A Delhi-based software developer with over a decade of experience has shared that he is struggling to secure even a single interview after being laid off two months ago, highlighting a shift in hiring trends following the AI disruption.
Devendra Pratap Singh, who has worked with firms such as BookMyShow, Zynga Gaming, FanCraze, and Spinny, shared his experience on Reddit, noting that the current slowdown marks a sharp contrast to his previous job search cycles.
“Usually, calls always come, but I was laid off two months ago, and it’s been total silence,” Singh shared on Reddit. “I’m applying every day, but I’m hardly getting any response from HRs.”
He also pointed out that as recently as seven to eight months ago, he had seen steady hiring traction. According to him, recruiter outreach was frequent, with “2-3 interviews weekly” and even “two offers in hand” during his last job switch.
The stark drop in responses now has left Singh concerned about broader market conditions. “It’s something I’ve never seen before… it’s a bit scary to see the market like this after so many years,” he wrote.
Turning to monetisation and networking amid uncertainty
Rather than remaining idle, Singh has begun offering paid mock interviews for system design and coding, with flexible pricing—including free access for those unable to pay.
“I don’t want to just sit around,” he said, positioning the offering as both a support mechanism for job seekers and a way to generate interim income.
He has also sought support through open-source contributions and networking channels, encouraging users to engage with his GitHub projects and connect on LinkedIn.
Community points to resume, evolving hiring filters
Responses to Singh’s post suggested that hiring may still be active, but increasingly selective.
One user, who also reported being laid off recently, claimed to have secured multiple interviews and ongoing hiring processes, attributing the difference to resume quality. “If you’re not getting calls, please ask someone to review your resume… most likely it’s your resume,” the commenter wrote.
Singh attributed part of the slowdown to rapid advancements in AI, suggesting it may be reshaping hiring patterns.
“This time it’s different mostly because of AI improvement,” he said, implying that automation and AI-led efficiencies could be reducing demand in certain engineering roles.
Other respondents pushed back on the idea of a uniform slowdown, arguing that hiring demand may be shifting rather than shrinking.
“AI has surely impacted the industry, but… any good startup would love to have you as their core engineer,” one user noted, adding that while large firms may be tightening recruitment, startups could be creating new openings driven by AI-led innovation.