Microsoft exec offers horrifying advice to laid off employees | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

Microsoft (MSFT) made an announcement last week that’s become hauntingly familiar news in recent months: it’s decided to conduct yet another round of layoffs.

On June 2, the Redmond-based tech company said it will lay off less than 4% of its global workforce, which adds up to about 9,000 of its employees.

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Microsoft has done multiple rounds of layoffs this year as it scales up its AI plans, leaving many wondering if they’ll be next on the chopping block.

It’s a scary time to be in tech, as Meta, Amazon, and Google have also announced layoffs this year. All these companies have also been building their AI investments, with Meta committing to spend $65 billion in 2025, Amazon committing $100 billion, and Google committing to $75 billion.

Add into this that the news is crammed with threats of AI eliminating jobs, and it’s naturally creating a lot of anxiety for those who have been laid off and need to look for a new role.

People often wax philosophical on LinkedIn about layoffs, whether they were affected by them or simply want to comment on what they mean for the affected industry. But when a key Microsoft executive decided to do so in a recent post, he hit a nerve with comments that seemed tone-deaf to the newly unemployed.

Career advice no one asked for

In a now-deleted LinkedIn post screencapped by BlueSky user and Necrosoft Games Creative Director Brandon Sheffield, Executive Producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing Matt Turnbull shared some thoughts on what he believed those affected by the recent Microsoft layoffs should do.

More Layoffs:

“These are really challenging times, and if you’re navigating a layoff or even quietly preparing for one, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to go it alone,” Turnbull wrote.

“I know these types of tools engender strong feelings in people, but I’d be remiss in not trying to offer the best advice I can under the circumstances,” he continued.

“I’ve been experimenting with ways to use LLM AI tools (like ChatGPT or Copilot) to help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss.”

Turnbull goes on to recommend a few prompts those affected by layoffs can use, including career planning prompts, resume help, how to draft a post to foster networking, and even how to ask an LLM for help with imposter syndrome.

In his own post where he shared the screencap, Sheffield said, “Something I’ve realized over time is people in general lack the ability to think in a broader scope and include context and eventualities. But after thousands of people get laid off from your company, maybe don’t suggest they turn to the thing you’re trying to replace them with for solace.”

Jobs are becoming harder to find

While the June jobs report looked positive at a glance, with the unemployment rate falling to 4.1% and 147,000 nonfarm jobs added per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a deeper look reveals other troubles.

Unemployment duration increased from 21.8 to 23 weeks, signifying a longer struggle to find work, and the percentage of people unemployed for 27 weeks or more rose to 23.3%.

More stories are also emerging about the use of AI in both hiring and applying. Jobseekers have begun to report experiencing job interviews with AI instead of with human beings, with many finding the process clinical and disappointing.

To fight back against what seems like an impossible job market, many applicants are also using AI to mass apply to jobs, leaving recruiters overwhelmed and unable to cope.

Meanwhile, a recent ResumeBuilder survey also found that 66% of managers now turn to AI chatbots such as ChatGPT when making decisions about layoffs.

In addition, 78% turn to it for decisions on raises, while 77% use it for deciding on promotions.