I've been job hunting for 7 months since being laid off from my consulting job. I cashed out my 401(k) to stay afloat.

Aaron Laniewicz

Aaron Laniewicz

• Aaron Laniewicz has been looking for full-time work since Booz Allen Hamilton laid him off in August.
• He said he's cashed out his 401(k) and collected unemployment to pay down debt and cover expenses.
• Laniewicz shared the job-hunting lessons he's learned along the way.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Aaron Laniewicz, a 40-year-old job seeker who lives in North Carolina. The following has been edited for length and clarity.