I'm a seasoned (20+) executive legal assistant and was laid off in December of 2020.

58 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 17,2021 at 3:49PM UTC

   I would update your LinkedIn profile and start networking and since your are looking for a career change I would also see if you can reach out for informational interviews with folks holding the job you want or supervising the job you want.

   It's good to get some Frontline info and advice on what you may be lacking in the way of certifications and skills and how you might change the focus of your resume to appeal to those hiring fir that particular role.

   Also, you might want to discuss your career change with a coach who might see talents you are not highlighting.

2. Lindsey Roth-RosenSeptember 17,2021 at 4:48PM UTC

   Yes, I've included those suggestions in my recent past.
   It is challenging to find quantifiable achievements as an EA. I've aggregated tasks like PowerPoint, (5000 during my time with firm, assisted on 100s of million dollar settlements),
   It just doesn't read the way other achievements read, which I've cobbled together as well.

   I'm curious how we'll are the "certificates" viewed, given that it was a class, but no real experience in said "certificate.

3. AnonymousSeptember 17,2021 at 7:28PM UTC

   I think certifications show a basis for understanding and applying the knowledge. When you're changing careers, that can show a resourcefulness and ability to learn. It's just shows anyone reviewing your resume that you are much more than your garden variety EA

4. AnonymousSeptember 17,2021 at 3:54PM UTC

   It's ironic really that when employers are hiring they want to know you'll stick around for a long time, but then turn their nose at someone who stayed at a previous employer a long time.

   I learned this from my career coach:
   Sit down, go year by year if you can of all the positive business impacts you made. When you write them out, I'm sure you'll find achievements that are easily transferrable to your desired career. If you lean on those quantifiable achievements on your resume, linkedin, and interviews, I think you'll start to see a different pattern in your job hunt.

5. AnonymousSeptember 18,2021 at 12:48PM UTC

   Agreed. Employers will accuse people of job hopping if they’ve stayed in positions less than a certain amount of time but then hold it against candidates if they have stayed longer? I think some employers think they are an Olympic judge just waiting to nitpick and take off points for every little thing they can find to hold against candidates. Steer clear of employers like that. There are employers out there who are reasonable and won’t do that. Unfortunately you won’t know who they are until you interview with them, but definitely watch for that in the process. Best of luck to you!

6. Lindsey Roth-RosenSeptember 17,2021 at 5:02PM UTC

   I have left dates off only add back in on online applications. I wish these employers would list salary ranges; it would save us all time.
   I also find the:
   duties ratio qualifications are entirely off base.
   The ambiguity/possibility that your resume has been read at all,
   Many of these positions are already filled, and the posting is to tic off the legalities box.

7. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 18,2021 at 2:12AM UTC

   As a recruiter with 20 plus years of experience, personally no dates on a resume is a deal breaker. It screams you have something to hide.

   I won't know if it's you're a job hopper or what the situation is, but if you weren't trying to hide something, the dates would be on there.

8. Carol WeberSeptember 18,2021 at 12:52PM UTC

   I don’t list my college graduation date. That’s just a back-door way of finding out how old I am.
   I do date my jobs, but I don’t go all the way back to my first one for the same reason. 15 years is as good as 20.

9. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 18,2021 at 5:10PM UTC

   I misunderstood when you said "leave off dates completely".

   School dates should never be on a resume unless you're a recent grad.

   Any experience over 10, 15 years - depending on how relevant - should be lopped off the resume.

10. AnonymousSeptember 18,2021 at 4:48AM UTC

    I would leave titles off your resume but ensure you show you’ve continued to learn through a progression of increasing responsibilities. You don’t want to appear stagnant. You have to tell your story via your resume. Talk about getting your degrees, new management that you onboarded, and how you were the one constant in a sea of changes. Have your former colleagues write recommendations on LinkedIn for you. Finally, work on explaining your narrative to people. You have to believe it to be able to sell it!

    Girl, You know you held that place together all those years, so own it!

11. AnonymousSeptember 18,2021 at 12:36PM UTC

    Instead of a chronological format use a functional format for your resume - highlight your skills. Make sure you are updating your resume to fit the position you are applying for by dropping in key words used in their job description. Also, highlight you skill set in your cover letter. Rethink your value - think of being the maesto of an orchestra - an experienced EA is one of the most important roles in an organization.

12. Joann HalpernSeptember 18,2021 at 12:38PM UTC

    Have you considered doing temp work during your search? Getting back into the marketplace this way often can open doors.

13. Jo DSeptember 18,2021 at 12:47PM UTC

    In some jobs, a 20 year stint is highly desirable because if you are an administrator of an office with clients, for example, longevity brings skills and knowledge of the client base and stability to the position. At my firm, you'd be a jewel if you submitted a resume. HOWEVER, if your heart is in learning a new career, sometimes it helps to take a temporary job (a project with a start and end date) while taking night courses in your new field. And if you have done marketing or business development, your resume should position your previous job highlighting those activities even if it wasn't your title.

14. Beth DandySeptember 18,2021 at 12:48PM UTC

    I’m having the same issue. It’s frustrating and I don’t know how to overcome it

15. AbigailSeptember 18,2021 at 12:58PM UTC

    I'm sorry you've been laid off and that you've been blaming yourself for somehow not making the right choices to lead you to this moment. I would start by re-framing your story. Look at all the things you have accomplished! You have acquired so many skills during your long tenure in this role and you've also pursued higher education. It's so hard to start again and to feel uncertain and frightened about financial security. I feel you. But the first step, in my opinion, is to be your own best advocate. If you were writing your story which story would you tell? There are so many versions, why not tell the story that showcases all of your wonderful skills and talents? Also, don't take it personally if your resume isn't being picked up. It's really hard to get noticed through these online applications where it's often a computer screening through the first round of resumes. Although if you paid for a resume writing service aren't they supposed to help you break through that? Maybe you would have better luck if you start targeting certain industries and tailor your resume to them specifically. Have you considered real estate? They have marketing departments that require using a lot of administrative skills. You can also supplement your skill set by taking free courses online. Look at the job descriptions for real estate marketing roles and see what software they require, etc, or look into other industries that interest you and take the courses to gain that experience and update your resume accordingly. I'm in a similar position as you so I really get it and wish you well!

16. AnonymousSeptember 18,2021 at 1:07PM UTC

    At some point in time, any job is better than no job. I am not sure what you are seeking, but the truth is that you are starting over, including salary requirements. And you will, more than likely have a supervisor half your age. And have to work your way up again.

17. Erin Thomas, Career + Leadership CoachSeptember 18,2021 at 1:18PM UTC

    You aren’t starting over! Your just in the next iteration of your career, but you have 20 years of experience, skills and know how. Think of it as a fork in the road, one which you wouldn’t have gotten to without the last 20 years. Don’t waste all that precious time and experience by “starting over.”

18. AnonymousSeptember 18,2021 at 8:00PM UTC

    Reality check, she probably won't be getting the salary she was at her previous employer.

    That is "starting over".

19. Erin Thomas, Career + Leadership CoachSeptember 20,2021 at 10:49PM UTC

    While this may be your belief, it is not grounded in reality, and by stating this to her you are just reinforcing an assumption (or misguided belief) that will wreak havoc on her and others as they change careers - and will literally lose them money and time - not to mention maintain the gender pay divide.

    The assumption that because you are switching careers means you are starting over financially and otherwise is simply false. And it is a belief that will hold you back in your career because it will determine your actions and then your outcomes. And of course your outcome will then reinforce this belief. (Which is an annoying function of our brains, called confirmation bias.)

    And I say this with conviction because I have empirical evidence from the hundreds of people I've coached through career changes that prove your statement is not accurate. Not to mention I have done it a couple different times now.

    You 100% can switch careers and maintain your salary - and maybe even make more money.

20. Erin Thomas, Career + Leadership CoachSeptember 18,2021 at 1:16PM UTC

    I’d say likely two things are taking are the problem:
    - you aren’t showcasing your unique brand and value proposition in your resume
    - you aren’t translating your wonderful experience to each job you are applying to. (Especially if you are applying to lots of different types of jobs).

    Hire a career coach to help you get clear on what job will satisfy you, your brand, and getting a resume out there that lands you offers. You won’t regret it.

    Happy to chat if interested:
    Careerandleadershipcoaching.com

21. kay JackSeptember 20,2021 at 12:55PM UTC

    I am a strong advocate of a career coach. The advice and support that I was given by my coach was invaluable when transitioning from a role that had become.toxic after 13 years . I hope the poster takes the time to reach out and have a chat with you .

22. Erin Thomas, Career + Leadership CoachSeptember 20,2021 at 5:57PM UTC

    I 100% agree. I've had a career coach myself - and coaches for other aspects of my life - and they always help me achieve my goals when I'm stuck. Thanks for the shout out!

23. kay JackSeptember 21,2021 at 1:11AM UTC

    Happy to shout out on something that I know actually works .

24. sfparrishSeptember 18,2021 at 1:27PM UTC

    Have you thought about starting your own virtual assistant company?

25. ElizabethSeptember 18,2021 at 1:38PM UTC

    Perhaps ageism in this case. Go with a temp agency and work your way back in.

26. Nicole McKeonSeptember 18,2021 at 1:39PM UTC

    I’m so sorry for your struggle, however I’d like to give you a different perspective! Look at what you’ve accomplished! While working a full time job in a demanding field you completed both your undergraduate and graduate degree! You built a 20 year career and have expertise in communication, relationship management and many other skills. Before you do another thing I think you should seek assistance, either through a career or life coach to help you recognize and project all you’ve accomplished instead of apologizing and expressing that you’ve made bad decisions. The suggestion to try temping seems like a good one, or perhaps volunteering in a role you think you might like. But whatever you do stop beating yourself up. You’re amazing!

27. Shelby CSeptember 18,2021 at 1:51PM UTC

    If you were a seasoned EA in the legal field with a Masters, I would ask you if you thought about being a Legal Advocate. Of course, you don't get the same amount of pay that Attorneys do; however, there is a better work-life balance and it only requires a bachelors.

    There is a HUGE need for them where I live because we don't have enough surrogate parents to attend ARDs for children in the STPP. The disability community is also under served as well as those that are victims of DV. The Attorneys can't handle everything and are even hiring people from out of state to write their briefs for them. There is definitely a need/demand and I suspect it will only grow as Generation Squeeze ages since we are taking care of our parents, putting our kids through college (praying they find their way afterwords), and preparing for our own retirement.

    For those of you that are unfamiliar with what a Legal Advocate does, you need a bachelors and to be supervised by an Attorney. I copied most of this from One Legal . com because I am tired and hangry. ;) I have edited it because it was realllly long.
    __________
    A legal advocate works within the legal system on behalf of another person to advocate for their rights or needs. These representatives advocate in particular for members of underserved communities. Some types of parties that you might advocate for in the legal industry include:

    - Children
    - Victims of domestic violence
    - Accident victims
    - Disabled people
    - Low-income tenants
    - Crime victims
    - Parties to legal disputes
    - Prisoners

    Areas of advocacy include but are not limited to:

    - Tenant advocacy
    - Wrongful conviction
    - Disability advocacy
    - Cancer rights
    - Child and family advocacy
    - Victim advocacy
    - Mediation

    If you are interested in becoming a legal advocate, you might consider volunteering first in a niche that you are particularly interested in. While most legal advocacy jobs demand at least some legal experience or education along with a willingness to learn, some require a law degree.

    Law students sometimes choose to become legal advocates as a way to gain valuable experience. Legal advocates typically must pass a background investigation, be drug tested, and receive on-the-job training once hired.

    Some legal advocates are unpaid and choose to volunteer their time for a cause that is important to them. These volunteer roles can lead to paying advocacy jobs, based on experience, and are not typically listed in one central location. Instead, they are part of a network that allows advocates to move on to paid positions once they have spent time volunteering.
    _________
    The average pay in my area is about $25 an hour to start, but that is probably less than what you are currently making.

    There may be some other things to take into consideration. Prospective employers may see that you worked in the same place for twenty years, they don't value company loyalty anymore - they see our age. There also think that you don't like taking risks and you are resistant to change. They wonder how many "good years" we have left too - like a horse they will have to put out to pasture. Once we hit fifty, it is difficult to even get an interview unless you work your network.

    Networking is the best way to find a job. When you send in your resume to a company, you are usually one in hundreds which is why you don't hear anything back as well.

    You also need to have several versions of your resume that are tailored to showcase your skills in the areas that they have already stated are important in the job description. Then, when a job in "A" comes up, you submit a resume that is tailored to positions that are "A".

    Have you thought about teaching?

28. JazzmineSeptember 18,2021 at 6:59PM UTC

    If you don’t mind me asking, what area do you live in where there is a need for legal advocates? I live in Maryland and I recently graduated from college. Starting off in the legal advocacy field was (as still is) something that I really wanted to do but I’m having a lot of trouble finding anything in my area.

29. AnonymousSeptember 18,2021 at 10:07PM UTC

    I was in the same boat. Tried to transition out of long career into something different. I was laid off 3 times in a couple of years. Similar to the comments above. They can ‘hire someone cheaper who will bring them coffee’ a friend told me this. It was true. When I was looking, a business acquaintance that was Senior in her field, told me ‘to get younger friends’. Seriously. Who says that? The thing is I had younger friends and my resume was by the book for an experienced worker in my early 50’s. Dates removed, keywords for every application, strengths listed that correlate to another position, resume professionally done. Truth is hiring managers mostly ignore workers over 45.
    I’ve since transitioned into a freelance gig in a similar field that I love and that has less chance of being laid off again. I’d never want to go back to answering to a boss again nor do I think I’d be hired anyway. It’s excruciating and messes with your self esteem-don’t let it. It’s a tragedy that experienced workers aren’t valued for what the bring to the workplace. It needs to be changed. I’m rooting for you to find something that’s a perfect fit for you. You will have to kiss a few frogs though but then lessons are learned and eventually you’ll land it!

30. AnonymousSeptember 20,2021 at 12:03AM UTC

    Truth. I believe that older workers are better off to seek possible lower paying positions, federal state, city jobs, with good benefits. They are more likely to take older workers..

31. Gerry ReedSeptember 18,2021 at 3:17PM UTC

    Another job seeker I met at a local job club shared a technique I found very effective. I spent 25 years in legal and like you, 20 years at one firm. One firm sent me to paralegal school while I worked for them. My bachelor’s is in English. I was 58 when the new president of the firm made other plans, resulting in a redesigned position I found untenable. As much as I enjoyed legal, I transitioned to a NFP job due to my husband’s increasingly poor health. To make that transition, I prepared an Excel spreadsheet similar to the one my fellow job seeker had used successfully. One column listed all of my skills acquired in the legal field and the other column described how they would translate in a NFP setting. It made a great impression at my interview and I got the job. Best wishes to you. Even though the job club provided no leads, it gave me this wonderful technique and ongoing support during my 8 month search.

32. Focused721350September 18,2021 at 3:18PM UTC

    Good Morning,
    Bottom line! Your over qualified and no one what's to pay you what your worth. Sorry! But! That's the truth. Been there done that. Maybe! With all your experience and SMARTS!!!! ;) You can start your own small business.... Good Luck and God Bless you!!!!

33. Maggie StoneSeptember 18,2021 at 4:11PM UTC

    I am sorry you are in this predicament. I think the main question is this: do you want a similar job or even to stay in the same industry? It may be time to do some exploration. I wanted to pass along some resources/questions that may be helpful. Wising you the best.

    1. https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/best-free-career-assessment-tools

    2. The book What Color is Your Parachute is a great resource for career changers. It is updated annually.

    3. O*Net will allow you to compare careers/roles (e.g Paralegal).

    4. Also, do you have any hobbies or skills you could turn into your own business or gig economy?

34. kay JackSeptember 20,2021 at 12:49PM UTC

    " What color is your parachute " is such an amazing resource .

35. Judy BartlettSeptember 18,2021 at 4:18PM UTC

    Are you getting instant or near instant form email rejections? If so, there's a very good chance you're getting rejected before a human even sees your resume. I had the same issue (and also last job was 21 years). I put a "skills" section at the top of my resume that echoed what was in the job description, and I changed that section for every job a I applied for. The following week I had four interviews. As for the learning software part, there are a lot of free resources online. My personal favorite is Salesforce's free training. They cover everything from their own platform to leadership, how to conduct meetings and presentations, diversity and inclusion, and a whole bunch of other really helpful courses. Best of luck. Feel free to reach out if you want to see what I did with the skills section of my resume.

36. Jo DSeptember 18,2021 at 6:34PM UTC

    This is an excellent piece of advice: there was a paper I read a few weeks ago that said that the job search ("we can't FIND anyone!") is being hampered by software screening of resumes. Computers are logical--but stupid. If they don't see the key word they are looking for, your resume is kicked out. And the people writing the specifications don't understand, they can get a very good hire of a generalist but they are wording their listing to find a specialist unicorn.

    Look at the job listing and put EVERY key word into your resume you upload. (Find a way to fit that key word into your experience, dollars to donuts there is a way to do that unless they want a COBOL programmer...and ONLY a COBOL programmer)

37. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 19,2021 at 3:32AM UTC

    YOU SAID:

    "If they don't see the key word they are looking for, your resume is kicked out."

    This is absolutely 1000000% not true. An ATS is basically a filing cabinet. Yes, the users of an ATS can set up knock out questions - like if the position requires a 4 year degree - they can set that as a question, if you answer no, you will be rejected. You are still attached to that requisition. The recruiter can still go in and view your resume.

    For more informed information on this topic, check out people on LinkedIn like
    Bernadette Pawlik, Amy Miller or Kristen Fife (she/her/hers) or Yvonne Robinson-Jackson, MBA and #JobSeekerGuardians have many articles on the subject.

    Please listen to the RECRUITING experts - not "professional" resume writers who are trying to sell people a resume that "will beat the ATS". There is no such thing and an ATS does not need beating.

38. Jo DSeptember 19,2021 at 12:28PM UTC

    https://www.ivyexec.com/career-advice/2019/write-a-resume-that-gets-past-the-ats/

39. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 19,2021 at 9:45PM UTC

    YOUR OWN CITATION STATES:

    "The first round isn’t about beating the ATS—it’s about making your resume searchable. "

    There is no beating the ATS.

    Your citation advises to make sure you put your applicable experience in your resume so when a search is run for a skill set, if you have that skill set, it's reflected in your resume and you will turn up in the recruiter's search results. Duh.

    For more informed information on this topic, check out people on LinkedIn like
    Bernadette Pawlik, Amy Miller or Kristen Fife (she/her/hers) or Yvonne Robinson-Jackson, MBA. #JobSeekerGuardians have many articles on the subject.

40. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 20,2021 at 3:14AM UTC

    UNDERSTANDING HOW THE ATS READS YOUR RESUME:

    https://kristenfife.medium.com/understanding-how-the-ats-reads-and-interacts-with-your-resume-401bd00b66db

41. AnonymousSeptember 18,2021 at 5:01PM UTC

    That’s a tough one. Are there any individual courses or certifications that are more specific to the types of roles you’re hoping to move to?

    What about something more adjacent to what you’ve been doing? Legal admin & operations work can pay well and they would see your work history as related.

42. Nicole ClaytonSeptember 18,2021 at 5:10PM UTC

    I would suggest to go on UpWork and post a listing as a remote Legal EA at an hourly rate…This might be a blessing in disguise for you to be a freelancer. ?

43. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 18,2021 at 5:12PM UTC

    What have you done so far in your job search?

44. Diane McDevittSeptember 18,2021 at 9:40PM UTC

    I understand your pain. I, too, am a 20+ year EA - 8 years with my current company. I began about 2 yrs ago moving from EA to CoS - I'm not there yet, I'm occupying a hybrid space as an Executive Manager (Administrative). I've begun a steady progression from a role that can be replaced easily by younger, less experienced and over-educated admins (too true - have had it happen 2xs). The 'loyalty' that is expected from EA to C-level is not reciprocal from C-level to EA when it comes to office politics and the bottom-line. Go premium on LinkedIn and take every course that interests you in their Learning platform and re-invent yourself. I'm not posting anonymously - find me on LinkedIn (diane mcdevitt) and reach out - I'd like to learn more and see if there is some action I can take that can assist you.

45. AnonymousSeptember 19,2021 at 2:20AM UTC

    Do you have any experience in Marketing? You might be able to get a job as a Marketing Coordinator (starting position) but without experience, understanding of how it actually works, you might need to take a Legal EA role and go back to school.

    No seriously, go back to school. There are too many people with Marketing experience out there for you to be competitive.

    I know, I'm in Marketing.

46. AnonymousSeptember 19,2021 at 12:39PM UTC

    Are you part of any professional groups? Have you taken any courses/certifications? Are you working with recruiters or just sending out resume's on your own. Are you on Linkedin? (That's where you can find your recruiters!) Time to find someone to review your resume and then work with a recruiter specializing in paralegal work - there's so much out there!

47. Star7September 19,2021 at 3:29PM UTC

    I'm sorry to hear this; I see you were an Executive Assistant in NY? I had found a website for remote work, and saw several EA jobs on there paying $80k+.
    https://remote.co/

48. KristenSeptember 19,2021 at 3:41PM UTC

    It sounds like this has been a frustrating experience for you; I'm sorry. That said, how are you leveraging your network to aid in your job search? With 20 years of experience, I imagine there are many, many colleagues with whom you've developed strong relationships along the way. With a career change, your network may be your best bet for landing that next role!

    Best of luck.

49. Dagney TaggartSeptember 19,2021 at 6:32PM UTC

    Rewrite your resume and LinkedIn profiles and make certain that there are no spelling/grammatical errors in them. That tends to eliminate people faster than anything else, and there are three errors in your paragraphs above. That could be your computer being stupid, but you must always check. :) Good luck!

50. Erin M FlynnSeptember 19,2021 at 11:54PM UTC

    Have you created a LinkedIn page? A huge number of the better jobs are through the "hidden market" meaning they are never advertised and only accessed through networking. So, LinkedIn and building your connections there has become really important. You can reach out and ask for an informational meeting with people in fields that you are interested in. Also have you tried speaking to a recruiter? You have years of valuable experience and there are many recruiters struggling to find reliable and qualified people to fill positions. Finally, check out applying to the Federal program WIOA. This can give you access to free certificate courses on Coursera and you can skill up and add those to your resume. I hope some of this is advice is at least s little helpful. I am sending you an abundance of well wishes and empathy.

51. Robin WSeptember 20,2021 at 12:30PM UTC

    As someone who works with the Federal program WIOA, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, I agree whole heartedly that you should find one in your community and work with them. It is a free service and it's like having an extra set of eyes out there helping you get back to full time employment. They can help you tailor your resume for the jobs you're applying for and reposition yourself in the job market, among other things. Our system works if you work our system.

52. Karen GongawareSeptember 20,2021 at 4:17AM UTC

    You don't learn programs on the job, you take classes and learn before job seeking. What did you do for that 40 weeks? That's when you should have been learning what you needed for a new career. Not too late, take online accredited courses and earn certificates to put on your resume. Check out udemy.com, coursera, and even Microsoft for certifications.

53. AnonymousSeptember 20,2021 at 12:46PM UTC

    Great advice . I did the exactly this -- taking courses to learn on my own time-- with certifications. No reason to wait until someone teaches you on a new job .

54. AnonymousSeptember 20,2021 at 12:45PM UTC

    I was also at my old job 5 years too long (13years) but you can bounce back from this . Consider hiring a career coach. I had an amazing coach who helped me look at my resume and online profile in a completely different way . You may also want to try and learn some software programs on your own and create " projects" on your own to show your skillet in the marketing area as well as tailoring your resume to match key points in job postings . It will work out so don't be discouraged . Good luck.

55. Shelley Maley, Career Coach (PHR, GCDF)September 20,2021 at 1:56PM UTC

    LinkedIn is the single most powerful tool during your job search. I strongly recommend using it! Let me know if I can give you a few suggestions.

56. Val 15September 20,2021 at 5:34PM UTC

    I'm in the same boat, unfortunately I've learned the hard way with LInkedIn job ads. Be very careful, as a few weeks ago I did a "quick apply" for a remote position on LinkedIn. I searched the corporation first, the location, everything seemed on the up and up. I received a strange text message on my cell, I did not reply. I contacted LinkedIn twice to finally reach a person, the job link was not the corporation listed, it was a scam, my identity was more than likely stolen to some extent. Be very careful!

57. AnonymousSeptember 20,2021 at 6:03PM UTC

    .

58. AnonymousSeptember 22,2021 at 2:26PM UTC

    Apologies for the delayed response on this, but I just realized I failed to hit send.

    You have great skills and credentials, but I understand how hard it can be to keeping running into the same wall.

    Do you have an industry in which you are really interested in working?

    I applied for "lower" skilled positions than my resume would suggest. (I had been a c-level exec at a small company in my field.) I started off contracting outside of my comfort zone and, after working with a career coach, I decided to focus squarely on the industry in my city that is hiring the most aggressively.

    With that guidance, I landed a well-paying contract position in that industry and I am now getting headhunter calls for permanent positions at a c-level in the new field after less than two months.

    Contracting can feel like a dead-end, but it might help you gain some solid experience, which can then help with your permanent job hunt.