I had a really tough experience recently after being laid off from my software engineering job back in April 2023. Since then, I've been actively applying for new positions but facing a lot of rejections. To improve my chances, I started reaching out to friends for referrals, hoping they could help me get past the initial screening process. Some of them were genuinely supportive, but others really surprised me with their responses. One friend, who used to rely on me for help during our college days, told me there were no openings at his company. The next day, I saw him liking a LinkedIn post about their job openings! Another friend, who works in a different field (Analytics/Data Science), suggested I consider government jobs instead and even mentioned bribing my way into one, which I found completely off-putting. He offered to refer me but then went silent after our conversation. This whole experience made me realize how some people can be toxic and unsupportive when you're down. It’s disheartening to see how jealousy and greed can overshadow genuine friendship. Thankfully, I do have a few true friends who have been there for me, and I feel grateful for their support.