I'm currently 25 years old with over 4 years of experience as a Senior Software Development Engineer (SDE) making 21 LPA. My company is facing severe financial difficulties, having just reported heavy losses in Q1 FY27, and a recent round of layoffs has left me feeling anxious about my own job security. I know that unless things change, I could be facing layoffs myself by June 2027, especially with the pressure of AI advancements and shrinking team sizes weighing on us. I find myself grappling with intense feelings of imposter syndrome. The last time I interviewed for a tech position was during college, which was five years ago, and now I feel completely out of my depth. Although I have been working hard to improve my skills in Python, Snowflake, and AWS, I still feel like I don’t know enough. I also really dislike the idea of grinding through data structures and algorithms (DSA) on platforms like LeetCode. I’m more interested in system design and AI engineering, but the thought of tackling complex DSA problems makes me want to give up. Additionally, I feel a significant pressure to stabilize my life by the age of 28, as I want to transition into new responsibilities and personal milestones without the constant worry of my company going bankrupt. I have a couple of pressing questions: 1. Is the tech industry always this anxiety-inducing with constant layoffs and the need for upskilling? Should I consider pivoting to a different career path, perhaps looking into government jobs? 2. How can I approach the job market without burning out on DSA? Given my strengths in Python, AWS, and data pipelines, how realistic is it to find roles that emphasize system design and practical engineering instead of traditional DSA? If anyone has been in a similar situation or faced a looming layoff while dealing with imposter syndrome, I would greatly appreciate your insights and advice on what my next steps should be.