Laid off after 31 years, Microsoft employee says, ‘it’s a game of chicken right now’

The latest wave of tech layoffs has left even the most loyal employees scrambling, with Mike Kostersitz, a 31-year Microsoft veteran, among those impacted. After losing his job in May this year, Kostersitz has been actively seeking new opportunities but has yet to secure a role despite interviews with companies like Nike and Nvidia.

“Me and 120 other anonymous faces got told our jobs had been eliminated,” Kostersitz told Business Insider. He recalled that in May, he had a meeting with his manager, which he thought went well. However, the next morning, Kostersitz was marked for a high-priority meeting, where he received the bad news. He, along with 6,000 others, was laid off. The list also included his manager.

Unexpected Layoff Spurs Reflection on Career and Future

The sudden termin