I’ve always been positive, seeing the cup as more than half full—or at least believing we can always fill it more. This approach can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. I always prepare for a positive outcome when I take on a personal, professional, or emotional challenge. This doesn’t mean things can’t go off plan (Murphy’s law and all) or that I don’t take responsibility for my decisions, but rather, why waste energy assuming failure so early?

With that background, when I finished my Ph.D., I was confident I’d land a job quickly. And I did! Three months after finishing, I got my first job as a freelancer (which I shared more about here). That job was dynamic for the first few months but slowed down. As any freelancer knows, having many clients is perfect. Still, when you don’t… luckily, I stayed with my parents then.

I started playing Elden Ring with more focus during that period, my Christmas gift from December 2022. I literally cried when I received the email with the code. I played Elden Ring for a year, from one Christmas to the next. Today, I want to share how this game helped me stay mentally strong during those tough times.

So, from April to May 2023, I began searching for a new job. I officially finished freelancing around June 2023, though I still did some occasional articles. The next nine months were one of the most challenging periods of my life. No income, literally surviving thanks to my family both in Venezuela and France, from that “I believe in you” that was feeling each time heavier and heavier.

Searching for a job felt a lot like playing a Souls-like game. Every application was a boss fight—brutal, requiring strategy, and often ending in defeat. MANY defeats. Each rejection hurt a lot! I never imagined how true it would be to live those memes about applying 50 times, 100 times, 200 times, and more. It was more than frustrating; it was discouraging. But like in Elden Ring, I had to pick myself up, learn from my mistakes, and try again. The persistence required in these games mirrored my job hunt; it was all about resilience and not giving up despite the odds.

In Elden Ring, you face “overwhelming” challenges (and overwhelming is probably an understatement for the internal screams you feel in those situations). The first time you see Margit, you think you’re ready for it… but you’re not (and you won’t be the second, third, or even fourth time). Still, you need to make progress, and he will be there at the entrance of that castle until you can take him down. You need to step up your game, and I love how the game gives you so many possibilities for doing that. Every tiny victory—defeating a minor enemy, finding a new weapon, discovering a new Incantation—gives you the strength to keep going.

I also felt those tiny victories IRL (way fewer than I would have liked). Small wins like getting an interview, receiving clear feedback on improving for the following interview, or even learning a new skill kept me motivated during my job search.

The game’s world is dark and foreboding, much like the uncertainty of unemployment. I thought Margit was the worst; then came the Red Wolf of Radagon, Radahn, Maliket, and the Dragonlord Placidusax (that intro!). Amidst the darkness, there’s beauty. Elden Ring taught me that persistence in adversity is essential—a lesson my country reminds me of daily also. This lesson carried me through those tough months of job hunting.

I vividly remember those dark moments in my room in Venezuela and later in my office in France, thinking, “It would have been better to take a crappy postdoc. What else do I need to do? When will it finally be enough? How many more applications? I’m tired of this situation.” In those heavy moments, being able to play Elden Ring was a moment of mental peace.

There are also moments when you face an awful decision (and you know deep down it was wrong). Still, you are so desperate that you are almost willing to take it. I had my moments, too. For instance, I went to a factory near where I live in France that was hiring. Let’s just say they were looking for human robots. Or the times after making all the bureaucratic effort to come to France, when people called me, offering job opportunities in Germany or Portugal… after all this time. At that moment, it felt like choosing the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending or joining the Volcano Manor. Amid despair and wanting to end those negative feelings, I considered those options, and it took me strength to say no, believing that something good was coming.

(Although, in the game, I joined Volcano Manor and killed a bunch of NPCs. It’s an advantage of the virtual world.)

I could continue comparing that job search and the game, but you get the idea. In the end, I was fortunate. I received much support from my family and had good friends who listened to me during those dark moments. Only some have that support. This allowed me the time to truly learn from my mistakes in interviews and the application process, eventually leading to something better.

The lesson remains the same: it’s a journey of resilience. Even with difficulty and disappointment, you need to keep going. The only option is to move forward even when the battles feel unfair—like those grueling interview processes where you don’t get feedback or an explicit rejection. Or, perhaps, take a break and play another game because the difficulty won’t change for you. In life, as in Souls-like games, perseverance is vital.

I have spent the last four months in a new job that has taught me a lot about European projects, data structure, models, and architecture. We can talk more about this another time. Interestingly, I also started playing Sekiro when I got this new job. Both experiences are giving me a new sense of humility.

To finish, one person who helped me understand the system of Elden Ring (since I had never played a game like that before, just my usual survival-horror games) was my brother. He sat with me several times to explain the system and help me defeat some bosses. Like him with me, I want to share some tips from my journey from academia to the private sector. For you, Tarnished, emboldened by the flame of Ambition:

• If you’re searching for a job in France, check out APEC’s online workshops. They are in French but can help dispel myths about job searching. For example, the idea that ATS systems can reject resumes based solely on criteria is a myth; the final hiring decision is almost always made by humans. Technology doesn’t control the entire hiring process. Another myth is the effectiveness of spontaneous applications (more common in our parents’ time). They will yield results if you send them to the right person. Not all jobs are on LinkedIn—as APEC mentioned, I got my current job via Indeed. You must learn how to write a good, non-academic resume; APEC can help. It won’t guarantee your dream job in France, but it will put you a step closer.
• The most important part of your Ph.D. is presenting and defending your thesis and completing publications. You know, I know, we both agree. But I also know you always feel like you don’t have time… but you do. It’s possible to take courses in programming or learn another language during your Ph.D. During my job search, I realized how lacking my programming skills were during live coding interviews and decided to focus on improving them. I wish I had done that earlier. However, I’m glad I spent three years during my Ph.D. learning French. There is always time.
• Your research topic is only part of it; focus on other topics, too. There are many exciting fields where you can apply your abilities. Don’t wait to leave this exploration until the last minute. During my job search, I started participating in activities related to Quantum Computing. I wish I had done that sooner.
• HAVE SAVINGS. Be pragmatic and realistic; it’s good to have a financial cushion. The job search period can be short, like my freelance job (roughly 2-3 months after finishing my Ph.D.), or it can take longer, like my nine-month search. Prepare for that outcome; having savings will help you avoid desperation.
• Learn to identify “fake” job offers. This video explains it better than I can: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VL6kORr230. Some companies post job offers just to gauge interest and budget, with no intention of hiring. These offers will never result in a job, but they’ll remain posted.

“I played like that; you can do what you want.” My brother said this when he told me he liked using colossal swords. Remember, this is just my point of view. The bad things that happened to me might not happen to you, and you may have different goals and expectations. I’m sharing my experience and what I wish I had done earlier.

As Muriel says: “…Take this opportunity to learn to master your emotions.“