Leaving Tech

The tech job market is actively rejecting experienced developers, forcing many to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Developer Ryan Bigg announced on October 12, 2026, that he is leaving the tech industry after a prolonged and disheartening job search. Despite 20 years of experience, including extensive work in Ruby and JavaScript, writing books, giving talks, running events, and maintaining popular open-source packages, Bigg has received rejections from 24 out of 3 dozen job applications. He cites the current "cooked" tech market and the mental toll of constant rejection as primary reasons for his departure. Bigg also expressed skepticism about the industry's current focus on AI integration, noting that the practical application of AI for business goals remains largely undefined. His decision is further influenced by his commitment to remote work from Warrnambool, a location making hybrid roles impractical due to travel time.

Bigg's experience highlights a growing chasm between the demands of the tech industry and the realities faced by seasoned professionals. The purported need for AI expertise seems to be a buzzword rather than a clearly defined skill, leaving even experienced developers who actively use AI for coding tasks without a clear path forward. This suggests a market increasingly driven by perceived new trends over demonstrable long-term value and established skill sets.

This situation raises questions about the sustainability of a tech economy that appears to sideline its foundational talent in favor of unproven, rapidly evolving technologies. For companies, it signifies a potential loss of institutional knowledge and a struggle to find personnel who can bridge the gap between innovation and stable execution. For aspiring or mid-career developers, it underscores the precariousness of relying solely on traditional development roles in a market prioritizing speculative AI integration.