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. The...