I've finally started a new job!

I'm a senior software developer. The 15 months without work took a toll on me. I was in an ok position money-wise, so the financial pain wasn't quite as bad as it could've been, at first. The toll on my mental health, well, that wasn't great, especially the feeling in 2024, that left me with the distinct impression that companies were more interested in jerking candidates (and 3rd party recruiters) around rather than hiring.

A friend, who I'd worked on the same team with at two previous positions, and who was my team lead for one of them, told me about the position. Got the interviews, and got hired, started on this past Monday. I'm a great interviewer EXCEPT for the most important part: selling myself. I just can't bring myself to brag or play myself up. Fortunately, this friend was able to let management know that he personally could attest to my skills.

I sort of joked with him that I couldn't even give away a life-preserver to a drowning man - they'd likely say "Well, I'm gonna see how this inhaling water thing works for me, and those approaching sharks seem like they might be willing to help."

We'd literally worked on a few projects where it was just the two of us, and others where we were part of a single, relatively small team (6 or less developers) and this friend is going to be my team lead again, so I'm really enthused about that. So far everyone that I'll be working with seems really cool.

I was worried about the commute - I worked 3 days onsite and 2 days remote for years until March 2020, and was full remote since. New job is also 3 days on, 2 days off, but fixed-schedule rather than pick-your-own. Fortunately, Friday is one of the days remote. Plus, the traffic, which definitely has the congestion thing going, isn't as bad as I thought. I was concerned that the commute would be an hour each way, but, thus far, it's been about 35-ish minutes each way.

Definitely a relief. Now, just the 6+ months of Impostor Syndrome as I learn how THIS company does things.