The Long Job Search features stories and advice from women who got hired after a prolonged job search. In sharing their stories, we aim to support and inspire those navigating similar situations during their job hunt.
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I’ve been in digital marketing, in one capacity or another, for over 15 years.
I started out in a traditional market research firm and then made my way through a social-impact auction platform where I launched campaigns for brands and organizations, drove social media strategy in-house for FIJI Water and its other portfolio brands, and oversaw a portfolio of companies and their online advertising campaigns at a digital advertising agency.
For 5 years, I focused on marketing Facebook’s Insights offerings and Social Good efforts for businesses. Currently, I work for Target’s retail media network, where I support marketing content development.
Embarking on the long job search while on maternity leave
I was included in Meta’s first round of mass layoffs back in November 2022, while on maternity leave, barely 10 weeks postpartum. I was devastated and defeated. It took an entire year for me to land my new role, ironically and perhaps serendipitously, I started with Target one year to the day after leaving Meta.
Casting a wide net
I stayed in touch with friends, I spoke with mentors and people in positions I found interesting, and I reached out to as many people as possible to remind myself how normal this experience was… and also how frustrating it was.
On most days, I applied to as many jobs as I could, and preferential treatment was given to those with easy application processes (LinkedIn has a great easy-apply feature). I didn’t concern myself with qualifications or relevance, if it looked interesting and I knew I could do it, I applied.
That said, I didn’t have any fancy way of staying on top of my applications, and I found it almost comical when I would get rejections (of which there were MANY) from companies I didn’t even remember applying to, or following months and months of silence after applying.
How my daughters kept me focused during the job hunt
I was lucky in that some of my closest friends were also impacted by layoffs so we did our best to stay in touch and get together to cry, vent, or laugh about the whole thing. That said, I was also navigating the job hunt with a toddler and a newborn. I didn’t have the option of getting too downtrodden.
I was distracted by my kids and also fueled by them. My daughters are my biggest motivation. I tried to think of what I would tell them if they were in my situation (one day, as young working women) – I would remind them that any company would be lucky to have them and that patience, persistence, and optimism can get you far.
How I managed financially
I started a side hustle, formed an LLC, and consulted on some projects. That said, I’m incredibly fortunate that my husband has a successful business and we were able to manage my job loss without much financial discomfort.
My job search strategy
Finding professional groups (Facebook, Slack, LinkedIn, etc) to connect with others and get exposure to job openings or opportunities was helpful and cathartic. Applying to as many jobs as possible, again, was helpful - if only because it made me feel productive each day.
Finding community after a layoff
Because I was a part of a mass layoff, and one where a ton of new or expecting parents were impacted, a lot of communities were built around the experience and so there was no shortage of spaces to connect and discuss. I also live in a city that has a lot of professional events, so I joined organizations like FemaleQuotient and Elpha, which hosted virtual and in-person events where I could meet new people and expand my network.
All of that is to say, while I had many friends and colleagues refer me to roles, not one of them ever panned out into an offer. So while I think networking is important, it’s not a guarantee to an open door.
Reframing rejection
I made a list of questions I had been asked by interviewers, and questions I wanted to ask in interviews, and kept it handy as I prepared for interviews with companies. I also wrote down wins and challenges in my professional history and personal history so I always had a few key stories to draw upon in interviews that felt purposeful and illuminating.
I tried to remind myself that the rejections along the way weren’t personal. I had come from a big company where I had to turn down incredible talent because of internal decision-making or a change in needs. It’s so hard to not feel like your value is placed on your job status, but being unemployed is a crucial reminder that you are SO much more than your job. I also read the book “The Good Enough Job” by Simone Stolzoff and it was an excellent re-framing of how we think about careers in this country.
⭐ Landing the job
Very early on in my career, we’re talking nearly 15 years ago, I started to keep a list of companies that I’d like to work for. Whether it be a brand I admired, a culture I was drawn to, or they sold a product or service I believed in, I kept track of companies and organizations that called to me.
This was a really helpful list to come back to during various job hunts as it reignited my creativity and curiosity for roles. I had connections to some of the companies, but not all of them, and one of those companies was Target.
Like most of us, I was a big fan of the retailer, what’s not to like? The joy of Target is a real thing! Working in marketing has also made me a keen observer of their strategies and I’ve always been in awe of the way they bring campaigns and stories to life for their guests.
I saw they were hiring for fully remote positions in support of their retail media business, and on a whim, I cold applied. No connections, no referral. I was shocked and pleased to get an email within a few days asking for an interview, and the rest is history. I found their responsiveness, interest, and proactivity to be so refreshing in an otherwise life-sucking and discouraging job market that, in my experience, had been filled with silence and a lack of responsiveness from employers. It was the company’s hiring team and their high energy and reliability that pulled me into my role in the end!
Finding stability in a tough job market
I was told early on in the job hunt that this job market was not the environment to try and stretch or scale my career. Meaning: now is not the time to try and jump up in your title, or jump up in your pay; there is just too much talent in the marketplace and companies are way too empowered to be picky and tight with what they offer and to whom.
So I told myself, similar to the book title mentioned above, to look for the “good enough” job. I don’t need to find my dream job now, and if I happen to stumble into it then that’s amazing, but I needed to take some pressure off of myself and find a role that worked for me right now. I needed something to get me back into the swing of things professionally.
I lost so much confidence when my job was taken from me, I needed to be reminded that I am smart and capable of being impactful... even if that meant a soft landing somewhere. The next job didn’t need to be the FINAL job, it could be a stepping stone that helped direct me to the next wonderful thing.
Final words of advice?
I will say that a silver lining of this whole experience was the exposure I suddenly had to various kinds of roles, functions, and companies that I would have never been aware of if not forced to look at any and every opportunity.
I mentioned having a “Dream Company” list that I’ve kept track of since the beginning of my career, and it grew exponentially as a result of this job hunt. I was made aware of so many new, wonderful, and interesting organizations doing fantastic work that I hope, one day (when they’re actually hiring!), I might be able to support or be a part of.
