‘My first job’: Indian-origin man loses job after 21 yrs at Microsoft

Amid the ongoing layoffs in the tech industry, with the likes of Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, among others, cutting a massive number employees, a LinkedIn post by one such Indian-origin Microsoft employee has gone viral on social media.

The man, Prashant Kamani, was laid off 21 years after working with software giant Microsoft, which on January 18 announced to slash 5% of its global workforce as the company tries to sail through tough times in the wake of the global downturn.

Kamani, who was a principal software development manager at Microsoft, took to LinkedIn to share the bad news, saying he was informed that his position at Microsoft has been eliminated. “As I reflect on it today, I feel a sense of gratitude more than anything else. Microsoft was my first job after college, and I still remember coming over to a foreign land all nervous and excited, wondering what life has in store for me."

He said after working for over 21 years at Microsoft, in multiple roles, and multiple organisations…"I can truly say it’s been very fulfilling and rewarding". Appreciating the company, he said he learnt immensely and grew as a result. "Microsoft gave me many opportunities to learn and expand my skills, and I was able to take full advantage of them. The wealth of experience I gained throughout my career can’t simply be measured in years, it is truly immeasurable. And for all of that, I’m truly grateful to Microsoft."

Kamani, who graduated from Delhi's St Stephen’s College and did his master’s degree in computer science from Savitribai Phule Pune University, said the things he is most grateful for are the relationships he formed over the years with the people he worked with.

He adds: "Whether we worked together for a few months or many years, it’s these relationships that I’ll cherish.”

Kamani also said most importantly, he is grateful for his family. "I haven’t always been there for them, but they have always been there for me. I know that today’s news is hitting them equally hard, yet they are staying strong and carrying me through this. THANK YOU for being my pillar of support."

He also urged friends in his social network to connect with him if they know of anyone hiring for software management positions. Hundreds of people reacted to Kamani's long post, appreciating his dedication to the company, and they wished him well for future endeavours.

Microsoft Corp announced a slashing of 10,000 employees — about 5% of its workforce this week. The US-based tech giant said it is also looking to cut costs amid the looming threat of a global recession. Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said the company will align its cost structure with revenue and where it sees customer demand.

Similarly, Google has also decided to slash 6% of its total workforce or around 12,000 jobs globally, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a blog post on Friday. Jeff Bezos-led Amazon recently announced layoffs of over 18,000 workers, starting January 18, 2023. Social media behemoth Meta last year had sacked 11,000 employees or 13% of its workforce last year.