I was laid off by Microsoft and can’t find a job. I’m weeks away from giving up my apartment and moving across the country to live with family.

• If he can’t find a job soon, he plans to move across the country to live with his family.

This as-told article is based on a conversation with Ian Carter, a 33-year-old job seeker who previously worked as a technical program manager in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft. Edited for length and clarity.

On May 13, I was eating lunch at Panera Bread and happened to check my email. It felt like a punch to the gut when I read it. I I was laid off from my Microsoft job.

My mind started racing. Could I have done anything differently? Could I be better? But eventually I realized it was just a business decision. I have seen the company lay off a lot of people In recent years, it seemed like it didn’t matter whether you were a good employee or not; everyone was at risk.

When I was laid off, I was on medical leave due to a personal health issue and was planning to return to work in the coming days. I got my last paycheck in mid-July and then some severance pay, but I started. job application almost instantly. My mindset was, “I might cry while applying.”

I decided Share that I was laid off On LinkedIn, the post received more than 115,000 views. I started receiving messages from recruiters about opportunities and had interviews with companies including: Disney And Nintendo’s.

But it’s been five months since I was laid off and I’m still looking for a job. I’m tapping into my savings to pay my bills and renting out my one-bedroom apartment for about $2,700 a month — all while suspecting I’ll be getting a job soon.

My lease ends the week of October 20th, and if I don’t receive a job offer by then, I plan to move across the country to Florida to live with my family and save money until I can find a job. Rent is expensive, but rent without income is twice as expensive.

Business Insider heard from dozens of tech workers about how corporate strategy changes, layoffs and hiring slowdowns are affecting their careers. If you have a story to share about struggling to find a job, contact this reporter via email: jzinkula@businessinsider.comvia Signal at jzinkula.29 or fill out this is the quick form. Use a personal email address, a non-work WiFi network, and a non-work device; Here’s our guide to sharing information securely. Read more on the subject:

The job market feels daunting

If I had to guess why, along with many others at Microsoft and others Big Tech companiesI would like to draw attention to two factors for those who have been laid off in recent years: over-hiring during the pandemic And Major investments in artificial intelligence.

Whatever the reason, it’s clear that finding a job in tech has become much more difficult. Before I quit my job, I would hear from college students regularly. We have difficulty entering the sector. The market already looked tougher than it did when I graduated, and now I see it firsthand.

I’m at the point where I have almost four years of full-time experience; Although I’m not exactly a new graduate, I’m not a senior either. I think some companies are looking for one or the other, which makes my research difficult. While others look for very specific skills, mine can sometimes be seen as more general.

I’ve been trying to improve my AI skills while looking for work, as job postings show that companies increasingly value this expertise. Working at Microsoft also gave me insight into the value of AI skills. I personally didn’t feel that in my senior year performance expectations had gone up a lot, but I felt some pressure to find ways around it incorporating artificial intelligence into my work.

My networking strategies create opportunities but not job offers

During my job search, I tried to replicate the strategies that got me to this point in my career.

I dropped out of high school in 2009 for health reasons, but eventually earned my GED and enrolled at a community college, where I earned my associate’s degree and then attended Florida State University. During this period, I built my network on LinkedIn – I now have over 8,700 followers – which helped me secure interviews and eventually land an internship. sales force. The company’s recruiter contacted me and that’s how I learned about the role and was granted an interview.

Having the internship on my resume helped me land interviews for full-time jobs after graduation. I had a list of my dream companies; Including Microsoft. AmazonAnd netflix — and I applied for a program manager role at Microsoft without a referral. After an interview, I finally received a job offer. I graduated from Florida State in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and began working remotely for Microsoft due to the pandemic. In 2022, I moved to Redmond, Washington, where the company is headquartered, and had a six-figure salary before I was laid off.

I tried to rely on my existing network and make new connections when searching for jobs, aiming for program manager, project manager and product management roles.

When I see a position that interests me, I reach out to the recruiter or someone with a similar job title at the company and ask what their company is looking for in a candidate. Then I shape my resume accordingly.

Since I have a LinkedIn Premium account, I can better see who viewed my profile. If there’s an interesting job title, I’ll send them a message. Most of the time they respond because they remember visiting my page, which leads to a conversation.

When I connect with people, I often ask for advice rather than receive it. But if someone offers to give me one, I’ll gladly accept.

While these connections helped me land some interviews, I’m still looking for a job offer.

Layoffs can be mentally damaging

My plan going forward is to continue what I’m doing; applying for jobs, networking as much as possible, and honing my AI skills. However, if my job search drags on, I may consider pursuing a master’s degree, such as an MBA or an AI-related degree.

In addition to networking for job opportunities, I also reached out to others who had been laid off to discuss our shared experiences. Layoffs are a huge mental burden, and it’s nice to talk to people who can relate.

I sometimes visit the private “MSFT Survivors” Facebook group, which includes people who have been laid off throughout the company’s history. It’s always interesting to read about what others are going through and their stories. It makes me feel like I’m not alone.

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