeling cheated is a valid response to this realization.
2. The Job Search and Depression
Please do not give up. The job market is extremely challenging right now, and the lack of interviews is likely not a reflection of your worth, but a reflection of the current difficult climate and potential issues with your application strategy.
The Job Market Reality: You are correct. The current job market (especially in tech/engineering) is highly competitive, with mass layoffs and a huge volume of applications per opening, often compounded by AI-screened applications. Getting 2,450 applications and only one phone screen is a devastating outcome, but it is not unique to you right now. Many experienced, qualified people are struggling.
The Delay (Self-Blame): You feel it's "too late" and you "lost a lot of money."
Focus on the Future: While it is true you lost potential earnings, focusing on this only feeds the depression. You cannot change the past 17 years. You can change the next 17 years. Your experience and paid-off assets are a massive advantage.
The 'Too Late' Myth: It is absolutely not too late. Your experience is valuable. You have a huge advantage in stability, demonstrated commitment, and the financial freedom of having no major debts.
Advice and Action Plan
Your current situation requires a multi-pronged approach focusing on mental health, your current job, and your job search strategy.
A. Prioritize Mental Health
The overwhelming depression is the most immediate concern.
Seek Professional Help: This level of depression and hopelessness ("just want to quit... and give up working forever") requires professional support. A therapist or counselor can help you process the feelings of betrayal, anger, and loss, and a psychiatrist can assess if medication is appropriate. This is the most critical step.
Separate Self-Worth from Salary: Your value as an individual, your intelligence, your history of financial prudence, and your commitment to a company for 17 years are separate from the number on your paycheck. You are a successful person who achieved major financial goals (paid-off house/car/college).
B. Re-evaluate Your Current Job
You need a new strategy for your current job while you look for a new one.
Stop Working Unpaid: Immediately stop working the simulated commute hours. If your required shift is 8 hours, work 8 hours. You are an employee, not a volunteer. You are paid for 40 hours, not 50. If there are repercussions, consult an employment lawyer (many offer free initial consultations). Your company is already exploiting you; stop giving them free labor.
Request a Raise (If you can handle a "No"): If you can handle a potential rejection without a total breakdown, you could use this information to request a significant raise. State that your salary has not been adjusted since 2009 and present data on the current market rate for your role and experience. However, given their history of no raises, it's likely they will deny it, so only pursue this if you can manage the expected rejection.
C. Overhaul Your Job Search Strategy
The sheer volume of applications suggests a significant issue in the quality and targeting of your approach.
Stop the Mass Applications: 2,450 applications is an incredible number. You need to switch to Quality over Quantity. Stop applying to everything.
Resume/LinkedIn Revamp: Your 17 years of experience is being missed.
Hire a Professional Resume Writer: Your resume needs to be optimized to pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and highlight your long tenure as an advantage (deep institutional knowledge, long-term project management, stability, etc.), not a liability.
Rebrand Your Skills: Focus on modern terminology and technologies. What software, equipment, or standards have you been using? Use keywords from job descriptions.
The Networking Gap: Applying online is the lowest-yield strategy.
Connect with other EEs: Use LinkedIn to find and connect with other Electrical Engineers in the Philly area or in the industries you are targeting. Ask for "informational interviews" to learn about their company/role, not immediately for a job.
Leverage Your Educational Network: Contact your university's career services or alumni network. They may have resources or connections.
Target Companies: Look for companies that value long-term stability and experience. Industries like defense, utilities, and large-scale manufacturing often appreciate long-term tenure more than fast-paced tech startups.
Consider Government/Utility Jobs: These often have structured pay scales and may be more likely to recognize your tenure, though the process can be slow.
You have a lot of work ahead, but you are not stuck, and it is not too late. The feeling of being "stuck" is part of the depression. Take the first step by addressing your mental health, and then systematically attack the job search with a new, focused strategy.
What is a good career for people who get restless easily?
After college I did not feel at all like getting an office job, I wanted to try out as many jobs as I possibly could before deciding on a career.
So that’s basically what I have been doing for the past few years, and I have tried out almost every job that was available to me. Film actor, auditor, salesman, security guard, web designer, uber eats, hotel concierge, bartender, waiter, software engineer intern…
I learned that sometimes I would find myself in a job where I was supposed to be comfortable, but I still had this desire to go back out and keep looking for something better. So I’m pretty restless, I’m always looking for something better, even when things are pretty good…
Is there a field where I can use that energy?
Jobadvisor
This is a fascinating situation, and it sounds like you have a high need for variety, challenge, and new experiences. That's not a bad thing—it's a tremendous source of energy when channeled correctly!
Given your pattern of exploring many different roles and feeling restless even in comfortable settings, here are some career fields and specific roles that could leverage your desire for constant change and new challenges:
1. Consulting and Project-Based Work
This is arguably the most direct fit for someone who gets restless easily.
Management Consultant: You are hired by different companies (clients) to solve specific, complex problems (e.g., improve efficiency, enter a new market, restructure).
1 Projects typically last from a few months to a year. You constantly switch clients, industries, teams, and problems.Independent/Freelance Contractor: By working as a freelancer in one of your existing skills (e.g., Web Design, Software Engineering (Contractor), or even Auditing/Finance), you take on short-term contracts. You can set your own schedule, choose diverse projects, and switch industries with each new client.
Technical Consultant/Sales Engineer: You often travel to client sites, tailor technical solutions to unique business needs, and work on proposals for different companies every week.
2. Roles with High Variety and Travel
Your desire to "go back out and keep looking" can be satisfied by jobs that require you to move around and encounter new environments.
Field Service Engineer/Technician: You travel to different locations (factories, offices, client homes) to install, maintain, or repair equipment.
2 The location, the problem, and the people are different every day.Regional or Traveling Sales: Especially for complex, B2B (business-to-business) products. You cover a large territory, constantly meeting new people and negotiating new deals. Your 'office' is your car or a hotel.
Flight Attendant or Commercial Pilot: Satisfies the ultimate need for travel and exposure to new places, people, and time zones.
3. Innovation and Rapid Change Environments
These fields are designed to be in a constant state of flux, matching your own energy.
Product Manager (in Tech): Your job is to define the next thing, constantly looking for what's "better" in the market and for the user. The job involves cross-functional collaboration, market research, and strategic pivots, meaning the focus changes frequently.
Startup/Venture Capital (VC) Analyst: Working at an early-stage startup means your role is likely to change dramatically every 6-12 months as the company grows. In VC, you are constantly evaluating new companies, technologies, and markets.
3 UX/UI Designer or Researcher: You jump from project to project, researching new users, designing solutions for different problems, and testing/iterating rapidly.
4. Public Service and Crisis Management
These roles offer high-stakes variety and a clear sense of purpose, which can focus restless energy.
Disaster Relief/NGO Work: Roles in organizations like the Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders involve deploying to different locations for fixed periods, often under stressful, rapidly changing conditions.
Law Enforcement/First Responder: The nature of the work means no two days are alike, and you are constantly dealing with new situations and different people.
Leveraging Your Experience:
You have an incredibly diverse background. You should look for roles where that breadth of experience is an asset, not a liability.
Example: A Management Consultant who has experience in sales (salesman), operations (uber eats, security guard, hotel concierge), creative (film actor, web designer), and finance (auditor) is invaluable because they can understand and communicate with all parts of a client's business.
The Key is the Structure, Not the Job Title
You need a career path where variety is the expectation, not the exception. Look for:
Project-Based: The work has a clear beginning, middle, and end, allowing you to move to something new.
Diverse Clients/Environments: You interact with different people, industries, or geographic locations frequently.
Cross-Functional: The role forces you to work with many different teams (marketing, engineering, finance, etc.), keeping your daily interactions fresh.
Continuous Learning/Skill Acquisition: The field evolves rapidly, forcing you to keep learning, which combats boredom.
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