Unable to find a job in the US for two years, an IIT Kanpur graduate raised ₹8,000 through GoFundMe

“I never thought I’d be in this situation,” said Gautam Dev, 61, who left India for full-time work in the United States as he considers returning to his homeland.

Dev, a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, shared his ordeal with Business Insider, explaining how leaving his job as a software engineer in Dallas in September 2024 worsened his financial situation. He stated that despite actively seeking employment, he was unable to secure full-time employment.

“In 2024, while working as a software engineer for an IT company in Dallas, I was told I would have to move to another state to keep my job. In September, I decided to leave my job, stay in Dallas and look for a new role. That decision turned out to be a disaster,” Dev told Business Insider.

The 61-year-old IIT Kanpur graduate is struggling to find a job

Dev, who has more than two decades of experience in the IT industry, said he tried every possible way to find a job, including LinkedIn and personal contacts, but all his efforts came in vain. Either his calls went unanswered or he was told that several companies had suspended hiring. Dev added that he never expected to remain unemployed for two years.

“I thought my significant experience in the IT industry would help me find a job. However, I think being 60 years old might work against me. And after being out of work for so long, I also think the employment gap makes things even more difficult,” he said.

Dev also highlighted the changing dynamics of the IT industry and the boom in artificial intelligence as key challenges. He said he came across several opportunities in the AI sector but lacked the expertise needed to apply for those roles.

“Between my age, the long gap and the state of the IT industry, my expectations of finding another job have diminished,” he said.

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Failing to secure work, he turns to gig work

After receiving no response from recruiters, Dev said he stopped applying for jobs and started looking for alternative sources of income.

Dev initially engaged in day trading to earn money. Although it initially proved profitable, things eventually took a turn for the worse. He later started working as a gig worker for platforms like Uber, DoorDash and Walmart Spark. Although these jobs provided some income, his earnings fell short of his expectations. He also explained that his inability to lift heavy objects limited the type of gig work he could do.

A prolonged struggle to secure full-time employment further strained his finances, forcing him to drain his savings and rack up credit card debt.

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“Even with gig work, it’s still difficult to pay the bills. I had to drain my savings and take on a lot of credit card debt,” he said.

He’s struggling to pay the rent in Dallas

As his current income proves insufficient, it becomes increasingly difficult for Dev to afford rent in Dallas. She hopes to move to a more affordable area, but worries that securing a new apartment without proof of employment or regular income could be difficult. The move itself could also disrupt his delivery job, leaving him less time to earn money.

In January, Dev started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his expenses and raised more than $9,000 (approx. ₹8.71 million). He said the money helped pay his bills.

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

He is considering returning to India

Dev intends to continue working through concert platforms while trying to get his expenses under control. He is also counting on Social Security benefits as a possible source of financial support, as he will become eligible for them when he turns 62 in January.

Amidst his financial woes, Dev is also considering moving back to India. He lived in the country before moving to the US more than 20 years ago, where he later became an American citizen. However, he said he did not plan to leave immediately, as returning would require time and careful arrangements.