New chapter: Software engineer becomes school bus driver after 25 years in Adobe
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- James Strawn, a former software engineer at Adobe, spent over a year searching for work after being laid off from the tech giant
- Strawn described facing discrimination, ghosting from recruiters, and employers who never showed up to scheduled interviews during his job hunt
- The 25-year tech veteran announced his unexpected career change in a heartfelt LinkedIn post that quickly captured attention online
James Strawn, a former software engineer who dedicated 25 years of his career to tech companies including Accolade and Adobe, has swapped his computer for the wheel of a 40-foot school bus after a demoralising stint of unemployment that exposed the darker side of the technology industry.
In a LinkedIn post shared on August 12, 2026, Strawn announced that he would begin his new role as a school bus driver for his local school district the following week, describing the position as his "hopefully final" career move.
James Strawn excited for new job
According to reports, Strawn was laid off from Adobe and subsequently spent more than a year attempting to re-enter the tech workforce, only to be met with what he described as discrimination, automated filtering of his applications, and recruiters who ghosted him or simply failed to appear for scheduled interviews.
"To the potential employers and recruiters who blindly filtered out my applications, ghosted me on direct inquiries, or never even bothered to show up for interviews: I hope this industry can find its way back to treating people better," he wrote in the post.
Despite earning considerably less than his previous salary, Strawn said the new role brought something his tech career had recently denied him: genuine human connection and a sense of purpose.
James Strawn opens up about new job
"It pays a lot less than my previous job, but it's fun, the kids are good (mostly), and my co-workers are caring, kind, and down-to-earth," he said.
Strawn's post carried a tone of hard-won clarity rather than bitterness.
He thanked former colleagues who offered support during his difficult year, while reserving a pointed, if measured, message for those who laid him off.
I'll be driving a 40-foot bus, James Strawn says
"To those at my previous employer who passed me over, brought me down, and ultimately laid me off: thank you as well, but only because you showed me the door to a better future," he wrote. "It's people like you who make me glad I'll be driving a 40-foot bus instead of a computer."
Reports from the Times of India noted that Strawn said he had found happiness in his new role, a sentiment that resonated widely with professionals across industries who have experienced similar frustrations with automated hiring systems and impersonal recruitment processes.
He closed his post with a simple toast: "Let's raise a glass to new beginnings."
Former trolley attendant reports for first day at new job
In another story, TUKO.co.ke shared details about Spiwe, a former Pick n Pay trolley attendant, who embarked on his first day at an office job after a chance encounter with a generous businessman.
His journey from the parking lot to a corporate environment was a testament to how a single act of kindness could transform lives, inspiring South Africans and eliciting emotional reactions online.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.