I was laid off from Google last month. I still haven't told my parents — and won't until I find a new job.

After his layoff from Google, Jason Zhang says he can't afford to take a career break, but he's not applying to jobs quite yet.

Jason Zhang

• Jason Zhang was laid off from his software engineering job at Google in March.
• He shares why he's prioritizing interview prep over applications when it comes to finding a new job.
• Zhang says he's also finding his identity outside of work by prioritizing friends and content.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jason Zhang...