FAANG layoffs: what I learned

Layoffs hit hard, even if you’re working at companies like Meta. Here’s what I learned during this tough time:

• Emergency fund = non-negotiable: Aim for 6–12 months of living expenses. It gives you breathing room to focus on finding the right opportunity rather than rushing into the first offer.
• Certifications in AI/ML (e.g., Google Cloud ML Engineer or Microsoft Azure AI Engineer) made my resume stand out and helped me land interviews faster.
• Referrals are gold, reach out to ex-colleagues, mentors, and even recruiters. A single LinkedIn post about my layoff led to three interviews within a week.
• Don’t limit yourself to tech companies. Many non-tech industries (e.g., finance, healthcare) are hiring engineers for AI and automation projects.
• Freelance if you can. Short-term gigs kept my skills sharp and helped me build new connections while job hunting.