Ex-Microsoft Techie reveals Visa Struggles and layoff survival story, lands better FAANG job
There’s no denying to the fact that nothing can be worse than tech layoff in 2025. Thousands of skilled professionals roam here and there after being laid off to secure their future. Here’s a survival story of one of the ex-Microsoft SDE-2.
This Story also Contains
- The Shock of Layoff While on Work Visa in the US
- How did he overcome the situation?
- The Breakthrough: Landing a FAANG Role
- A Piece of Advice for Other Laid-Off Tech Professionals
- Why Does This Story Matter?
He came out on Reddit and shared a raw experience of how it felt like to get laid off while he was on the H-1B visa in the US. Within a few hours, the social media post went viral within the tech communities, highlighting the relevance of the situation in current times. It also demonstrates the emotional toll of sudden layoffs, and how to overcome the situation with resilience and consistent determination.
Read More: Indian Techie Shares his Journey from F-1 Visa to Green Card: Is the American Dream Still Alive?
The Shock of Layoff While on Work Visa in the US
The ex-Microsoft SDE-2 officer in the social media post shared that he was a part of the first wave of layoffs that happened in May 2025. As he was on an employment-based visa, the timing of the layoff struck him hard.
He says,
“My life turned upside down as I have so many things going on and to make matters worse I am on an Employment Visa in the US and got so depressed for the first few weeks with no direction,” as per the Reddit post.
There was a constant pressure on him to come out of the fear of running out of time on the H-1B visa and pushed him into weeks of anxiety and depression.
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How did he overcome the situation?
His journey from depression to determination is commendable. He was depressed initially, but with strong grit, he diverted his mind, as he accepted the situation and started giving interviews. The engineer also talked about facing multiple rejections, and ghosting from the recruiters. However, despite this, he did not give up and set up a strict preparation schedule.
He followed these strategies:
To improve his algorithmic skills, he practiced LeetCode daily.
He practiced system design exercises to improve his skills and tackle senior-level interviews.
He also made and stuck to a 3-month preparation plan that needed him to demonstrate strict discipline and consistency.
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The Breakthrough: Landing a FAANG Role
Three months of rigorous preparation landed him a FAANG role. The former Microsoft employee cracked the interviews and made it to a FAANG company, receiving an offer that was beyond his expectations. And, all his hard work paid off as he got a career upgrade, both in terms of money and professional growth.
A Piece of Advice for Other Laid-Off Tech Professionals
The Reddit post concluded with a word of advice for all other tech professionals facing layoffs and visa challenges, as he says,
“If someone is laid off, don't lose hope. The job market is tough but keep your heads down and put in consistent effort — much better offers are waiting for you than your previous company.”
Several tech professionals resonated with the advice as they combat the present widespread tech layoffs in 2025 and beyond.
Why Does This Story Matter?
The story is very relevant to the current situation amidst the ongoing H-1B visa policy changes in the US. Here are the main reasons why this story matters:
We have seen big game players within the tech industry like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta have laying off thousands of employees in 2025.
Professionals who hold H-1B and other work visas fear the risks of being deported if they are not able to secure a job quickly.
The story highlights how determination can turn setbacks into lifetime opportunities.
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