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Aman GoyalAman GoyalAfter being laid off last year, Aman Goyal faced pressure during his job search due to his visa status.Within two months of searching, he landed his dream role as an associate product manager at T-Mobile.He shared the key networking and interview prep strategies that helped him bounce back.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Aman Goyal, a 26-year-old associate product manager at T-Mobile. His words have been edited for length and clarity.I was laid off in September, just six months into my role as an AI product manager at an ad tech company. Because I'm from India and was on an F-1 optional practical training (OPT) visa, the layoff triggered an immediate 90-day deadline to either find a new job or leave the US.During my last job search in 2024, while finishing a master's degree in management information systems at Carnegie Mellon University, I submitted hundreds of applications before landing an offer.This time, the tech job market felt even tougher — marked by widespread layoffs, uncertainty around the Trump administration's proposed $100K H-1B salary rule, and intensifying competition for AI-related roles.Despite these challenges, I landed my dream role within 60 days as an agentic AI product manager at T-Mobile. These three things helped me get the job.1. Hunting down the hiring manager's email helped when a referral didn'tAfter learning I'd been laid off, I took a few days to process the news before diving into my job search. It was a big surprise, as I had recently received a positive performance review.With my visa deadline looming, I knew I couldn't afford to wait long before starting to look. I applied for roles at several top tech companies and a few startups, but the startups that responded weren't willing to sponsor visas.I came across three roles at T-Mobile and applied to all of them. A friend referred me for two of the roles, but I accidentally left his name off the third application. Interestingly, the only role I heard back from was the one I wasn't referred for.The job description was closely aligned with my past experience, and the lack of a referral didn't hurt me. I think referrals have become highly overrated, especially since it seems like almost everyone has one.My referral contact was helpful in another way, though. I asked if he knew who the hiring manager was for the role, and he shared the hiring manager's name. I used the email-finding tool Hunter.io, which offers a free plan with a monthly search limit, to look up the hiring manager's email and sent a short message expressing my interest in the role.I could've asked my referral contact for the hiring manager's email, but not everyone feels comfortable sharing someone else's contact information, so it's helpful to have tools that let you find it yourself.Fortunately, I found the right contact — and shortly after, the hiring manager connected me with the recruiter to schedule interviews.Business Insider is speaking with workers who've found themselves at a corporate crossroads — whether due to a layoff, resignation, job search, or shifting workplace expectations.Share your story by filling out this form, contacting this reporter via email at jzinkula@businessinsider.com, or via Signal at jzinkula.29.2. Buying a book gave me access to a community of job seekersLanding an interview was only half the battle, and I knew I had to be fully prepared to make the most of the opportunity, so I spent about $50 on "Decode and Conquer," a product management interview preparation guide by Lewis Lin.By emailing the author with my receipt as proof of purchase, I gained access to a Slack community with more than 20,000 members, including aspiring product managers, current PMs, and professionals between jobs like myself.What I found most valuable about the community after I joined was how easily I could schedule mock interviews with…

Leslie Snipes, a Tesla Model 3 owner since 2022, is one of three Tesla owners who spoke to Business Insider about her thoughts on the new FSD subscription change.Leslie SnipesTesla is removing the option to outright buy its self-driving software. After February 14, new customers must subscribe.Business Insider spoke to three Tesla owners to get their take on the recent subscription change.An analyst said the change shows that Tesla is confident in its technology — but customers should expect higher prices.Tesla is going all in on the Netflix model for its self-driving software — and owners we talked to have mixed feelings about the move.On Wednesday, CEO Elon Musk announced that Tesla's supervised Full Self-Driving software — known as FSD — will only be offered behind its $99-a-month paywall after February 14.It's a major shift for the electric-car maker. Tesla first began selling its self-driving software in late 2016 for $5,000, later raising the price (it's currently $8,000) and introducing a monthly subscription option in 2021.Now, drivers who want their car to steer, brake, and change lanes on its own will only have the option to pay $99 month to month.Business Insider spoke with three Tesla owners about the change. Their reactions ranged from frustration to enthusiasm."It's a big turnoff for me," Leslie Snipes, an owner of a standard-range Model 3, told Business Insider. "Especially since nearly everything is now a subscription."Snipes said she tested FSD during a complimentary one-month trial when she bought her car in 2022. She loved the feature at the time, but a lifetime purchase cost $10,000 back then — a cost she said was too high for her family.Now, her biggest concern is safety."I have much less confidence in Tesla's self-driving," she said. "I've had multiple experiences where the cameras were inoperable due to low-light conditions or obstructions like rain, which makes this shift concerning."She said she'd only consider paying for FSD for specific months, like when she is planning long road trips.Scott Anderson, who just bought a Model Y in Arizona, said he never seriously considered paying thousands of dollars upfront for the software. He chose the monthly subscription and remains excited about the tech.Scott Anderson, a recent Tesla Model Y purchaser, said he didn't consider buying FSD outright. He's enjoyed the self-driving car for long trips.Scott Anderson"My wife and I recently took a trip about 70 miles from home up into the mountains," he said. "Our new car drove us the entire way without any interruptions."Anderson added that he hopes the monthly price will eventually come down as Tesla rolls out more advanced technology.But for longtime Tesla owners who have already outright purchased the software, Musk's announcement carries different implications."I find myself using FSD more and more as I drive," Nikki Lindgren, a California Tesla owner who bought the technology years ago, told Business Insider. "The change would mostly modify if or when we replace our current Tesla."Lindgren said the shift to subscriptions could discourage her from buying a new Tesla unless the company allows customers to transfer previously purchased software to another vehicle.Tesla didn't respond to Business Insider's request for comment.Tesla's 'growing confidence' in FSD — and why prices could go upTesla has several critical self-driving deadlines this year, including the rollout of its Cybercab.Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty ImagesTesla is facing some critical self-driving deadlines this year, including its robotaxis entering more major cities and ramping up volume production of the Cybercab.Delivering on the promises carries enormous weight for CEO Elon Musk. His attention-grabbing $1 trillion pay package is tied in part to the company's self-driving vision, raising…