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

Karena Plepel

Karena Plepel

• Karena Plepel was laid off from her manager role at Microsoft in July 2023.
• Nearly three years later, she still hasn't found work, which has been difficult both financially and mentally.
• Despite her challenges, she believes everything happens for a reason.

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.