Microsoft employee of 31 years thought his meeting went well!

The ongoing tech layoffs have impacted even long-tenured employees, including Mike Kostersitz, who lost his job at Microsoft after nearly 31 years. Since his layoff in May, he has been actively seeking new opportunities. “Me and 120 other anonymous faces were told our jobs had been eliminated,” Kostersitz told Business Insider. He recalled an initial meeting with his manager that seemed routine, only to be summoned the next day for a high-priority session where he learned he was among 6,000 employees, including his manager, being let go.

The news came as a complete shock. Initially, Kostersitz felt anger toward Microsoft and wished his layoff had been communicated personally. “After 31 years, you’d expect a manager or VP to explain what’s happening and why,” he said. Despite this, he appreciates Microsoft’s “55 and 15” policy, which allows employees over 55 with 15 years of service to retain stock grants, providing financial support while he searches for a new role.

Now 60, Kostersitz is considering early retirement, though he continues to interview at companies like Nike and Nvidia. He notes the current market is highly competitive, describing it as a “game of chicken” where perseverance is key to landing a job.