The job search became a long and difficult ordeal for one person from Silicon Valley. With ten years of experience working at a major fintech company, he faced difficulties after being laid off in July 2024. Initially, he expected the period of unemployment to end quickly, but the subsequent 16 months proved extremely challenging for him and his family.
After losing his job, the individual began actively seeking vacancies in the labor market. Over 16 months, he applied to more than 2000 companies, submitting a total of over 6000 applications. On one day, August 17, 2025, he sent a record 88 resumes. He encountered modern market realities, including AI-driven interviews, and discovered that vacancies disappeared within 48 hours.
He acknowledged that the labor market had changed drastically compared to how he searched for a job 10 years ago. To meet the requirements of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), he reduced his two-page resume to one page. Although this helped secure interview invitations, it did not lead to a final offer.
As his last savings dwindled, covering living expenses became difficult, and he had to consider selling his home. To save money, he learned to cook filling meals using mostly potatoes. He recalls a moment when he was waiting in line for a free food ration in a car while simultaneously attending an interview via Zoom.
When 6000 applications and numerous interviews yielded no results, old connections and past behavior provided assistance. In 2022, he rendered selfless help to an acquaintance who moved from Brazil to America. In October 2025, after describing his situation and struggle on Facebook, this old acquaintance (who was already in the country on a visa) contacted him. He supported John by recommending him for a 'senior consultant' position under a visa and vouched for his work ethic.
The final interview took place on John's 40th birthday in November 2025, and after 16 months of unemployment, he was finally offered a job. He shares several tips for young people: resumes based on old templates are ineffective in the age of ATS, so they should be regularly updated and kept concise. Furthermore, he emphasizes that while AI and automated tools assist with applications, it is past experience and human relationships that can secure a job in a tough market. John believes that kindness shown to others will inevitably return to him when needed. He is now volunteering at the same food bank that helped him during difficult times.
The story of 56-year-old Manoj from Noida is causing a wide resonance on social media. After fourteen years working in a large insurance company, he faced layoffs and is now forced to work as a courier to support his family.
Social entrepreneur Kiran Verma shared the story of a chance meeting in Noida on LinkedIn. She needed to send an important letter, so she ordered delivery via a porter for 40 rupees. When the 56-year-old partner arrived, he had to navigate the stairs of the ground floor, but he maintained a smile, refusing even water until he completed his job.
Thanks to his manner of speaking and personality, Kiran Verma invited him to talk. During the conversation, he revealed that he previously worked in the administration department of Tata AIA Life Insurance for 14 years. However, in 2023, he was laid off due to company downsizing.
After losing his job, Manoj tried to find employment in various places, but due to his age and health condition, most companies refused him opportunities. Eventually, to provide for his family, he started working as a courier, performing any assigned task with complete honesty.
Manoj shared a saying that touched many: 'Son, when preparing vegetables, curry leaves are put in first, but when it comes time to eat the food, these curry leaves are taken out and set aside.' He used this metaphor to point out employees who worked for the company for many years, but as soon as the need disappears, they are the first to be fired.
Kiran Verma admitted that she could not know the true reason for Manoj's dismissal, but his words clearly showed the difficulties faced by an experienced worker after losing a job. She bid him farewell, paying more than the standard delivery fare, and noted that life is hard enough, but it hurts the most when a person wants to work but is not given a chance. This post quickly went viral on social media.
The porter himself also reacted to the post, thanking Kiran Verma for bringing his team's efforts to people's attention. Thousands of social media users expressed their opinions on Manoj's situation. Some felt it was wrong to ignore the abilities of experienced people, while others emphasized the need to always treat others with respect and sensitivity, as we never know what circumstances another person is going through. Manoj's story reminds us that work is not only a source of income but also a part of a person's self-esteem, and the value of an employee's experience and labor should not be determined solely by age; everyone deserves respect and a new chance.
