Marcial Quinones once thrived in the tech industry without even a high school diploma. But now, despite earning multiple degrees—including an MBA—the 48-year-old father of four says he’s been unable to secure full-time work for more than a decade.
Quinones told Business Insider that he’s applied to more than 1,500 jobs since losing his last steady role in 2010. “I wish there was an easier way,” he admitted, adding that “traditional ways of looking for employment have been overshadowed by artificial intelligence and lack of human interaction.”
From tech success to long-term struggle
Quinones’ early career seemed like a story of resilience and upward mobility. After dropping out of school in the seventh grade and growing up in a turbulent home, he found himself in a transitional living facility at 18, preparing for fatherhood. Determined to change, he landed work as a head technician at an Arizona computer company before joining Intel as an IT manager in 1999.
Over the years, he went on to earn an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s in computer programming, and later an MBA in technology management. By the mid-2000s, he was serving as a chief technology officer for an import/export business in New Jersey.
But in 2010, family difficulties forced him to step away from the role. Since then, steady employment has eluded him.
A resume with gaps—and too much experience
Quinones believes gaps in his employment history have put him at a disadvantage, especially with automated hiring systems screening applications before they reach a human recruiter. He also worries he’s stuck in an “awkward middle ground”—overqualified for entry-level positions but lacking the recent experience companies want for senior roles.
He’s reworked his resume at least 25 times, even paying $300 for a professional rewrite, but says it still hasn’t led to interviews. Screenshots he shared with Business Insider showed him receiving five to 10 rejection emails per day in 2024 alone.
Side hustles and setbacks
To support his family in rural Pennsylvania, Quinones has pieced together income from part-time gigs: driving for Uber (earning around $70 a day after expenses), printing designs on merchandise, and selling an inventory software program he developed himself.
His wife’s remote sales job has been the family’s financial anchor, while he’s taken on household repairs like car maintenance and plumbing to save money.
He even attempted a master’s degree in family and marriage counseling, but financial aid cuts forced him to withdraw. When he later tried to resume, changes in the curriculum meant many of his credits no longer counted.
Questioning bias in hiring
Quinones also suspects that his race and name may play a role in his difficulties. After changing his first name on resumes to “Tony”—a shortened version of his middle name—he noticed he began receiving more interview requests.
Looking ahead
Living 30 miles from the nearest city, Quinones is seeking remote work but acknowledges his skills may now lag behind the rapid pace of the tech industry.
Still, he hasn’t given up hope. “If you haven’t been employed in a while, I can’t magically snap my fingers and make it happen,” he said, reflecting on the uphill battle of reentering the workforce.