A 10-week wedding plan launched her tech career; now, she’s navigating a layoff

The path to her tech career began in 2013, sparked by a whirlwind 10-week wedding planning process. While organizing her nuptials, she bonded with a photographer who happened to work at Amazon. That personal connection led to a referral and her entry into the industry. For Case, that transition was transformative, providing the financial stability required to grow her family.

Today, the landscape feels starkly different. As she navigates the current job market, she encounters AI-driven recruiting systems that filter candidates before a human conversation can even occur. Beyond the technical hurdles, she notes a shift in employer expectations, with many firms now demanding deep expertise in AI tools that were only beginning to surface during her final months at LinkedIn. Despite the frustration of being out of work, Case is balancing her search with a rare period of downtime at home with her children, acknowledging that while the layoff feels deeply personal, the recovery process requires a pragmatic approach to both networking and patience.