I got a job at Google within 90 days of getting laid off from AWS. I started preparing well beforehand.

• Charles Broomfield disconnected AWS and within 90 days I got a job at Google.

• He said he received recommendations for 26 positions while job hunting, and six of them turned into interviews.

• Broomfield said financial planning and networking helped her stay calm after being laid off.

This article as described is based on a conversation with him. Charles BroomfieldHe is 25 years old, works as an engineering analyst at Google, is based in Washington, D.C., and has been identified by Business Insider. This story has been edited for length and clarity.

I graduated from a small liberal arts college called Knox College. The downside is that there is a much smaller alumni network. The benefit of this is that I suspect they are much more likely to be willing to help.

I was a computer science teacher there. This has been an advantage because I have had the chance to work with many people who are now working in large companies and are willing to help me. After university, I started working at a government research company and Amazon Web Services in summer 2025. Later, in late January, I was laid off.

I accepted a job offer in April. Google.

I treated my job search like a job

Before joining Amazon, Andy Jassy made statements About how Amazon will have fewer people in the future, thanks to artificial intelligence. I became increasingly uneasy about my team’s lack of alignment with the strategy.

I started applying on January 24, but a few days later I was notified that I would be laid off. I was pretty sure my team would be affected, but I didn’t want to leave without getting 90 days notice and severance pay.

I found it really hard to completely give up working at a company like AWS, which has such a renowned work culture. For this reason When I was laid off I thought I would put all my energy into something productive.

It was definitely nice to get an extra hour or so of sleep, but I tried to maintain a sense of structure during my job search. I would usually spend the first half of the day reaching out to people and finding positions. I wasn’t reviewing every job posting and hitting the apply button because I didn’t want to be interviewed for something I wasn’t really excited about. I was picky.

Practicing non-stop for eight hours is pretty brutal, so I’d usually exercise or cook in the middle of the day to get things done. Then in the evening I would devote another three or four hours to tailoring practice.

Referrals make a big difference

After being laid off from AWS, I applied for 42 positions. 26 of these were recommended. I interviewed for six of these jobs.

A previous colleague reached out to me and encouraged me to apply to Google. I applied for three positions and was quickly rejected from the two positions I thought I had the best chance of getting. However, about a week after I applied, I was contacted by the recruiter for the third position. The next week I moved on to the technical screen. I had three interviews over the next two weeks and received an offer a few days after my last interview.

I think many people get the directions wrong. I did a lot of LinkedIn outreach but it was really ineffective. I always start with my warmest audience. So I start with friends and then expand. I even find someone who went to my university a bit hot because I went to a small school.

Since then worked for companies that had major layoffsMany of the people I worked with worked at large companies, which helped with referrals.

Your network isn’t just about the people you talk to every day. It could be anyone you meet that you left a positive impression on. I have a list of people I contact whenever there is an important career update, but there are also many other people I keep in touch with solely through social media.

Leaving a friendly or supportive comment can go much further than people think. Sometimes the best connections aren’t your closest friends or family, but friends of friends or random acquaintances.

Saving gave me peace of mind

I’m extremely passionate about early retirement, frugality and building financial freedom. I save everything I can and have done so since college.

The craziness I experienced last year made me realize how grateful I am for these savings for the peace of mind and flexibility they give me. People who are counting on their next few paychecks or visas are bound to their business. It’s harder to work when you’re stressed. Despair doesn’t work. So my tampon definitely made me more comfortable.

Networks are more powerful than job boards, but I suggest people: start building your networks now instead of waiting until they need help.

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