Watching the job market news while I try to find my way out

The constant news cycle about tech hiring

I keep seeing these headlines about how the big tech companies are shifting gears, and honestly, it’s giving me a headache. Every morning, I open my browser and there’s another report about JOLTS data or how some massive company is finally cooling off on their AI hiring spree. It’s hard to ignore when you’re currently working in a role that feels like it’s hit a ceiling. I read about people jumping from places like Nvidia or Apple to traditional conglomerates, and I wonder if that’s actually the dream or just another way to get stuck in a different kind of corporate bureaucracy. The articles talk about billions in capital expenditure and verifying profitability, but that feels so disconnected from the reality of just wanting to update my resume without feeling like I’m gambling.

Trying to plan a move from Daegu to Seoul

I’ve been living in Daegu for a while now, and the itch to move to Seoul for a better career shot is getting stronger. I’m currently looking at job postings while sitting in my office here, which is probably a bad idea because I’m always paranoid someone will glance at my monitor. I even looked into those youth support programs, like the ‘Seoul Young Tech’ service, but then I realized I’m not even living in Seoul yet. It’s funny how these programs assume you’re already there. I’m basically stuck in this weird limbo where I need a job in Seoul to justify the move, but I need to be in Seoul to feel like I’m actually participating in the industry events that might get me hired. It’s about 300km away, and sometimes that distance feels more like an ocean when you’re staring at job portals.

The reality of interviews from afar

I’ve had a few Zoom interviews lately, and they are awkward. You try to sound like you’re ready to hit the ground running, but the interviewers always ask about my relocation timeline. I tell them I can move as soon as I get an offer, but I don’t think they believe me. They’re looking for someone who fits into their specific culture, and me being a candidate from a regional city feels like an outlier they aren’t sure how to handle. I’m not even aiming for a six-figure salary jump or anything crazy. I just want a role where I don’t feel like I’m doing the same thing I did three years ago. The cost of living in Seoul is obviously much higher—I’ve been tracking rent prices, and looking at those small officetel units that go for 800,000 to 1,000,000 won a month makes me question if I’m ready for that level of financial stress.

Comparing my options versus staying put

Sometimes I think about just staying in Daegu and trying to grow where I am. It would be cheaper, and I wouldn’t have to deal with the anxiety of moving or the competitive pressure that the news keeps emphasizing. But then I see these reports about big companies scooping up AI talent, and I feel like if I don’t make a move now, I’m just going to fall further behind. It’s not that I’m trying to be some top-tier engineer at a global firm, but the fear of stagnating is real. It’s weird how much power these macro-level economic reports have over my personal anxiety. I don’t really have a ‘final goal’—I just want a change. Maybe I’ll take a few days off next month to head up to Seoul, stay in a budget guesthouse, and see if being there actually helps. Or maybe I’ll just stay here and keep reading the news, feeling both frustrated and indifferent at the same time.