I got laid off from IBM over 2 years ago and I'm still unemployed. I don't want my kids to feel like anything is wrong.

• 04/04/2026, 5:08 AM
• businessinsider.com

Fatema Ali

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Fatema Ali, a job seeker in her 30s who lives in Texas. She previously worked for IBM as a project manager before being laid off in 2024. The following has been edited for length and clarity.