Laid-Off Amazon Worker Struggles to Find New Job Amid Tough Market

James Hwang says the job search has felt like a "brick wall" he can't break through.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 4:39am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

James Hwang, a 28-year-old former IT support engineer at Amazon, was laid off in October. He says the job market has been extremely challenging, with over 200 applications and only a few interviews so far. Hwang, the breadwinner for his family with a young son and mortgage, is worried about his finances as his severance pay runs out. He believes being a remote employee made him more vulnerable to the layoffs and limited his advancement opportunities at Amazon.

Why it matters

Hwang's story highlights the difficulties faced by tech workers who have been laid off, especially those in remote roles, as they navigate a competitive job market. His experience sheds light on the impact of Amazon's return-to-office policies and the challenges of finding a new job that meets compensation expectations while also allowing for work-life balance.

The details

Hwang was surprised by his layoff from Amazon, where he had worked for four years as an IT support engineer. He says IT support roles had generally been spared in previous Amazon layoffs, and he believed he was a high performer. Since the layoff, Hwang has been focused on finding cloud support and IT system engineering roles, but the job search has been extremely difficult. He's applied to over 200 positions, had about five interviews, and received one job offer that he turned down due to the strict commute and non-compete agreement.

  • Hwang was laid off by Amazon in October 2025.
  • Hwang's final paychecks from Amazon went through January 2026.

The players

James Hwang

A 28-year-old former IT support engineer at Amazon who was laid off in October 2025 and is now struggling to find a new job.

Amazon

The tech giant that laid off Hwang and has faced challenges with its return-to-office policies.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Since I'm the breadwinner in my family, I started looking for work right away, focusing on cloud support and IT system engineering roles. The job market has been crazy hard, and I haven't found a new job yet.”

— James Hwang, Former Amazon IT support engineer (Business Insider)

“My best advice for people who have been laid off, including those recently laid off by Amazon, is to lean on your connections. In today's market, it's tough without a referral. While it's important to stay consistent in your job search, I'd also recommend taking some time to rest — apply steadily, not at full throttle.”

— James Hwang, Former Amazon IT support engineer (Business Insider)

What’s next

Hwang plans to continue his job search, focusing on remote roles in cloud support and IT system engineering that meet his compensation expectations. He is also considering applying for unemployment benefits to help cover his family's expenses as his severance pay runs out.

The takeaway

Hwang's experience highlights the challenges faced by tech workers, especially those in remote roles, who have been impacted by layoffs. His story underscores the importance of networking, taking breaks, and being persistent in a competitive job market, as well as the potential impact of corporate policies like return-to-office mandates on employee job security.