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I applied to over 6,000 jobs and relied on a food pantry after being laid off. Here's what finally got me hired.
John Huân Vũ was laid off from PayPal in July 2024, applied to over 6,000 jobs over 16 months, and relied on a food pantry, SNAP benefits, and community support during his job search. He eventually secured a job through a work connection he had previously helped, rather than through job boards.
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- He finally felt financially stable — until he was laid off. Then came a frustrating job search and restaurant work in NYC.
- I got an H-1B visa and my dream job at Google. Both were less secure than I thought.
- I graduated from UC Berkeley with a job lined up, but I was quickly laid off. I found my next job by cold emailing.
- I messaged over 1,200 people and talked to around 150 before landing a job