New Delhi: After spending more than two decades at Microsoft, 62-year-old Joe Friend found himself facing an unexpected twist in his career — a layoff in May that upended his retirement plans. Nearly six months later, Joe is still figuring out his next move. One thing he’s certain about, though, is that his journey in Big Tech has come to an end, according to a Business Insider report.

Earlier this year, Joe Friend — who worked as a director of product management leading a team of nine — started hearing whispers about a possible restructuring that might affect mid-level managers. Still, he never imagined that his own role would be among those on the chopping block.

When the layoffs hit in May, Joe Friend and 14 others from his team — including four managers — lost their jobs. “I wasn't

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