Carter is among the many tech professionals who have struggled to find work amid a hiring slowdown.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ian Carter, a 33-year-old job seeker in Redmond, Washington, who previously worked as a technical program manager at Microsoft. It has been edited for length and clarity.
On May 13, I was getting lunch at a Panera Bread when I just happened to check my email. When I read it, it felt like a gut punch. I’d been laid off from my Microsoft job.
My mind started racing. Could I have done something different? Could I have been better? However, I eventually realized it was simply a business decision. I’d seen the company lay off a lot of people in recent years, and it felt like it didn’t matter if you were a great worker or not — everybody was at risk.
When I was laid off, I was on medical leave for a personal health issue and had been planning to return to work in the coming days. I collected my last paycheck in mid-July and then received some severance pay, but I started applying for jobs almost immediately. My mindset was “I can cry while I apply.”
I decided to share that I’d been laid off on LinkedIn, and the post received over 115,000 impressions. I began receiving messages from recruiters about opportunities, and I’ve landed interviews at companies that include Disney and Nintendo.
But it’s now been five months since my layoff, and I’m still looking for a job. I’ve been drawing on my savings to pay the bills and renting my one-bedroom apartment on a month-to-month lease for about $2,700 — all while crossing my fingers that I land a role soon.
My lease ends the week of October 20, and if I don’t have a job offer by then, I’m planning to move across the country to Florida to live with my family and save money until I find a job. Rent is expensive, but rent without income coming in is doubly expensive.
If I had to guess why I, along with many others at Microsoft and other Big Tech companies, have been laid off in recent years, I’d point to two factors: overhiring during the pandemic and massive investments in AI.
Whatever the reason, it’s clear that finding a job in tech has become significantly more difficult. Before my layoff, I regularly heard from college students struggling to break into the industry. The market already seemed tougher than when I graduated — and now, I’m seeing that firsthand.
I’m in a spot where I have nearly four years of full-time experience — not quite a new grad, but not senior level, either. I think some companies are looking for one or the other, which has made my search harder. Others are seeking very specific skill sets, while mine can sometimes be viewed as more generalist.
As I’ve searched for work, I’ve been trying to develop my AI skills, as job postings suggest that companies are increasingly valuing this expertise. Working at Microsoft also gave me insight into the value of AI skills. During my last year, I didn’t personally feel that my performance expectations had risen too much, but I did feel some pressure to find ways to incorporate AI into my work.
During my job search, I’ve tried to replicate the strategies that got me to this point in my career.
I dropped out of high school in 2009 for health-related reasons, but I eventually earned my GED and enrolled at a community college, where I earned my associate degree and then went on to attend Florida State University. During this period, I built my network on LinkedIn — I now have more than 8,700 followers — which helped me secure interviews and ultimately land an internship at Salesforce. A company recruiter reached out to me, which is how I learned about the role and landed an interview.
Having the internship on my résumé helped me land full-time interviews after graduation. I had a list of dream companies — including Microsoft, Amazon, and Netflix — and I applied to a program manager role at Microsoft without a referral. After an interview, I eventually received a job offer. In 2021, I graduated from Florida State with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and began working remotely for Microsoft due to the pandemic. In 2022, I moved to Redmond, Washington — where the company is headquartered — and before I was laid off, I had a six-figure salary.
As I’ve searched for work — targeting program manager, project manager, and product management roles — I’ve tried to rely on my existing network and make new connections.
When I see a role that interests me, I reach out to the recruiter or someone with a similar job title at the company and ask what they think their company is looking for in a candidate. I then tailor my résumé accordingly.
Since I have a LinkedIn Premium account, I have more visibility into who views my profile. If they have an interesting job title, I’ll send them a message. Most of the time, they respond because they recall visiting my page, which leads to a conversation.
When I connect with people, I usually ask for advice rather than a referral. But if someone offers to give me one, I gladly accept.
While these connections have helped me land some interviews, I’m still looking for a job offer.
Going forward, my plan is to continue doing what I’m doing — applying for jobs, networking as much as possible, and developing my AI skills. However, if my job search drags on, I might consider pursuing a graduate degree, such as an MBA or a degree related to AI.
In addition to networking for job opportunities, I’ve also reached out to others who’ve been laid off to discuss our shared experiences. Layoffs take a mental toll, and it’s nice to talk to people who can relate.
I sometimes visit the private “MSFT Survivors” Facebook group, which includes people who’ve been laid off throughout the company’s history. It’s always interesting to read about what others are going through and their stories. It makes me feel like I’m not alone.
