Hi everyone, do you have any tips for someone who feels defeated and out of steam from 6 months of active job searching after a layoff?

16 Comments

1. AnonymousJune 27,2023 at 7:34PM UTC

   I could completely relate with you I feel defeated. This is my first time experiencing a layoff and it hurts very bad. I have been applying to many jobs but haven’t had one offer. I have a family so it does make me feel so stressed out and worried.

2. AnonymousJune 27,2023 at 7:51PM UTC

   I'm right there with you.

   What I've found works is to only focus on this week. And reminding myself that the economy is throwing the job market really off. I've never been unemployed before and this market (regardless of what the media says) is super tough.

   I try not to spend more than a couple of hours each morning on my search. I do a lot of Wall Pilates and hiking with my dogs. So my health stays in check.

   To stay productive I've cleaned out my garage, volunteer weekly at our food bank and taken a couple of painting classes ( next is pottery)

   I am practicing good mental health and remind myself I'll have a great job soon enough. You do what you can not to allow yourself to go to that dark place.

3. AnonymousJune 27,2023 at 9:12PM UTC

   I’m not the OP but the part I’ve been struggling with is not spending the whole day applying and looking for jobs. I feel like if I’m not doing that then I’ll never land anything. It hasn’t panned out as I’m still looking for work.

4. AnonymousJune 27,2023 at 10:46PM UTC

   I approach my search with an Anti-burnout strategy. If I want to go the distance (and it is taking so long these days), I want to stay sharp and energetic, I need to not frustrate myself. I only apply to very specific jobs, I network and I follow up on submissions from the prior 10 to 15 days. Aside from that, there is little I can do. It's diminishing returns. I found working 3 to 4 hours each morning covers 80-90% of my search tasks. Beyond that I begin to burnout, get frustrated and feel depressed. I have learned it's the quality not quantity of time and effort invested. 3 or 4 more hours is self defeating for me. I need to stay fresh for interviews. So I spend that time being productive in my life. It keeps me sane and it keeps me fresh. Everyone has their own strategy. This just works for me.

5. AnonymousJune 27,2023 at 11:37PM UTC

   Thanks for the additional details, I think I may try this out as I am fairly burnt out and frustrated from my current approach.

6. AnonymousJune 27,2023 at 9:00PM UTC

   Remind yourself you only need ONE job.

7. AnonymousJune 27,2023 at 9:35PM UTC

   Just don't give up. It took me 7 months to find something. It's a tough market.

8. AnonymousJune 28,2023 at 12:44PM UTC

   it is a tough market. I agree with the posts below. Make a slight change for yourself to boost your confidence. FAIRYGODBOSS had a great post today. Look through the article. 100+ Positive Affirmations for Women to Boost Your Self-Esteem and Achieve Your Goals

   We are a fortune 500 company and we are in a hiring freeze and have been for most of 2023. We are able to replace some positions that people have left, but not really add new positions. All of the new positions were in the budget for 2023, but because of the hiring freeze most of them are unfilled.

9. AnonymousJune 28,2023 at 1:01PM UTC

   It has been 6+ months for me too - and, I counted, applications to over 110 positions. And guess what? Yesterday I got a job offer!

   Don't give up - keep learning and reaching out. It will happen for you as well!

10. AnonymousJune 28,2023 at 2:54PM UTC

    I'm with you... I lost my job in January, and have applied to over 200 jobs since then. I've had a few interviews here and there, but none of them have panned out. I feel really isolated from all my friends and spend a lot of time alone, since they all have jobs and I don't.

    I've been doing what one of the other commenters mentioned here: I spend a couple hours on the search, then I do things for me. In my case that has been volunteering at a friend's sustainable fashion center, brushing up on my Spanish on Duolingo, and going to the gym. I know I cannot do this forever, and I'm as frustrated as you are - but I also know I'm doing everything I can.

11. AnonymousJune 28,2023 at 5:31PM UTC

    Sorry to be the bearer of confirmation of bad news. Yes, in some sectors the market is flooded and it is taking 6 months and more to find new work. Supplement your angst by doing something you love to feed your soul during this time and bring positivity if you can muster it to a volunteer project that might align with the work you do. It's hit everyone and know this, you are not alone.

12. AnonymousJune 28,2023 at 7:43PM UTC

    I think the job market favors certain professions. I am seeing a ton of jobs related to data analytics and AI/MtM like Data Architects, Data Engineers, Data Analysts, Statisticians, Data Governance/Data Management/Metadata Management, etc. Jobs for other professions seems to be the most impacted. Is this what you are seeing too? I got recently laid off due to budget reasons by my company. I just started looking and I do not want to panic about not finding another job?

13. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJune 29,2023 at 4:29AM UTC

    I am so sorry to hear that you're struggling. It is a tough job market out there - but people are getting hired, so hopefully things will pick up.

    Let's see if maybe we can be of some help.

    What do you do?

    What have you done so far in your job search?

    Where do you have your resume posted? How often are you updating those profiles?

    Is your LinkedIn profile filled out and up to snuff? Do you have the green “open to work” banner on your LI profile and the other “open to work” indicator that recruiters with a LinkedIn Recruiter license can see?

    Are there specialty job sites you could be using?

    Do you have a degree? If so, are you utilizing the University's job site or alumni network?

    If you need a break, take one. I know it's tough, but it just takes that one yes.

    Good luck!

14. AnonymousJune 29,2023 at 11:38AM UTC

    I am so sorry to hear of this. It’s a really tough market out there at the moment and I sincerely hope you get the job you’re looking for. Please don’t feel despondent. Have you signed up with recruitment agencies? What country are you located in? It’s best to take up even a small role right now that leads towards your dream job. As annoying as that sounds, at the best you will have job security and secondly, you will have a steady stream of income. In the mean time it might help to do a course, if you see fit? There are a lot of free courses out there and fee waiver options in the right places.

15. AnonymousJuly 1,2023 at 2:20PM UTC

    Same. I’ve had several opportunities where I’ve gone through the entire interview process, reference checks and then get told “it was so close” but they’ve decided to go with another candidate. I ask for feedback and they tell me I was great but they went with someone with a tad more experience. It’s definitely a frustrating time. Hanging in there with you!

16. Glenn GutmacherJuly 3,2023 at 4:56PM UTC

    1) I created a free set of curated job search links after the last downturn (earlier in the pandemic 2022-ish) https://start.me/w/0OKD7g and while many are focused on talent acquisition job-hunters, many people seem find these useful: 2) if you don't think your resume is attracting enough eyeballs, join the free Facebook group Free Resume Review and submit your resume (you can blind your key contact info) for recruiter/career counselors' feedback. https://www.facebook.com/groups/FreeResumeReview