Maria’s Story: From Laid Off to “Looking for Opportunities” Maria didn’t expect to be laid off. She worked five years at a software company, top ratings, loyal team player. Then came the email:  “Restructuring. Position eliminated.” She wasn’t alone. In 2024–2025, more than 540,000 workers across tech, finance, and retail faced layoffs. Maria applied for 126 jobs. Heard back from …