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After 14 years at Microsoft, Deborah Hendersen’s layoff became the catalyst for an unexpected career move. Through immediate networking and a layoff support group, she secured a position at Meta without formally applying, offering valuable insights for today’s job market.

The Layoff Announcement

After 14 years at Microsoft, Deborah Hendersen began sensing her time at the technology giant might be ending, according to reports. The 45-year-old user researcher in Microsoft’s Xbox division watched as colleagues on partner teams were among approximately 6,000 employees let go in May, creating what she described as the “worst-kept secret” that additional layoffs were imminent. Sources indicate that by July, her fears materialized when she became one of roughly 9,000 employees affected by companywide reductions.