u/Hot-Development-6719 — reddlx

I came to the US in Jan 2024 for my Master’s. I was fortunate to get a summer internship at a good company, which got extended into the fall. I was about to graduate when there was an organizational restructuring, and unfortunately, I couldn’t convert to full-time.

I graduated in Dec 2025 without a job, then started my job search and landed a full-time role at a startup in Jan 2026. Recently, I got laid off due to business changes.

Right now, I feel very uncertain and sad, and I’m struggling to navigate what’s next.

I wanted to ask:

Has anyone been through a similar situation (especially with ~5 years of experience / early-career US journey)?
How long did it take you to land your next role after a layoff?
Any success stories or timelines that might help me understand what’s realistic in this job market?

Any advice or experiences would really help. Thank you.

I came to the US in Jan 2024 for my Master’s. I was fortunate to get a summer 2025 internship at a good company, which got extended into the fall 2025. I was about to graduate when there was an organizational restructuring, and unfortunately, I couldn’t convert to full-time.

I graduated in Fall 2025 without a job, then started my job search and landed a full-time role at a startup in Jan 2026. Recently, I got laid off due to business changes.

Right now, I feel very uncertain and sad, and I’m struggling to navigate what’s next.

I wanted to ask:

Has anyone been through a similar situation (especially with ~5 years of experienced-career US journey)?
How long did it take you to land your next role after a layoff?
Any success stories or timelines that might help me understand what’s realistic in this job market?

Any advice or experiences would really help. Thank you.