DJ-turned-Meta Tech Lead: A 13-Year Run, Layoff, and a Fresh Start
TL;DR
Henry Chen recounts a 13-year ascent at Facebook/Meta—from wedding DJ and AV technician to software engineer and tech lead—before a May layoff amid companywide shifts toward AI. After a paternity leave, he encountered a reorganized Meta and decided to pause job hunting, then rebuilt with severance funds and a coaching plan. He’s exploring roles across collaboration tech, IT, and software engineering, preparing with system-design practice and networking, and staying optimistic about finding a role that emphasizes continual learning and problem solving.
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