Rejected 10 times? This techie has a story on how to bounce back like a boss

Getting laid off is never easy, especially when it hits out of nowhere. One tech professional shared on Reddit how he went from panic to landing a new job in just a month, and his story is full of lessons that anyone in the tech world (or beyond) can relate to. Interestingly, his Reddit post didn't just get a few upvotes; it went viral. The thread on @r/developersIndia sparked a lively discussion, with hundreds of users sharing their own layoff experiences, offering advice and debating whether quick upskilling like this is realistic for most people. It became a mini roadmap for anyone facing sudden job loss, showing both the challenges and possibilities of bouncing back fast.

He was working as a data engineer with about two years of experience when, in mid-December, he was asked to resign within a week. Suddenly, a stable job disappeared, leaving him anxious about his skills and what employers would actually be looking for. Even though he had been in the field for a while, he realised he didn't have much experience with popular tools, including Python, SQL, PySpark, AWS, Kafka and Airflow, skills that kept popping up in job postings and interviews.

Within a month, he had a new role lined up, proof that deliberate, structured effort can turn a tough setback into a comeback. Well, without a doubt, layoffs suck, but they can also be a reset button. Treat them as a challenge rather than a defeat, and you might just come out stronger and with a new job faster than you think. Instead of panicking in such situations, he chose to take the next few weeks like a full-on bootcamp.

• Structured learning: In the lengthy Reddit post, he mentioned that he used to split his days between completing tutorials, watching lectures, and practising skills that were crucial for interviews.
• Daily applications: He updated his job portal profiles and applied consistently to open roles.
• Turning rejection into feedback: Every rejection became a mini lesson. He tracked them in an Excel sheet, noting which questions tripped him up and revisiting the related concepts before the next interview.

The strategy? Consistency. Every day, a small but meaningful step forward.

This isn't just about technical skills; it's about resilience and self-directed growth. In fast-moving fields like tech, the ability to quickly identify weaknesses, learn and adapt often matters more than prior experience alone. For Gen Z, this is a skill we already understand; constant updates, TikTok trends, and new tools have trained you to adapt quickly. Hence:

• Focus on the gaps, not the panic: Identify the exact skills holding you back and attack them methodically.
• Document and review: Turn failures into feedback loops, track tricky interview questions and review them before the next attempt.
• Consistency is key: small and regular efforts beat sporadic cramming.