Fired after 10 years at PayPal, man lands job at Visa after final interview on his 40th birthday | Today’s news
A former employee at US financial technology company PayPal has shared the emotional and financial struggles he faced after being laid off and how a referral from a former colleague helped him secure a new job. John Huân Vũ, now a senior consultant at Visa in San Jose, told Business Insider that he was overwhelmed after being fired from PayPal in July 2024.
Vũ said it initially took him a week to process the layoff before he began intensively looking for work. Over the next 16 months, he submitted more than 6,000 applications to more than 2,000 companies and attended dozens of interviews, keeping a spreadsheet of each application.
He said the hiring process has changed significantly since he last looked for a job more than a decade ago. According to Vũ, some companies used AI interview tools, while many job offers disappeared within 48 hours or after receiving only a few hundred applications.
He kept a close eye on LinkedIn and HiringCafe while updating his resume to meet current market standards.
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Vũ said the changes helped him secure more interviews, but did not immediately lead to a job offer.
Financial distress forced difficult decisions
As the job search dragged on, Vũ said his family’s financial situation became increasingly difficult.
She and her husband, who runs an interior design business, took stock of their finances and realized they might have to sell their house unless they could find another source of income.
To reduce household expenses, the couple relied on Buy Nothing groups, coupons, SNAP benefits and local food pantries. Vũ recalled coming to food pantries a few hours before they opened to collect groceries before rushing home for interviews.
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He credited his church community, Buy Nothing groups and food pantry volunteers with helping his family get through the tough times.
A former colleague helped him land the Visa role
While documenting his job search on Facebook, Vũ caught the attention of a former colleague he knew from their days at PayPal and Visa.
A colleague contacted him in October 2025 about a senior consultant position opening at Visa and encouraged him to apply, despite Vũ’s initial doubts about his qualifications, Insider reported.
Vũ later learned that a colleague had recommended him to recruiters and interviewers, citing his work ethic, communication skills and ability to deliver results.
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His last interview took place on his 40th birthday in November 2025 and he received a job offer shortly after, ending 16 months of unemployment.
“The human side still matters”
Based on his experience, Vũ advised job seekers to review and modernize their resumes to increase their chances in today’s hiring process.
He also emphasized the value of maintaining professional relationships, saying, “The human side still matters.”
According to Vũ, updating his resume helped him secure interviews, but a recommendation from a former colleague ultimately made the difference.
He is now employed again, volunteering at the same food pantry that supported him during his unemployment, and describes it as “a beautiful, full-circle moment.”
