I recently found myself among the many affected by layoffs in the tech industry. After graduating, I dedicated a year to working as a software engineer, where I focused on building AI systems. I poured my heart and soul into my role, giving it 110% every day, believing that my hard work would secure my position. However, despite my efforts, I was still laid off. This experience has taught me a harsh lesson about the nature of white-collar work: it’s not just about doing your job well, but also about constantly demonstrating your value to management through quantifiable metrics. It seems that in this industry, hard work alone doesn't guarantee job security, and those of us who sacrificed personal time for the company can find ourselves in the same boat as those who didn’t. It's a tough reality to face.