For years, touchdown a job at Google, Meta, Microsoft or Intel was thought of an emblem of profession success and monetary stability. However for 4 former workers, dropping these coveted positions led to an surprising actuality marked by extended unemployment, monetary pressure and uncertainty concerning the future.
In an interview with Business Insider, the 4 tech professionals, who had spent years working at a number of the world’s largest know-how firms, opened up concerning the challenges they confronted after being laid off. They shared how the job cuts turned the wrong way up their careers, affected their funds and psychological well-being, and compelled them to rethink their skilled futures.
Brittney Ball, 37, labored as a documentation engineer at Meta for almost 5 years and earned about $180,000 a yr. She taught herself to code utilizing the DC Public Library and YouTube. Getting a job at Meta felt like proof that she had made it.
Jason Zhang, 25, labored as a software program engineer at Google for 3 and a half years, incomes greater than $200,000. He had deliberate to remain on the firm for years.
Joe Good friend, 62, spent 23 years at Microsoft as a product supervisor, with a base wage of $250,000. Sriram RamKrishna, 57, additionally spent 23 years at Intel and earned about $180,000 earlier than being laid off in July 2025.
The layoffs got here as a shock. Ball obtained the information whereas dropping her kids in school. Zhang was advised throughout a gathering along with his supervisor and HR. RamKrishna’s whole enterprise unit was shut down, whereas Good friend realised one thing was fallacious after lacking a gathering with senior administration.
In keeping with their interviews with Business Insider, the job search proved far tougher than they’d anticipated. Zhang remained unemployed for 3 months regardless of making use of for round 30 positions. RamKrishna believed he would discover a new position inside six months, however was nonetheless looking a yr after being laid off. In the meantime, Ball stated she had submitted greater than 8,000 job purposes in her effort to return to the workforce.
The monetary impression was additionally vital. Ball used her financial savings, bought shares and relied on her dad and mom for assist. She plans to maneuver from Washington, DC, to Charlotte due to excessive residing prices. RamKrishna modified his spending habits, whereas Zhang stated his plans to purchase a house and assist his dad and mom retire had been affected.
Healthcare turned one other main concern. Good friend stated his household was paying about $2,600 a month for medical cowl after dropping employer-provided insurance coverage.
The expertise modified how the 4 seen Massive Tech. Some are constructing private manufacturers, whereas others have began consulting companies or startups.
For all 4, the largest lesson was {that a} excessive wage and a well-known employer don’t assure safety. Dropping their jobs pressured them to rethink cash, careers, identification and what they need from life past work.
