Is AI Taking Our Jobs? A Struggling Developer’s Honest Reflection

I’m not usually the kind of person who writes blog posts like this, but I need to get this off my chest. I’ve been a backend developer for over 10 years. I’ve built systems, scaled apps, led teams—and for the first time in my career, I’m seriously struggling to find a job.

For the past few months, I’ve applied to countless positions. Startups, mid-sized companies, big tech—you name it. And the silence is deafening. No callbacks. No interviews. Just… nothing.

I can’t help but wonder:
Is AI replacing developers like me?

Every job posting now seems to mention GPT, Copilot, or “AI-enhanced workflows.” Some recruiters casually say things like, “We’re rethinking our engineering needs thanks to automation.” It stings.

I’m trying not to spiral, but when you pour years into your craft—late nights, constant learning, solving problems that nobody else could solve—it’s hard not to feel like the rug’s being pulled out from under you.

Yes, maybe the market is bad. I know companies are laying off, and budgets are tight. But something feels different this time. There’s this subtle pressure in the air that says, “Why hire a developer when we can just prompt an LLM?”

Of course, I know AI isn’t perfect. It hallucinates, it lacks judgment, it can’t truly understand business context. But when it’s “good enough,” companies might decide that’s fine—especially when it’s cheaper.

The worst part?
I don’t know how long this will last.
Will I find a job in a month? Six months? Ever?

It’s scary. And I know I’m not the only one feeling this way.

If you’re also out there refreshing your inbox for replies that never come—hey, I see you. Let’s not give up yet. We’ve built too much, and we’re still learning. Maybe there’s still a place for us in this AI-shaped future.

But today? I just needed to say it out loud:
I’m struggling.

And that’s okay.