I burned out as a manager at Microsoft — then got laid off. Nearly 3 years later, I’m still looking for work.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Karena Plepel, a 43-year-old job seeker who lives in Illinois. She previously worked for Microsoft as a senior hub manager until being laid off in 2023. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

My last few years at Microsoft were a roller coaster — one that ended with me losing my job.

On July 10, 2023, I was pulled into an unexpected meeting with some of my colleagues; we had a sinking feeling about what it…