Aman Goyal, a 26-year-old AI product manager, successfully navigated one of the most challenging scenarios in tech: being laid off while on a visa with a ticking clock. In September, just six months into his role as an AI product manager at an ad tech company, Goyal was laid off, triggering an immediate 90-day deadline to find new employment or leave the United States due to his F-1 optional practical training (OPT) visa status.
The 2024-2025 tech job market presented unprecedented challenges, 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 obstacles, Goyal landed his dream position as an agentic AI product manager at T-Mobile within just 60 days.
Three key strategies propelled his success:
1. Direct outreach to hiring managers: After applying to three T-Mobile roles, Goyal received a response only for the position he wasn’t referred for. He used Hunter.io, a free email-finding tool, to locate the hiring manager’s contact information and sent a personalized message expressing interest. This direct approach proved more effective than traditional referrals, which Goyal believes have become “highly overrated” as they’ve become ubiquitous.
2. Investing in interview preparation: Goyal spent approximately $50 on “Decode and Conquer,” a product management interview guide by Lewis Lin. This purchase granted him access to a Slack community of over 20,000 members, including aspiring PMs, current product managers, and professionals at companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Over six weeks, he completed dozens of mock interviews, many with senior or staff product managers who were also hiring managers. This intensive preparation helped him develop confidence, spontaneity, and the ability to read interviewer body language and adjust responses accordingly.
3. Strategic networking: Rather than relying solely on traditional referrals, Goyal emphasized the importance of finding creative ways to connect directly with recruiters and hiring managers, even in a challenging market.
After completing six interviews covering product design, system thinking, and agentic AI, Goyal received an offer in early November and started his new role later that month. Today, he works on projects closely aligned with his AI background and mentors young job seekers on navigating difficult job markets.
Key Quotes
I think referrals have become highly overrated, especially since it seems like almost everyone has one.
Aman Goyal challenges conventional job search wisdom after successfully landing a T-Mobile role without a referral. This observation reflects how saturated the referral system has become in tech, particularly for competitive AI positions, suggesting job seekers need alternative strategies to stand out.
One of the most helpful parts of the mock interviews was that they helped me build confidence and develop the muscle memory to answer questions spontaneously.
Goyal emphasizes the value of his intensive preparation regimen, which included dozens of mock interviews over six weeks. This highlights how AI product management roles require not just technical knowledge but also strong communication skills and the ability to think on your feet during high-stakes interviews.
Today, I’m working on projects closely aligned with my background in AI, and I’m genuinely excited about the direction of my work.
After successfully navigating a 90-day visa deadline and a brutal job market, Goyal landed a role as an agentic AI product manager at T-Mobile. This quote underscores the growing opportunities in specialized AI fields, even during periods of widespread tech layoffs.
One of the biggest pieces of advice I give to the young job seekers I mentor is that even in a tough job market, networking can still work. It may not come through a traditional referral, but in my experience, finding a way to connect directly with the recruiter or hiring manager can be a game changer.
Drawing from his successful job search experience, Goyal now mentors other job seekers. His advice emphasizes creative networking approaches over traditional methods, particularly relevant for those seeking competitive AI roles in challenging market conditions.
Our Take
Goyal’s success story reveals a critical paradox in today’s AI job market: despite widespread tech layoffs, demand for specialized AI talent—particularly in emerging areas like agentic AI—remains robust. His experience demonstrates that traditional job search strategies are becoming obsolete in the AI sector. The diminishing returns on referrals and the effectiveness of direct outreach suggest that hiring managers are overwhelmed with applications and appreciate candidates who demonstrate initiative and genuine interest.
The intensive preparation approach—dozens of mock interviews with senior practitioners—reflects the rising bar for AI product management roles. These positions require not just technical AI knowledge but also the ability to communicate complex concepts, read social cues, and adapt communication styles on the fly. As AI systems become more sophisticated, the humans managing their development must possess equally refined skills. For companies investing in AI transformation, Goyal’s journey illustrates both the competitive talent landscape and the importance of accessible hiring processes that allow exceptional candidates to break through, regardless of traditional networking advantages.
Why This Matters
This story highlights the evolving landscape of AI talent acquisition during a period of significant market turbulence. As companies continue investing heavily in AI capabilities, particularly in emerging areas like agentic AI, the competition for qualified product managers with AI expertise remains fierce despite widespread tech layoffs.
Goyal’s experience underscores several critical trends: the diminishing value of traditional referrals as they become commonplace, the importance of direct networking and creative outreach strategies, and the necessity of intensive interview preparation in a hyper-competitive market. For international workers on visas, the stakes are even higher, with strict timelines adding pressure to an already challenging job search.
The story also reflects the growing demand for specialized AI roles, particularly in agentic AI—systems that can act autonomously to achieve goals. T-Mobile’s investment in this area signals how traditional telecommunications companies are transforming into AI-driven technology organizations. For businesses, this demonstrates the critical importance of AI talent in maintaining competitive advantage, while for workers, it emphasizes the need for continuous upskilling in AI technologies and strategic job search approaches that go beyond conventional methods.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/f1-visa-holder-lands-tmobile-tech-job-layoff-deadline-2026-1