Laid-Off Graphic Designer With 14 Years Experience Becomes Auto-Rickshaw Driver; Here's Why

With 14 years of experience as an assistant creative manager in graphic design, Kamtekar was laid off almost 5 months ago and tried to navigate a difficult job market

The responses he received varied from budget limitations to a mismatch between his skills and the available roles

Source : LinkedIn

Kamlesh Kamtekar, a Mumbai-based graphic designer shared his tale of losing job due to cost-cutting measures, and how he faced a tough road ahead in a post on LinkedIn. After months of sending out job applications, facing rejections, and receiving offers for underpaid positions, Kamtekar made a decision to leave his career behind and start a new chapter as an auto-rickshaw driver.

With 14 years of experience as an assistant creative manager in graphic design, Kamtekar was laid off almost 5 months ago and tried to navigate a difficult job market. He recently shared his journey in a social media post, which has since gone viral across social media.

“It’s almost 5 months since I have lost my job due to company cost-cutting. As an assistant creative manager with 14 years of experience in graphic design, I tried to find a new job after losing my previous job. Even after 5 months, I still haven't found a new job. I tried lots of references, with my friends. But yet, I have not got a new job. I had applied on LinkedIn also, but every time my application was rejected,” Kamtekar said in his post.

The responses he received varied from budget limitations to a mismatch between his skills and the available roles. Some even suggested that he accept a much lower salary, forcing him to carefully consider his options. Rather than settling for a position that undervalued his expertise, he decided to start his own business. He decided to leave the graphic design industry altogether and become an auto-rickshaw driver.

In his post, Kamtekar shared his thought process and wrote, "Why not start my own business and earn money at the same low salary instead of working somewhere else? At least I will have my own income.”

Kamtekar's post received several responses from the LinkedIn users. One user shared a similar experience and wrote, “Your story feels like.. " been there.. done that".. i was laid off by my organisation in oct this year while we got the severance pay.. and I was also looking for next available opportunities but it was taking too much time so I started my own business as an omelette and burji streat vendor at night at sakinaka Mumbai.. for 2 months I did this earned the amount I was being paid at my previous job.. some of my team members found about this .. came up to me with questions how can an operations manager run an egg stall.. some were inspired .. some were still in disbelief.. for me it was an amazing experience of entrepreneurship and has added to my skills.”