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. Before getting...