On December 28, 2009, I was in the heart of Silicon Valley and had coffee with a very experienced project manager who is looking for work.

Prasanth Padmanabhan is a Certified Internet/Software Product Manager with 5 years of PM experience and 5 years of engineering experience.  He has worked for companies such as Yahoo!, Apple, Cisco and several Internet and Media Startups. He previously was the Product Manager for Yahoo! India, based out of Santa Clara, CA. managing the Y! India Search features and properties (audio, image, Answers, Knowledge Search, some web 2.0 initiatives).  He was also a PM / developer for iPod Operations for Apple Computer. Prior to that he served as a Program Manager and engineer for companies such as Cisco Systems, AOL, Rational Software and a few startups. He holds a degree in Computer Science with a Minor in Mathematics.

Even with these creditials, its tough finding a job in Silicon Valley when the local unemployment rate higher than the national average of 10%.

We asked Prasanth how he got laid off, how he is dealing with being unemployed and what are the positives of not having any work.

Here is his story and find out what it's like to be unemployed in Silicon Valley.

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Edwin Duterte of PinkSlipMixers.com is traveling the country asking job seekers what they are doing during the recession, career coaches what a job seeker can do to better their chances to find work and hiring companies what job seekers need to do to get hired at their companies. He also is trying to ask how President Obama's Stimulus and Job   Initiative is helping main street professionals.  Edwin Duterte is trying to be one of Oprah Winfrey's last TV Show guest to keep job seekers motivated to find a new career.

PinkSlipMixers.com host pink slip parties and job search networking events   across America.