Mumbai: Graphic Designer With 14 Years Of Experience Turns Auto Driver After Lay Off; His LinkedIn Post Goes Viral

Kamlesh Kamtekar, a graphic designer with 14 years of experience is now riding an autorickshaw on roads of Mumbai to earn a livelihood. He was forced to turn an auto driver after losing his job earlier in 2024. It wasn't like Kamtekar didn't try securing a role at other companies, but his application was rejected.

After spending 5 months without a job, the Mumbai man whose LinkedIn profile describes him as a "Creative manager and graphic designer" decided to become a rickshawala.

The decision definitely didn't come easy. Noting that his profile was getting rejected for a graphic designer's role and that he couldn't spend more time without an income, he decided to switch his profession altogether. He stepped out of the desk jobs to take up a driver's role.

Taking to LinkedIn, where Kamtekar holds 28,000 followers and 500+ connections, he announced about his major job switch.

Read Kamlesh Kamtekar's LinkedIn post below

Laid off, jobless for 5 months...now an auto driver

He initially informed people about being laid off months ago, followed by trying to secure a new job to exercise his designing skills. Later, he expressed disappointed on being rejected from multiple companies, leading him to turn into an auto driver.

"Decided to sacrifice my all designing skills"

"It’s almost 5 months completed that I have lost my job due to company cost cutting. I still haven't found a new job. I had try also with lots of references, with my friends. But till yet I don't get new job. I had lots of applied on linkedin also, but every time my application was getting rejected...So I decided to sacrifice my all designing skills and drive an auto rickshaw", he wrote.

Kamtekar shared a photo of him standing next to his vehicle in his LinkedIn post. It was learned that the picture was clicked on his iPhone.

Netizens react to viral LinkedIn post

Graphic designer-turned-auto driver's post is now going viral on the networking platform and attracting a wide range of reactions. While some found it to be inspiring, others reflected on the harsh reality of lay offs in the industry.

"This is so inspirational", a user commented. "Design field has become horrible. There are lott of experienced design professionals like this...Very unfortunately", wrote another.

However, netizens encouraged the job he chose to attract some income and extended tehir best wishes towards him.

"Wishing you success you have taken the right decision why to use our skills and our important time for any company or brand. We should use our skills and time to build our own business", they said. "Creativity is not only with designing. It evolves in every job. Best of luck Kamalesh", comments read further.