Still Looking.

The job market is awful right now. I see so many articles on LinkedIn that seem like they are just trying to be the latest advice for those of us that are seeking a job. Yes, I’m one of them. I had a job at a major tech company that has done multiple RIFs (reduction in force) over the last several months. I have been looking for my next major career move since then. And it’s hard. Very hard.

So what is the best advice for those currently in their job seeking era right now? Good question. There’s certainly no lack of advice out there. Use LinkedIn. Don’t use LinkedIn. Use other job boards, like Indeed or ZipRecruiter. Use AI to tailor your resume. Tailor your resume, but don’t use AI. Don’t just look for one job title. Focus on one job title. It all seems to contradict, doesn’t it? And I feel like I’ve followed it all at some point, to no real effect.

I’ve started trying to think outside the box too. Which, honestly, mostly frustrates me even though it seems necessary at this point. That’s where the advice like “work at Starbucks for now” comes in. Well, honestly, Starbucks doesn’t even seem to be hiring. (Oh yeah, I applied there too.) I’ve tried posting about my job search on social media. Reaching out to friends. I feel like I’ve followed every single piece of advice I’ve been given about my job search and none of it has worked. It is really just not a job seeker’s market right now.

So where does that leave us? Well, I know where it leaves me. Still unemployed, and my mental health is starting to take a major dive. There’s a lot to unpack here, honestly. I’ve invested a lot of time, energy, and money into my career trajectory. I felt like I was on the right path. One thing that I don’t think is acknowledged much is that there is a certain level of grief involved usually when you leave a job you liked. It’s a loss, just like other losses in your life. Maybe you were working on something that was important to you, and you had yet to see the outcome of it. All of a sudden you’re not a part of it anymore. Then of course there’s figuring out where your income is going to come from. That’s a basic human requirement, you know, for food and housing and such. And then there’s the job search itself. If you haven’t done it lately, be grateful. It’s… a LOT. Especially right now. People seem to think it’s a lack of job postings, like I can’t find a job I’m suited for. That’s not it. There are plenty of job postings out there. I’m looking for a remote job, and there are plenty of postings for those even. Ones that are the specific job title that I’m most qualified for. And I feel like I’ve applied for them all.

The problem is not a lack of job postings. I’m not even sure I could exactly pinpoint what the problem is. Maybe too many people looking? Too many layoffs? As we’ve all seen in the news, there definitely are plenty of those right now. Companies are supposedly still hiring, or at least they are posting jobs. My take is that it’s a combination of things. A lot of supposed postings that really aren’t valid, as in maybe they haven’t really been 100% approved for hiring yet. Companies prioritizing internal candidates or candidates from internal references. Applicant Tracking Systems that filter out most of the candidates based on keywords not met in resumes or applications or even formatting that has absolutely nothing to do with the candidate’s qualifications. Companies want us to know how to use AI, but they don’t want us to use it for the job search process. It’s honestly really hard to know what to even do or not do in this current job market.

So where does that leave those of us in the middle of a job hunt right now? Still searching, still hoping, and honestly, a bit worn down. If you’re someone who isn’t in this situation right now, just know that your support matters more than you might realize. Not in a financial way, but in a human way. A conversation over coffee. A genuine check-in. And if you do want to help with the job search itself, the thing that really does help isn’t just passing along a job posting. It’s knowing someone on the inside. It’s being willing to reach out to a hiring manager on someone’s behalf, even if you don’t know them well. That kind of effort is rare, and it’s what actually helps. At the end of the day, most of us are really just one layoff away from being in the same position. A little support and a little humanity goes a long way right now. And to everyone else out there still searching, still sending applications into the void, still waiting to hear back… you’re not alone in this. Not even close.