A 35-Year-Old Big Tech Programmer Spent Six Months Trying Entrepreneurship and the Civil Service Exam After Being Laid Off—Only to Realize That Life Offers No Way Back, Just New Ch

A few days ago, I came across a post.

A 35-year-old programmer at a major tech company had spent six months trying to get back on his feet after being laid off.

He tried starting a business and even signed up for the civil service exam.

In the end, he shared a retrospective on everything he had been through.

One thing he said really hit home:

“Getting laid off will happen sooner or later. A lot of people just don’t want to accept it in advance.”

When we’re young, we always assume we won’t be the unlucky one.

We think the company is too big, the business is too important, and we’ve worked there for too many years—so how could it possibly happen to us?

But after turning 35, many people gradually come to realize something:

In the workplace, working hard doesn’t necessarily mean you’re safe.

Business priorities shift. Organizations change. And your boss may change their mind.

Someone leading a mission-critical project yesterday could be on HR’s layoff list today.

The only difference is that some people prepare in advance, while others don’t start panicking until they receive the notice.

Where Do Most People Go After Being Laid Off at 35?

I know quite a few people who have left the internet industry.

After being laid off, their options weren’t nearly as dramatic as the internet makes them sound.

Stories about programmers over 35 having no choice but to deliver food or become ride-hailing drivers are mostly extreme cases amplified online.

In reality, most people struggle to choose among just a few paths.

The first is to keep looking for a job.

This is the most common choice.

But the problem is obvious.

At 35, someone at a major tech company might have been a technical lead or senior engineer.

Finding another position at the same level after leaving is far from easy.

Many people have no choice but to switch industries.

They may move into new energy, manufacturing, healthcare, education, or the IT department of a traditional company.

Their annual salary might drop from RMB 800,000 to RMB 400,000.

They may have to move from a management position back into a hands-on technical role.

At first, that can be difficult to accept.

After all, their social circles used to revolve around major tech companies, high salaries, and stock options.

Now, all of a sudden, they have to prove themselves all over again.

Not everyone can immediately adjust to that psychological gap.

The second path is to take the civil service or public institution exams.

In recent years, more and more people have started looking toward jobs within the public sector.

After several rounds of layoffs in the internet industry, many people have begun to reconsider what the word “stability” really means.

They used to think civil servants were poorly paid and had limited career prospects.

Now, many people around the age of 35 feel that a stable job with enough time for their families doesn’t sound so bad after all.

But passing the civil service exam is nowhere near as easy as it seems.

Many people assume that because they once worked at a major tech company, their ability to learn should be more than sufficient.

But once they actually sit down and begin studying, they realize it’s a completely different game.

After years in the workforce, their memory, concentration, and ability to study are no longer what they were in their twenties.

On top of that, they have families, children, mortgages, and other responsibilities.

It’s difficult to study for more than ten hours a day like a full-time student.

Of course, some people are naturally gifted.

The person in the post studied for only two weeks, ranked third on the written exam, and placed second in the interview.

People like that really do exist.

But honestly, most people aren’t naturally built for civil service exams.

Most people study while feeling anxious and questioning themselves every step of the way.

The third path is freelancing or starting a small business.

This option has also become increasingly common.

Some people become content creators.

Some take on outsourced projects.

Some provide technical consulting.

Some offer training courses.

Others open online stores or create content for short-video platforms and Xiaohongshu.

It sounds quite liberating.

But once they actually start doing it, many people realize that freelancing doesn’t mean they no longer have to work.

It simply means that instead of having one company as their boss, they now have countless clients.

And their income is nowhere near as stable as they once imagined.

So-Called Entrepreneurship Is Often Just Another Way to Survive

I believe that many people who start businesses after turning 35 aren’t doing it because they’re pursuing a dream.

More often, they simply can’t find a job they’re satisfied with.

But most of them aren’t building companies with dozens of employees.

They’re running one-person businesses.

They shoot videos alone.

They take on projects alone.

They manage accounts alone.

They negotiate with clients alone.

On social media, it may look like they’re starting a business.

But in reality, they’re often just giving themselves a reason to keep moving forward.

There’s nothing wrong with that.

At the very least, it’s better than lying around and worrying every day.

But it’s also important to see reality clearly.

Starting a business isn’t simply another way to get rich.

It’s just a different kind of pressure.

Should You Take the Civil Service Exam? Try It Once and You’ll Have Your Answer

After turning 35, many people start wondering:

Should I take the civil service exam?

Honestly, there’s no need to overthink it.

Sign up.

Give it a try.

It’s perfectly normal not to pass.

But at least you’ll know the result.

What haunts many people for the rest of their lives isn’t failure—it’s never having tried.

When we’re young, we always think there will be plenty of opportunities.

It’s only in middle age that we realize the windows in which we can truly choose a different path are fewer than we imagined.

Whether you take the civil service exam, start a business, or look for another job, no choice is guaranteed to be right.

The important thing is not to remain stuck where you are.

After 35, the Greatest Fear Isn’t Unemployment—It’s Losing the Ability to Start Over

The internet industry has changed incredibly quickly over the years.

People once believed they could stay at a major tech company until retirement.

Later, they realized that even a major tech company is only one stage of a career.

Today’s essential employee may become tomorrow’s target for “optimization.”

So what middle-aged people truly need to prepare for isn’t a job that will remain stable forever.

It’s whether they can still survive after leaving the platform they once depended on.

After 35, the greatest sense of security doesn’t come from your company. It comes from knowing that you still have options.

You need cash flow, useful skills, and the ability to learn again.

Even if your salary drops or your role changes, at least you won’t be thrown into a panic overnight.

By the time we reach middle age, there are rarely any perfect answers.

Being able to accept change, adjust your direction, and keep living your life—

That, in itself, is an ability.