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<p>IMO, Mark77’s situation could be the result of a combination of factors: graduating into a weak economy; competition from labor from outside the US; competition from younger, cheaper labor; employers passing him over because they feel he’s been out of the workforce too long. There’s not much he can do except what most people in this situation do: keep applying in hopes that a job will come through, or start his own business and hope there is a market for what he provides. Although most engineers don’t face these problems, it could happen to anyone.</p>