The path to landing a new job can be difficult, especially when you face setbacks along the way. For one program manager, the road was anything but smooth. After being laid off twice in a span of just 12 months, the journey to a new role seemed like an impossible mountain to climb.
But his perseverance, innovative approach, and unshakeable belief in his value ultimately led to a new opportunity. “I got laid off twice in 12 months,” he wrote, reflecting on the emotional toll each layoff took. “The first time, I was devastated. I blamed myself, doubted my performance. The second time, I felt betrayed and fell into depression,” a social media post read.
But after weeks of applying to countless job listings and enduring interview after interview, he realised something crucial, layoffs are often the result of poor leadership, not personal failure.
With that shift in mindset, he pushed forward, determined to land a role that was the right fit for him. A relentless and pragmatic approach to job hunting that focused on volume and efficiency, rather than tailoring everything to perfection.
What was his strategy to land the dream job?
The laid-off employee wrote on social media. He wrote, “187 cold applications, mainly through job boards and LinkedIn, 4 referrals which didn’t even result in interviews; 9 interviews in total, 3 final-round interviews, 2 job offers, with one ultimately accepted.”
While the process was not easy, he found that certain strategies helped him stand out in the competitive market. For one, he did not spend hours tailoring his resume for each individual job. Instead, he created a specific resume for each role he applied for but kept things simple and efficient.
He passed on cover letters unless they were mandatory, but he made sure to create a standout portfolio that highlighted his achievements, skills, and personality.
“I didn’t bother tailoring my resume to each job but had one for each title I am applying for,” he explained. “I passed on the cover letters unless it was mandatory, but I did make a killer portfolio to go with my application.”
Another key tactic was using advanced AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini simultaneously to give his applications an edge. However, he emphasised that he never copied and pasted from these tools. Instead, he used them to ask smart questions, identify key aspects of the job description, and refine his approach.
“I fed the job description into the tools and prompted, ‘What are the top 5 keywords most important to success in this role?, What parts of my experience match this role best?’ What questions would impress this hiring manager?”
He also developed a Notion page candidate deck that included a career summary, quick wins, personal highlights, and relevant job experience. This deck gave recruiters a more dynamic and comprehensive view of his background and skills.
“The feedback I got from recruiters was great, and I was able to get a sense of the work culture that would fit me, too,” he wrote
Despite the ups and downs of the job search process, his persistence paid off. He landed a role he was excited about, even though the total compensation package was lower than his previous role at Microsoft.
Still, he was thrilled to be joining a company that valued him for who he truly was. “New offer total compensation is lower than my previous role at Microsoft, but I am happy to be at a company that values me for who I am.”
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