A former Microsoft employee, Rahul Kaushik, shared his experience on social media after losing his job. He recounted that he learned about the termination only the day after receiving the notice. Currently, Rahul has launched a 30-day challenge aimed at finding a new job with a salary exceeding his previous compensation at Microsoft.
Sharing his ordeal via an Instagram Reels video, Kaushik noted that the news of his dismissal was a major surprise, especially since it occurred right before the Diwali festival. Initially, he believed that his experience working at companies like Amazon and Microsoft would make finding a new role easy; however, he realized the seriousness of the situation the very next day.
Rahul explained in his video that he realized he had lost his job when he was unable to log into the official Microsoft system. He discovered that his corporate email address had also been blocked. Since he had used this account for the past two years, losing access to it was equivalent to acknowledging his termination. Kaushik admitted that it was initially difficult for him to accept the news, and he did not anticipate that his life would change so drastically following the layoffs.
Despite the difficulties, Kaushik decided to face the situation with great resilience. He announced a 30-day challenge during which he intends to find a new position with higher pay than what he earned at Microsoft. As part of this challenge, he plans to regularly send out his resume to new employers and share updates on his job search with his social media followers.
His decision comes at a time when tech professionals are operating in a highly competitive labor market, amid concerns about employment stability and limited opportunities in certain sectors. Kaushik's experience coincides with recent changes in Microsoft's workforce. The company initiated a voluntary separation program for approximately 60,000 employees in India, the US, the UK, and Canada. For eligible employees in India, the program includes payment of one month's basic salary for each full year of service, as well as health insurance and career transition support. The deadline for eligible employees in India to accept this offer is set for December 1, 2026.