Itsathingofbeauty's journey

I was laid off from my software engineering position at a tech company while I was 8 months pregnant. I had been with the company for several years, often putting in unpaid overtime to meet tight deadlines. I received the news during a meeting with HR, just as I was preparing for maternity leave. They informed me that I would only be working for two more months and that my severance package was less than my maternity pay. My health insurance ended on my last day of work, which added to my stress. After giving birth, I found it challenging to apply for jobs due to the demands of a newborn and a lack of support. I managed to get a few interviews but struggled with sleep deprivation, which affected my performance. At five months postpartum, I finally enrolled my baby in part-time daycare, allowing me to focus on my job search. I sought help from a career coach who specialized in my tech stack, which was no longer in high demand. We worked on my resume, conducted mock interviews, and I studied core concepts and built a microservices project during my limited free time. Despite the challenges, including moments of despair, I persisted. After a particularly tough interview, I reached out directly to a hiring manager on LinkedIn. This proactive approach led to an interview where I felt well-prepared, and I received a job offer shortly after. Now, I’m back to work full-time and hope my experience can inspire other pregnant women facing similar challenges.