What I Would Do If I Was Unemployed: 7 Smart Ways to Build Skills and Opportunities
Hi, it has been a hectic couple of days with earnings season in the United States. Most companies in the major indices have already reported, and AI has remained one of the dominant themes—shaping both business strategies and market moves. At work, we’ve also just finished interviewing interns for this year’s cycle. And in those interviews, I noticed something that struck me: there’s often a big gap between what candidates think they should prepare for and what helps them stand out.
That reflection took me back to a time before my current role, when I was unemployed for over nine months. It wasn’t an easy season, but in hindsight, it was one of the most transformative. During that time, I taught myself coding—Python, JavaScript, and CSS. I learnt Python mainly through YouTube and DataCamp, while SheCodes became my go-to for the others. I even experimented with ChatGPT as a learning partner, though the fundamentals came from going back to basics on YouTube and SheCodes. I also got the chance to work on a project with a professor and a group of students on structured projects around financial products. Those experiences gave me something real to talk about in my interviews and, more importantly, built my confidence.
