My Mother Died After I Was Laid Off. It Was Perfect Timing

Show up differently. Lean into a different kind of energy—and get a different kind of response.

When I was let go from Microsoft last fall, I wrote about Secret Sauce reflecting on how lucky I was to work with so many brilliant, kind people.

Since then, I’ve been on a journey of personal and professional discovery—and I’ve found a new kind of “secret sauce” forming.

A Layoff Gift

I am Roy Zimmermann, and I got the news about my layoff from Microsoft while on vacation in Scotland with my wife, my brother, my sister, and their spouses.

People often say, “What a terrible time to get that kind of news.” But honestly, it was the best time. I was surrounded by love, beauty, and scotch within arm’s reach.

A month later, my elderly mother fell seriously ill. She passed away four months later. I had the time—and the gift—of being completely present with her and my family.

No Teams calls.

No deadlines.

Just presence.

I’ll forever be grateful for that time.

A Shift in Job Searching

When I reentered the job market, I focused first on what I knew: tech, especially in Seattle. I applied for jobs I thought I was qualified for. I reached out to former colleagues who went out of their way to support me (thank you).

But despite all that, the response rate was nearly zero.

So I shifted. I started focusing not just on what I could do, but what I’d be excited to do—roles in education, community service, and social impact. Areas I have deep experience in but weren’t top of mind for me while looking for jobs in big tech.

Suddenly, things started to move. Interviews started to come in.

While I still haven't found my next role, I do feel like I’m getting closer—and I’m more excited about the opportunities I’m seeing, and that are seeing me.

A Shift in Mindset

Why the shift? Maybe the tech market is just oversaturated (it is). But I think something else has changed.

I am showing up differently. I am leaning into a different kind of energy—and getting a different kind of response.

Through all of this I have continued to lean into my network and found myself connecting more regularly with people who shared my social impact history and interests.

Huge thanks to Dan Fay, Kent Foster, and James Bernard, and so many others who’ve stayed in my corner and continue to lift me up.

This new “secret sauce”? It still includes inspiring collaborators—but for me it also includes the love and support of family, the time to grieve and reflect, and the freedom to rediscover what really matters.

If you’re going through your own season of change, here’s a gentle nudge: lean on your people.

The ones who know your heart. The ones who want to help.

This was originally published by Roy as Onward, with an extra helping of secret sauce. Please email Wayan Vota if you see other posts we should share with the Career Pivot community.

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Join Our Role Creation AMA on Thursday

Shift your mindset from finding a new job to re-imagining what’s possible. Join Louise Le Gat in an Ask Me Anything session at 8AM EST on Thursday.

In this forward-looking session, you’ll explore how to:

• Flip the script: The inner reframe to steady yourself through uncertainty and transition

• Articulate your unique value: Design or attract roles that don’t yet exist

• Partnering for the new: Opening up to emerging possibilities through corporate changemaking and social entrepreneurship

This session is to support you to go beyond what was, and begin shaping what could be. How you want to show up in 2025 and beyond.

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