I was laid off in June 2026 from a networking/cloud security company where I had been working since November 2025. After the shock of losing my job, I quickly pivoted to job hunting, utilizing LinkedIn Premium and reaching out for referrals. By August, I secured a position at a well-known networking company in Bangalore with a decent compensation of around 26 LPA. However, now that I’ve started, I’m having doubts. My experience has primarily been at L5/L6 and L7 levels, but my new role focuses on core L2/L3 packet forwarding, which involves low-level networking concepts and maintaining a legacy codebase. The tools and workflows feel outdated, and I’m realizing that I don’t enjoy the networking domain as much as I thought. I entered this field without a clear direction, and now I’m drawn to working with AWS, Kafka, Docker, Kubernetes, and modern backend/distributed systems. I also want to move back to Hyderabad, but I'm concerned about the limited networking opportunities there and the potential for lower compensation outside of FAANG companies. I have several questions: 1. How realistic is it to switch domains with around 3 years of experience? 2. What’s the best way to transition back to Hyderabad without losing career momentum or pay? 3. How can I best pivot towards modern cloud technologies? 4. Am I overreacting by considering a switch so soon, or is it reasonable to look for a path that aligns with my interests? I want to avoid spending years in a role that doesn’t excite me, and I’d appreciate any advice from those who have successfully transitioned domains after a few years in the industry.