Dave Lewis had what it took to land jobs at some of the most sought-after Big Tech companies. But after getting laid off twice in three years, he found himself grappling with where he fit into the future of tech.
Lewis spent a decade at Google, was laid off by Amazon, rehired by Amazon, and eventually left for Microsoft — where he was laid off again.
After the second layoff, the Montana resident thought hard about what came next. He’d spent much of his career in roles that required regular travel, most recently as a sales executive at Microsoft, and wanted to spend more time at home with his family.
Lewis, who is in his 30s, also wanted long-term career growth. But with AI rapidly reshaping the tech industry, he knew finding the right path wouldn’t be easy.
He kept coming back to one question: “How do I make sure that I’m optimizing my career search for the next five years of what the industry’s going to be, not the five years that have brought me here?”
Over the past year, I’ve spoken with dozens of tech professionals like Lewis who have been laid off and forced to navigate a challenging job market. Many were affected by cuts intended to address overhiring during the pandemic and streamline operations.
While the broader labor market has seen slow hiring and low levels of firing, tech has been different. Workers are competing not only with a growing pool of laid-off professionals but also with recent graduates and currently employed tech workers looking for new opportunities.
Looming over everything is AI. While economists have debated what impact the technology has had on tech company layoffs and hiring, it’s undeniably reshaping the industry — and influencing how workers like Lewis think about the future of their careers.
Why he left Google after a decade
Lewis said he was excited to join Google as a digital media manager in 2012 because it was one of the leading companies in his industry.
Years later, during the pandemic, Lewis and his wife moved from New York City to Montana — not ideal, as some of his largest clients had been just down the street from the company’s New York City office.
At the same time, he was looking for a new challenge.
“I was working on individual, complex problems instead of large industry ones, which is where I do my best work,” he said.
He decided the best move for his family was to stay in Montana and find a role that would support remote work. Amazon seemed like a good fit, and the role would help him grow, moving from an individual contributor role in sales into a broader product strategy role.
In July 2022, Lewis joined Amazon as a product lead. Less than a year later, he was laid off as part of Amazon’s workforce reductions.
Amazon laid him off — and hired him back
Lewis stayed in touch with his former managers and colleagues who had also been laid off, and learned about a new team that was being formed. In October 2023, Lewis rejoined Amazon as a technical product manager.
“It was different getting hired back versus being hired new because I had some built-up goodwill, and people were familiar with my work,” he said.
Earlier that year, Amazon had announced that corporate employees would be required to work from the office three days a week. When Lewis rejoined, he said he was expected to make roughly monthly trips to Seattle, with the understanding that the arrangement would be revisited after his first year.
Why he left Amazon for Microsoft
Shortly before his one-year mark back at Amazon, policy shifted to five days a week in office.
This time, it was clear to Lewis that his exception was going away. He and his wife discussed spending at least a year in Seattle while keeping their home in Montana, but ultimately decided it wasn’t the best fit for their family.
At the same time, Lewis was looking for a new professional challenge. His team had reached many of the goals it set out to accomplish.
In January 2025, the same month Amazon’s five-day office mandate took effect, Lewis left the company to start a remote partner sales executive role at Microsoft. While the role required some travel, it also offered a new professional challenge.
Ten months later, Lewis’ role at Microsoft was eliminated. For the second time in less than three years, he found himself looking for work.
How he found his next role
Fortunately, Lewis had enough savings to be selective about his next opportunity. He spoke with a former Google colleague who had founded the AI startup Emberos, which helps businesses optimize their digital footprint for AI-powered consumer search.
Lewis was already interested in how AI was changing the way people find information online, and soon accepted a full-time position as head of partnerships. He said there is no office requirement for his role, though he expects to make regular trips to the company’s office in Los Angeles.
After taking April off to welcome his son, Lewis started working full time in May.
For anyone navigating a layoff, Lewis said it’s important to think carefully about what you’re looking for before starting a job search.
“The market is drastically changing every day,” he said. “Think about roles that leverage your experience, challenge you to learn more about emerging technology, and offer long-term growth potential.”
Do you have a story to share about how you’re navigating a career crossroads? If so, please reach out to the reporter via email at jzinkula@businessinsider.com, or via Signal at jzinkula.29.
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