From Layoff to Dream Job in 60 Days: A Visa Holder's Guide

In a tech job market marked by widespread layoffs and intense competition, Aman Goyal faced a daunting challenge. After being laid off from his role as an AI product manager at an ad tech company, he had just 90 days to secure a new position or leave the United States, where he was working on an F-1 OPT visa.

Despite the pressure, Goyal landed his dream job as an associate product manager at T-Mobile in just 60 days. His strategy combined a direct outreach approach with intensive interview preparation, proving that a targeted, resourceful mindset can overcome even the toughest market conditions.

The layoff in September came as a complete surprise. Goyal had recently received a positive performance review, but his position at the ad tech company was eliminated just six months after he started. For international workers on an F-1 OPT visa, a job loss triggers an immediate 90-day window to find new employment or depart the country.

Goyal had experienced a lengthy job search before. While finishing his master's degree in management information systems at Carnegie Mellon University in 2024, he submitted hundreds of applications before securing an offer. This time, the landscape felt even more challenging.

The market was defined by widespread layoffs, uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration's proposed $100K H-1B salary rule, and intense competition for AI-related roles. Goyal knew he couldn't afford to wait. After taking a few days to process the news, he began applying to top tech companies and startups. However, many startups that responded were unwilling to sponsor visas.

Goyal applied to three separate roles at T-Mobile. A friend referred him for two of the positions, but he accidentally left the referral's name off the third application. In a surprising twist, the only role he heard back from was the one without the referral. The job description aligned perfectly with his experience, suggesting that a strong match can outweigh a lack of internal connection.

While the referral didn't directly secure the interview, it provided a crucial piece of information: the hiring manager's name. Goyal used the email-finding tool Hunter.io to locate the manager's professional address and sent a concise message expressing his interest in the role.

I think referrals have become highly overrated, especially since it seems like almost everyone has one.

This direct approach proved decisive. Shortly after his email, the hiring manager connected him with the recruiter to schedule interviews. Goyal noted that while he could have asked his referral contact for the email, tools like Hunter.io are invaluable for finding information independently, especially when contacts may be hesitant to share others' personal details.

Landing the interview was only half the battle. To ensure he was fully prepared, Goyal invested $50 in "Decode and Conquer," a product management interview guide by Lewis Lin. By emailing the author with his receipt, he gained access to an exclusive Slack community with over 20,000 members.

The community, filled with aspiring product managers, current PMs, and professionals between jobs, became his training ground. Over six weeks, he completed a few dozen mock interviews with senior and staff product managers from companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Some of these mock interviewers were also hiring managers, providing exceptionally valuable feedback.

• Build confidence and muscle memory for spontaneous answers
• Learn to pace responses and keep interviewers engaged
• Read body language to adjust answer length and detail
• Focus on understanding the question before answering

The practice sessions revealed a critical insight: many candidates focus too much on what they say and not enough on how they say it. Goyal learned the importance of adapting his communication style based on the interviewer's cues, moving beyond rehearsed responses to genuine, engaged conversation.

The preparation paid off. Over five weeks, Goyal completed six interviews with T-Mobile, covering a wide range of topics from product design to system thinking and agentic AI. He felt confident throughout the process, a testament to his rigorous practice schedule.

In early November—approximately six weeks after his layoff—he received and accepted an offer. He started his new role as an associate product manager later that same month. Today, he works on projects closely aligned with his background in AI, expressing genuine excitement about the direction of his work.

Even in a tough job market, networking can still work. It may not come through a traditional referral, but in my experience, finding a way to connect directly with the recruiter or hiring manager can be a game changer.

For the young job seekers he now mentors, Goyal's advice is clear: don't give up on networking. His experience demonstrates that persistence and a willingness to find creative, direct paths to decision-makers can make all the difference, even when traditional methods seem saturated.

Aman Goyal's journey from a sudden layoff to a dream job in under two months highlights several actionable strategies for today's competitive job market. His story is a reminder that preparation, direct action, and community support are powerful tools.

For those facing similar challenges, his experience offers a blueprint: leverage every available resource, from paid communities to free email-finding tools, and never underestimate the power of a well-crafted, direct message. The path to a new role may not be linear, but with the right approach, it is certainly achievable.