Laid Off from Amazon After 11 Years: High School Daughter’s Wisdom Sparks Refreshing Career Pivot
By Staff Writer
Seattle, WA – Hemant Virmani, a 47-year-old tech veteran, spent 11.5 years at Amazon, rising to senior software development manager. But in October 2025, a midnight email delivered shocking news: he was laid off amid one of the company’s largest corporate cuts.[3]
Virmani’s story, shared exclusively with Business Insider, highlights not just the brutal reality of tech layoffs but also an unexpected source of inspiration – his teenage daughter. Her approach to personal challenges taught him to embrace the upheaval with positivity, turning a career-ending blow into what he calls a “refreshing change.”[3]
A Sudden End to a Dream Tenure
Amazon has been no stranger to workforce reductions. The October 2025 layoffs axed around 14,000 roles, followed by another 16,000 corporate positions announced shortly after, targeting teams in Amazon Web Services (AWS) like Bedrock AI cloud services, Redshift data warehouse, and ProServe consulting, as well as retail units such as Prime and Delivery Experience.[5][6]
Virmani received his layoff notice in the dead of night. “Amazon was part of my daily life for 11.5 years, and suddenly it was gone,” he recounted. Despite the shock, he praised the company’s handling: a supportive 30-minute meeting with his manager the next morning, followed by two affirming sessions with senior leadership who offered references and encouragement.[3]
“I loved my time at Amazon… The number of quality brains in the office, throwing around ideas and solving custom problems, was amazing,” Virmani said, underscoring the high-caliber environment that defined his career.[3]
Tech Layoffs Surge into 2026
Virmani’s exit is part of a broader wave. In the first 40 days of 2026 alone, Amazon, Salesforce, and 25 other firms slashed nearly 30,000 jobs. Salesforce cut nearly 1,000 roles on February 9, Workday axed 400 on February 4, and ASML eliminated 1,700 on January 28.[1]
| Company | Date (2026) | Roles Cut |
|---|---|---|
| Glossier | Feb 11 | 50 |
| Salesforce | Feb 9 | Nearly 1,000 |
| Workday | Feb 4 | 400 |
| ASML | Jan 28 | 1,700 |
Internal Amazon memos framed these cuts as a push to become the “world’s largest startup,” emphasizing ownership, speed, and experimentation under CEO Andy Jassy.[6] Affected US employees received 90 days to seek internal roles, plus severance and health benefits.[5]
Daughter’s Lesson: Positivity Amid Adversity
What set Virmani apart was his high school daughter’s influence. Watching her handle a tough situation with grace, he learned to “take this layoff with positivity, keep my cool, and focus on what was next.”[3]
This mindset shift propelled him forward. Now based in Washington, Virmani is upskilling in AI, applying to engineering roles, and prioritizing exercise. “Only time will tell if this layoff is a blessing in disguise, but for now, it has led to a refreshing change,” he reflected.[3]
Voices from the Layoff Frontlines
Virmani’s optimism echoes in other stories. Iren Azra Zou, laid off from Amazon in October 2025, landed a new job at startup Double Nickel just two weeks later. Emotionally and financially prepared from a prior layoff, she advised laid-off workers to network aggressively and stay resilient.[4]
Joanelle Cobos, on her fourth layoff including Amazon, built a $25,000 emergency fund that turned initial post-layoff months into a “paid vacation.” Now job hunting, she feels mounting financial pressure but credits preparation for her stability.[7]
These accounts reveal a tech sector in flux, where layoffs – often hitting software engineers hard – force reinvention.[5]
Navigating the New Job Market
Laid-off workers are adapting creatively. Some turn to Tinder for networking, dubbing it the “new LinkedIn,” as professionals swipe for opportunities amid slim pickings.[2]
For Virmani, the pivot means proactive learning. He’s diving into AI to stay competitive in an industry demanding constant evolution. His daughter’s lesson – stay positive, focus forward – resonates as a blueprint for others.[3]
Amazon’s cuts, part of ongoing restructuring, signal deeper shifts. With over 1.5 million global employees but only 350,000 in corporate roles, the pain is concentrated.[5] Yet stories like Virmani’s offer hope: layoffs can catalyze growth.
A Broader Industry Reckoning
2026’s early layoffs underscore persistent challenges. Companies like Autodesk (1,000 cuts on Jan 22) and Shopify are trimming amid economic pressures, pushing workers to reskill.[1]
Virmani’s journey from shock to renewal highlights resilience. As he job hunts, his message is clear: view change as opportunity. In a volatile tech landscape, such mindsets may prove invaluable.
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