Veteran Tech Workers Navigate a Post-Boom Reality of Layoffs and Stalled Careers#
The tech industry, once synonymous with rapid growth and endless opportunities, is confronting a harsh new reality. Veteran professionals, who built decades-long careers at tech giants, are now facing unprecedented challenges, including widespread layoffs, a tough job market, and a pervasive culture of ageism.
- Prolonged Job Search for Veterans: Jonathan Duncan, a veteran of 21 years at Microsoft, applied for approximately 200 jobs post-layoff, receiving “not a squeak” in response, highlighting the extreme difficulty even highly experienced individuals face.
- The “Golden Age” is Over: Laura Close, CEO of Close Cohen, an executive coaching firm, states that the “golden age of the quick turnaround is over,” with “super high-value professionals” now taking 12 to 18 months to secure new positions.
- Rising Ageism in Tech: Close identifies “ageism on steroids” within the industry, noting that bias often begins as early as 40, leading to decades of expertise being perceived as liabilities rather than assets.
- Continuing Industry Layoffs: According to Layoffs.fyi, over 114,000 tech workers have been laid off in 2025, following 153,000 in 2024 and 265,000 in 2023, indicating that workforce reductions, though slowing, remain a consistent trend.
- Financial and Identity Crisis: Layoffs are compounded by severe financial pressure—such as lost unvested stock compensation intended for college funds—and an identity crisis for executives who’ve built their lives around their company affiliations.
- Internal Industry Shifts: Companies like Microsoft are implementing deep budget cuts across training, travel, and morale, alongside “underleveling” of senior roles and a pervasive “hierarchy of fear” among remaining employees, signalling a permanent shift in compensation and work culture. The narrative of a persistent tech talent shortage, which defined the industry for decades, has dramatically inverted, leaving experienced professionals in a precarious position. This shift is driven by a combination of post-pandemic “shedding” following massive over-hiring and a strategic pivot towards efficiency and AI adoption, which allows companies to grow without expanding headcount. The prevalence of ageism, where an industry that champions innovation paradoxically devalues seasoned expertise, compounds the challenge, pushing many long-term contributors to the fringes of a market they once dominated. The psychological and financial toll on these individuals, who meticulously followed traditional career paths, underscores a profound betrayal of the implicit contract between employee and employer. Looking ahead, the tech industry is likely to experience a sustained recalibration, with continued pressure on compensation structures and job security for all levels, particularly for those with extensive experience. Veteran tech workers may need to fundamentally reimagine their career trajectories, embracing skill reinvention, exploring niche markets, or even transitioning to entirely new sectors. This era signals a permanent cultural shift where continuous adaptability, resilience, and a proactive approach to personal branding will be paramount, potentially leading to a more transient workforce and a redefinition of what “career stability” means in the digital age.