Overview
- Mike Kostersitz, 60, was cut in a May reduction that affected about 6,000 Microsoft employees and is still seeking a new role.
- He has interviewed with companies including Nvidia and Nike and remains hopeful about one possibility but has not secured an offer.
- A Microsoft-provided advisor urged him to “de-age” his résumé and tailor materials for applicant tracking systems, alongside LinkedIn updates and referrals.
- Microsoft’s “55 and 15” policy lets his stock continue vesting, and together with severance and savings it gives him roughly a two-year financial cushion.
- He wished the layoff had been delivered personally by leadership and was told the current hiring climate is a “game of chicken” where persistence can be decisive.