Personal timeline

Hi_Im_New_Heree's journey

Milestones, reflections, and progress updates connected as your layoff-to-next-step story unfolds.

  1. 2
    Feeling Got a Job Planning Thinking

    I’m currently navigating a tough situation at my company, where I’ve been for nearly a decade. Recently, I was promoted to a new role, but I’ve been completely idle since starting a month ago. This restructuring has me feeling exhausted and anxious, especially since I’m the only US employee, which makes me feel vulnerable in terms of layoffs. Over my 9.5 years here, I’ve witnessed eight rounds of layoffs, so the fear is always looming. If I were laid off, my severance would be substantial—around $140k, which includes 10 months of pay and my 2026 bonus. While that’s tempting, I’m also aware that it’s year-end, and I’m uncertain about finding a new job quickly after a layoff. I’ve been stuck in a situation where my pay has stagnated, but the benefits have kept me from leaving. Here’s where it gets complicated: I finally received a job offer from Microsoft, which would pay me 15% more than my current total compensation. The role is in data center construction, requires a move, and would mean my husband would also need to find a new job. We’re open to the move since it’s to a more affordable area, but my husband took 26 months to find a job after his last layoff, and his pay was recently cut by 30%. Now I’m torn between taking the Microsoft offer and starting fresh or waiting to see if I get laid off and potentially cash in on the severance. The golden handcuffs are tough to break, but I’m also aware that staying in a job with so much uncertainty may not be worth it. It feels like a gamble, and I’m trying to weigh the risks and rewards carefully.

    Company: Microsoft

    Job title: Data Center Construction Role

    Hired
    0 8

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  2. 1
    Feeling Got a Job Planning Thinking

    I have been working at an oil company for 9 years, starting right after college. Over the years, I've received gradual pay raises and steady promotions. Recently, I landed a Senior Manager role in a new team, which I accepted about three weeks ago. This internal promotion came with a 15% pay raise, bringing my salary to $136,500, and a 5% increase in my target bonus to 20%. Additionally, I will get an extra vacation week next year, totaling 4 weeks of vacation and 10 sick days, along with a pension plan and a 7% 401k match. The role is hybrid, and I finally secured a start date of August 7 after some back and forth with my manager. However, today I received a call about an external Senior Manager position at a medtech company. This role is quite different from what I'm used to, and while I have been honest about my experience, I'm unsure how much I would enjoy it. It involves managing two global direct reports, but the commute is significantly longer—1 hour and 20 minutes each way—and requires being in the office three times a week. The external offer is for a salary of $160,000 with a 15% bonus and $10,000 in stocks. They also offer 4 weeks of PTO, a 4% match that vests immediately, and an additional 3% employer contribution that vests in three years. Their posted salary range was between $144,000 and $198,000. I feel a bit undervalued at my current company, especially since external hires are coming in at $160,000 to $170,000. While the 15% raise is generous, I’m concerned about the longevity of the new team I’m joining. I'm contemplating how to approach this situation. I want to negotiate for my vacation and sick days to be matched and possibly secure additional compensation. Ideally, I would prefer to stay where I am, but I doubt my current company would match the external offer.

    Job title: Senior Manager

    0 0

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