I was laid off 14 months ago from a big tech company where I worked as a Software Engineer for three years, right after graduating from college. The layoff hit me hard, and I faced significant mental health challenges that I've only recently started to overcome. Now, I'm finally feeling ready to re-enter the software engineering field. However, I'm concerned about the 14-month gap on my resume. I haven't written any code since the layoff, and I feel like my skills have atrophied. My memory isn't the best, so I tend to forget things quickly if I'm not using them regularly. I'm torn between spending the next few months building a project to showcase my skills or focusing on refreshing my coding knowledge and preparing for technical interviews. I'm worried that ATS systems or recruiters might filter me out before I even get a chance to interview due to the gap. Right now, it feels overwhelming, and I'm seeking advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation. I want to take control of my career again, but I'm unsure of the best path forward.