The email arrives on a Monday morning. Your manager schedules an unexpected meeting. Within minutes, your world has changed: you’re part of the latest round of tech layoffs. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
At least 95,000 workers at U.S.-based tech companies were laid off in mass job cuts in 2024, and the trend has continued into 2025. Technology companies worldwide saw a significant reduction in their workforce in the first quarter of 2024, with over 57 thousand employees being laid off. From Meta’s workforce cuts to layoffs at Microsoft, Google, Bumble and countless startups, the tech industry has experienced unprecedented turbulence.
But here’s what the statistics don’t capture: the human cost. The sleepless nights, the imposter syndrome, the financial stress, and the overwhelming question of “what’s next?” As an engineer or developer, you’ve built systems, solved complex problems, and created value, yet now you’re navigating the most challenging debugging session of your career: rebuilding your professional life.
The good news? This isn’t a terminal error. It’s a pivot point. And with the right strategy, you can emerge from this experience stronger, more resilient, and better positioned for the next chapter of your career.
The tech hiring landscape has fundamentally shifted. As companies face the demands of a competitive hiring market, an AI-powered ATS can significantly enhance their ability to attract, assess, and retain top talent. What does this mean for you as a candidate? Your resume is competing against other humans, but it’s first being evaluated by increasingly sophisticated AI systems that can make or break your chances before a human ever sees your application.
The market size will increase from $2.6 billion in 2023 to $2.79 billion in 2024, with a CAGR being 7.3% for ATS solutions. This is the new standard. Companies are doubling down on AI-powered screening, automated candidate matching, and algorithmic filtering. Your technical skills are still valuable, but now you need to be equally strategic about how you present them.
Before diving into tactical job search strategies, acknowledge that being laid off is a significant life event. It’s normal to feel angry, confused, or even relieved. The key is to process these emotions without letting them define your next steps.
Take a few days to decompress. Talk to trusted friends, family, or a therapist. Join online communities of other laid-off tech workers or platforms like Blind, LayoffList, or specialized Discord servers can provide both emotional support and practical advice. But set a boundary: give yourself permission to feel everything, then commit to action.
Remember, layoffs in tech often have nothing to do with individual performance. Well out of the total layoffs around 10% of them are perceived to be software engineers, meaning most cuts are broader organizational decisions, not reflections of your abilities.
Don’t just randomly pick up new technologies. Research what’s actually in demand in your target roles. Use tools like LinkedIn’s Skills Insights, Stack Overflow’s Developer Survey, or job boards to identify trending skills in your field.
Focus on:
Consider earning certifications that add credibility to your resume. AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure certifications can differentiate you in a crowded field. But don’t overdo it because employers value practical experience over certificate collections.
78.5% of ATS users say applicant tracking system usage has increased the quality of their hires, which means these systems aren’t going anywhere. Your beautifully designed resume might be invisible to the algorithms screening candidates.
Here’s how to optimize for ATS systems:
This is where services like Nerdii can be invaluable. Rather than guessing what ATS systems want, Nerdii’s combination of AI tools and real HR experts from the U.S. job market can rewrite and optimize your resume specifically for these systems. We understand the nuances of different ATS platforms and can help ensure your resume gets past the initial screening.
The majority of jobs, especially senior engineering roles, are filled through networking, not job boards. But networking as a laid-off professional requires a different approach than casual relationship building.
Be strategic about your networking:
Consider informational interviews with people in roles or companies you’re targeting. These conversations can provide valuable insights into company culture, technical challenges, and hiring processes while building relationships that might lead to opportunities.
The days of spray-and-pray job applications are over. With AI-powered recruitment automation handling job postings, resume filtering, and even candidate engagement, businesses can save time, cut hiring costs, and make smarter decisions. This means you need to be equally strategic in your approach.
Focus on:
This is another area where Nerdii can provide significant value. Instead of spending hours applying to jobs that may not be a good fit, Nerdii applies to relevant jobs on your behalf. Our team understands the U.S. job market and can identify opportunities that align with your skills and career goals while handling the time-consuming application process.
Today’s tech interviews are more complex than ever. Apart from coding, you’re also navigating behavioral interviews, system design discussions, cultural fit assessments, and technical deep-dives. Each type requires different preparation strategies.
For technical interviews, practice on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or CodeSignal. But don’t just focus on algorithmic problems because many companies now emphasize practical coding, system design, and problem-solving approaches that reflect real-world work.
For behavioral interviews, prepare STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities, leadership experience, and technical decision-making. Be ready to discuss challenges you’ve faced, conflicts you’ve resolved, and projects you’ve led.
System design interviews require a different skill set entirely. Practice designing scalable systems, discussing trade-offs, and thinking through real-world constraints. Resources like “Designing Data-Intensive Applications” or online courses can help you prepare.
This is where Nerdii’s 1:1 interview coaching becomes invaluable. Our coaches understand the nuances of technical, behavioral, and system design interviews in the current market. We can also provide personalized feedback, help you practice with realistic scenarios, and ensure you’re prepared for interview success for any type of questionning/testing that you ma face.
Getting laid off isn’t the end of your story…think of it as a plot twist. Many successful engineers and developers have turned layoffs into opportunities for career advancement, skill development, or even entrepreneurial ventures.
Consider this your opportunity to:
The tech industry will continue to evolve, and layoffs may remain a reality. But so will the demand for skilled engineers and developers who can adapt, learn, and solve complex problems. U.S. employment for electrical engineers is expected to grow 9% from 2023 to 2033, indicating that despite current volatility, the long-term outlook for technical professionals remains positive.
The key is approaching your job search with the same systematic thinking you bring to engineering problems. Define your requirements, architect a solution, test and iterate, and optimize for the best outcomes.
Remember that seeking help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a strategic decision. Just as you wouldn’t build a complex system without the right tools and expertise, you don’t have to navigate this career transition alone.
If you’re ready to take control of your job search and get back to building amazing things, consider partnering with Nerdii. Our combination of AI tools and human expertise can help you optimize your resume for ATS systems, identify and apply to relevant opportunities, and prepare for interviews with confidence. In recent months, we’ve helped numerous laid-off engineers and developers successfully transition to new roles in the competitive U.S. job market.
Your next great role is out there. You need to figure out how quickly you can position yourself to succeed in today’s evolving tech landscape. Start today, stay persistent, and remember: the best debugging sessions often lead to the most elegant solutions.
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