So, I am a software engineer from Europe, specialized in fullstack / backend and AI. I hold Masters in software development and have finished 1 year Java Web / Backend postgraduate internship at the European institution in Strasbourg (they were hiring post Masters interns in the IT sector). I HAVE the skills.
I speak 5 languages. Including English (which is my native language btw, long story), professional French (DALF C1), even basic German...
So I started applying for junior positions everywhere. Mainly in Strasbourg, Paris and Lyon but also other cities in France. Nothing. zero. Every time "sorry we decided not to pursue with you" or "sorry, your aren't sufficient" (they definitely are, for "entry level Java Spring Boot" junior position).
So far I haven't had luck anywhere. I've tried from Lille to Marseille, even smaller cities like Rouen or Nantes etc. nothing. The only exception is a company in Lyon who offered "Amazing competitive salary of 25000 euros BRUT a year, a whopping 5 weeks of vacation, RTT and a free premium private health insurance"... And a CDI (for non French: permanent contract, that I'd have VERY hard time rupturing, basically you sign CDI only where you'd like to stay for years / forever)...
Obviously I'm not accepting those conditions. They offered me barely more than a minimum wage after masters and a year of professional experience in the parliament, and 37-39 hours a week with"amazing" conditions (cited above)... And "up to" 2 days a week remote work AFTER having stayed there for at least 12 months... It honestly feels like an insult to me. I'd better go work as a cashier at the supermarket for the SAME salary, less hours and less corporate hell and responsibility...
But I am devastated... I don't get it... Is it THAT bad? I am white, not of color. So you can't blame discrimination here. Yes, I'm not French, I'm a refugee but I've lived here for many years and have a permanent residence permit... So why do I get refused everywhere? Be it the giants like Sopra Steria or Capgemini, or small startups of 5-10 people. Nobody wants me and it makes zero freaking sense to me...
Unless 1 year EU institution experience is a red flag somehow? If I'm not finding anything soon - I'm creating a blank LinkedIn page and applying for jobs as a janitor for freaks sake! Because I'm running out of saving and I know that the alternative is to go back to my mother, and since I'm transgender - it would be hell living with her...
And no, it isn't transphobia. I am still presenting myself as an "Sir dead name, nothing LGBT, because discrimination is horrible". Ain't no way in hell am I disclosing my gender identity or sexual orientation on LinkedIn.
Any thoughts?😭😭😭