Seeking Advice and Support in Job Search – Struggling with Unemployment Since February

Posted in:Advice Job Hunting Vents Career Growth

Hi everyone,

I hope you're all doing well. I’m reaching out to this incredible community for some support and advice. I’ve been unemployed since February, and, to be honest, it’s starting to take a toll on me mentally. Despite my efforts, I haven’t been able to secure a new role, and I’m feeling quite overwhelmed.

Each week, I try new strategies to increase my chances of landing interviews, but I’m not sure where I might be going wrong. I’ve been applying to both startups and large companies, but I haven’t managed to catch the attention of any major players like Google, which has always been a goal of mine.

I’m passionate about continuing my career in sales, but I’m reaching a point where I just don’t know what else to do to secure a new role. I was wondering if anyone here had any suggestions or feedback on how to improve my job search strategy. Any advice on resume tips, interview techniques, or even mental health strategies to stay positive during this challenging time would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all for your time and support. I’m open to any and all feedback.

Warm regards,

Chloe

asalatto·Jun 27

Hey, same boat. I've been unemployed since February too and it's been a long, lonely process. I recently posted about finding online/Slack communities to join and that's been the biggest boost I've had so far - not only the jobs channels in those communities, but just seeing all the conversations and seeing others going through the same thing. I recommend searching for communities like that which are relevant to you!The other thing: keep learning, take online courses and earn certificates if it's feasible. It's good for the resume but also good for the soul. For me it keeps me feeling relevant and valuable, and I just like to learn.As for your resume... mine has gone through so many iterations, lol. I've landed on a pretty basic stripped down format that's supposedly more readable by ATS. Before, it had a lot of bullet points that all felt important, but it was hard to process at a glance. So I saw a great tip to categorize each with a "mini heading." For example, from my resume: "Product Channel Development: Led the design and development of..." and "Incident Management: Leveraged application logs and system dashboards to..." These labels are bolded and it's easy to skim them all quickly. If the reader is interested in specific skills this lets them find those quickly. It's a small thing but really smart, I thought!For interviews, I'm not sure, I don't feel like I'm very good at them. But conversations have felt best when I'm just straightforward and honest and when they seem to be the same way. Finally, force yourself to step away from the grind sometimes. I found it a lot easier to turn my brain off after 5pm when I had a job and no fear of losing it. Now that I'm looking I feel like I constantly have to be doing stuff related to that. It's tiring and our brains need variety... get out and do different things sometimes!

rachelserwetz·Jun 27

Hi @asalatto, I'm sorry to here you're going through the same issue as Chloe. I shared some tips on her post that you could also find very helpful in your job search. If you'd also be open to a call to dive deeper into your goals and challenges, I would love to set up a time to chat.

chloewarnock·Jun 28

Hi Anna,Thank you so much for your thoughtful message and for sharing your experience. It's comforting to know I'm not alone in this journey. I appreciate your suggestions about joining Slack communities and continuing to learn.Could you recommend any specific Slack channels or online certificates that are particularly valuable for someone in an Account Executive role? I'd love to explore those options further.Your advice on resume formatting is excellent. I'll definitely try incorporating mini headings to make key skills stand out more. And I agree, stepping away from the grind and taking time for self-care is essential.Thanks again for your support and kindness.Best,Chloe

asalatto·Jun 28

Of course! I made a post about the Slack communities I'm part of recently here: https://elpha.com/posts/j9nt7t72/slack-communities-have-been-a-huge-resource-for-me-lately-are-you-part-of-any Let me know if you'd like an invite to any of those!(A new one I'm in is All Tech Is Human (Responsible Tech) if that's up your alley! https://alltechishuman.org/slack-community)As for something specific to Account Executives, I'm not familiar with any. But you can probably find some good ones by searching!

MichelleFuentes·Jun 27

So sorry to hear that you're going through that - I was laid off in June and didn't land another job until over a year later in July, so I know how stressful it is and how much of a toll it can take on a person. Completely agree with Anna about taking courses and continuing to learn. I found that helpful both mentally and emotionally.Hope something good comes along soon for you! rooting for you 💛

chloewarnock·Jun 28

Hi Michelle,Thank you so much for your kind words and support. It's reassuring to hear from someone who has been through a similar experience and come out the other side. I'm glad to know that continuing to learn was helpful for you both mentally and emotionally.Do you have any specific courses you would recommend for someone in an Account Executive role? I would love to explore those options and continue to improve my skills.Thanks again for your encouragement and for rooting for me. It means a lot! 💛Best,Chloe

lnguyen·Jun 27

Hi Chloe,I am not sure if this is helpful, but I had some success with my job search by doing the following:> Upskilling: Usually there is a "spec" for every job title. I am a product manager and there are skills interviewer is looking for, you can find the spec using GPT or asking senior people in your role, they are often listed in the job description too. There is a baseline skill, then specialist skills, ideally both are needed for senior roles.> Format: Ensure your hard skills and what interviewer is looking for are listed clearly. I have a skill section on the right, it says something like: User testing and prototyping: tools xyz. This is where you want to list the skill you have that meets that spec.> Target audience: For places like Google, ideally you want to have a referral, working at Google vs at a start-up requires very different skills and attitudes (many hats vs specialist). If you are struggling, maybe you are best combine = domain expert + experience you have. Personally, I've worked in a lot of spin out and smaller companies in Medtech, for highly complex product, so organisation which are spinout suits would appreciate my domain knowledge. What's yours?Good luck! I always find it is helpful to share CV around, happy to have a look at it.

blossomonunekwu·Jun 28

Hey I’m a PM too on the job search and also interested in medtech. Can we do a virtual coffee chat? How can we connect?

lnguyen·Jul 02

Hello! Yes, my linkedin is as follow https://www.linkedin.com/in/halinh-nguyen/, would love to meet another PM in medtech!

chloewarnock·Jun 28

Hi Inguyen,Thank you so much for your thoughtful advice! Upskilling and tailoring my CV to highlight the specific skills for each job are great suggestions. I appreciate the tip about ensuring my hard skills are clearly listed and targeted toward the job description—I'll definitely work on that.I agree, having a referral for places like Google makes a big difference. My biggest challenge has been that most of my experience is with early-stage companies without defined KPIs, despite these companies getting acquired. The last bigger company I was at had immediate layoffs shortly after I was hired.Each week, I try something new to change up my job search. I have one resume that gets me interviews reliably. I've been trying new AI applications, networking on LinkedIn, and adding hiring managers from job postings, but with limited success. I also travel to house-sit for friends and network in other cities, which has been a nice change of environment. I've applied to roles outside of being an Account Executive, such as outside sales and Account Manager. I did get an Account Manager interview but didn't proceed to the next round.I would love to take you up on your offer to look over my CV. It would be incredibly helpful to get some feedback and see if there are any areas I can improve. Thanks again for your support and encouragement!Best,Chloe

rachelserwetz·Jun 27

Hi @chloewarnock, I'm sorry to hear your job search is taking a toll on you. Keep your head up! The right role for you is out there!Job search can be difficult, but you absolutely can master it with the right guidance. If you're having any challenges with job searching, I suggest:1) having a support system to help you (coach/mentor/peers/community)2) balancing your time across key activities like networking with professionals at target companies, joining professional events, producing thought leadership, researching target roles/companies, and measuring/reflecting/pivoting on a weekly basis3) having an accountability plan -- set goals per week4) consider how many roles/industries you are applying to (if you’re pursuing multiple directions you may want to reconsider which path is the best fit and makes the most sense for you to pursue)5) do self-care activities to make sure your mindset is resilient. Here’s some resources with more guidance: https://www.iamwoken.com/post/follow-this-weekly-reflection-exercise-to-assess-improve-your-job-search and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXIbDy-6VAg&t=19sPS, I’m Rachel. If you want to discuss further, check my profile to book a call to dive deeper into your goals/challenges.

chloewarnock·Jun 28

Hi Rachel,Thank you so much for your advice and encouragement. I really appreciate your insights and the time you took to respond.Each week, I try something new to change up my job search strategy. I have one resume that consistently gets me interviews, which has been a positive aspect of my search. I’ve also been exploring new AI applications to enhance my job search efforts. Recently, I used AI Wonderin, which claims to increase interview chances by 48%. Despite applying to over 250 positions last week, my results were faster rejections, which has left me feeling disappointed.Networking on LinkedIn has been a significant part of my strategy, although it hasn’t yielded great results. I’ve tried adding hiring managers from job postings and engaging with my existing network, but perhaps I’m not leveraging it correctly. Additionally, I’ve expanded my applications to include positions beyond Account Executive roles, such as Outside Sales and Account Manager. I did get an Account Manager interview, but unfortunately, I didn’t progress to the next round.I’m aware that many people are taking time off for the 4th of July, so I’m trying to stay hopeful during this quieter period. Your suggestions resonate with me, especially the importance of having a support system and balancing my activities. I’ll definitely work on setting weekly goals and reflecting on my progress.Thank you again for your support and advice. I’m open to any further suggestions or feedback you might have.Warm regards,Chloe

Eustolia196·Jun 28

Hi Chloe, I've also been looking for a new job and I want you to know you're not alone! It's a tough market out there and some days I just have to repeat that to myself so I can muster up the energy to submit one more application, one more chance that maybe this is the one and I won't have to drive myself crazy any longer. For me personally, when I start to feel burnout I try to change up my environment so that I look forward to/feel more hope in applying– whether it's a table at a nearby park, a new cafe I've wanted to try, or even going to friends' offices (since they're allowed to bring guests.) Good luck Chloe, just know you have a community here rooting for you!

chloewarnock·Jun 28

Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. It really means a lot to know I'm not alone in this. Changing environments is such good advice! I've been traveling to house sit for friends and network in other cities, and it does help to mix things up and keep my spirits high.Your idea of trying new cafes or even visiting friends' offices sounds refreshing—I might give that a go as well. It's comforting to know we have a supportive community here. Good luck to you too, and thank you for reminding me to stay hopeful. We’re all in this together!Best,Chloe

Chia149·Jun 29

I’ve been unemployed since I signed an NDA and I had to take 6 months out for counselling and to recover. It’s tough but you have to do small things outside of your job search to take time for yourself even if it’s a walk, reading , writing etc.Apply for jobs and realise that out of every 10 you may get one connection. I joined a senior women’s network but tbh I can’t really relate to their career journeys as they all claim that they popped out of the womb knowing they wanted to do Finance. Then they make out like they had the most amazing career trajectory. The reality is that I too have had a great career with plenty of travel before becoming unstuck due to a horrific boss who put me through the most unimaginable things, he was protected and stayed and I had to leave. So do network but don’t feel disheartened that your career journey isn’t the same as everyone else’s and recognise that people sadly are full of nonsense. However at some point your luck will change and I would also advise doing a part time course in something interesting to you eg I am doing a Python course. Keep your chin up and keep going , knowing there will be a job out there at some point but just like relationships -we have to kiss many toads before we find a prize 😂x

madelineeggering·Jul 02

Hi Chloe,Have you thought about working with a company to help you in your branding, packaging, positioning etc... I work with women in leadership through a company called BossmakeHer. We help executive level women in their next career move and although there is an investment in it, the women that have followed the process have landed in role quicker than they would have originally, roles that they enjoy and truly want to be at, and are paid properly for the role they are hired on for. Check out the website. www.bossmakeher.com or you are welcome to schedule a time to chat with me (free of charge) to see if our services would be a good fit. https://calendly.com/madeline-bossmakeher/initial-consult

reenawashington·Jul 03

Hi Chloe,I’m sorry to hear about your struggles, it’s great that you’re reaching out for support. The job search can be incredibly tough, and it’s understandable that you’re feeling overwhelmed. First, remember to be kind to yourself during this process; your worth is not defined by your employment status.A tip that has helped in my search on LinkedIn is using keywords. In the search bar type in "hiring" AND "position you are looking for." You can also add AND "location" but found this limited results. Get creative and try different things. Then filter to post, select date posted click past week or past 24hrs. This will give you results with those keywords. You will have to scroll past some posts but some smaller companies don't post positions on job boards and instead ask for referrals. This will also give you a sense of who the hiring manager is for the role for larger companies because, for example, they will state in their post I'm looking to add an assistant to my team. and you can then reach out directly. Check out these job boards for start-up companies.wellfound.combuiltin.comHope this helps!

susannawilliams·Jul 03

Hi, @chloewarnock! I've been in a similar situation many times. Talk to a local staffing agency about getting a temp or temp to perm job. Working regularly, even for less money than you want to make, even doing something you aren't excited about, will help you feel better. This is called "broadening your sphere of luck". Working with people means you will get to know people. And people know other people. Warm intros > blind applying. The other suggestion I have is thinking more broadly about "sales". You could do fundraising. You could work in a VC firm. You could do a lot of things with your skills that don't necessarily look like what you've done in the past. Happy to set up a time to talk!

laurens·Jul 04

I’ve unfortunately been laid off a bunch of times and the best things I did for myself was 1. Going to a resume writer who I talked with about my experience and helped me focus in on common threads in my past work and helped my resume tell a more focused story and 2. Using a service like Jobscan to compare my resume to the job ad to make sure an ATS would see it as a match, and customizing it until the match rate was good.

rachelserwetz·Jul 12

Hi there, job search can be difficult, but you absolutely can master it with the right guidance. If you're having any challenges with job searching, I suggest 1) having a support system to help you (coach/mentor/peers/community), 2) balancing your time across key activities like networking with professionals at target companies, joining professional events, producing thought leadership, researching target roles/companies, and measuring/reflecting/pivoting on a weekly basis, 3) having an accountability plan -- set goals per week, 4) consider how many roles/industries you are applying to (if you’re pursuing multiple directions you may want to reconsider which path is the best fit and makes the most sense for you to pursue), and 5) do self-care activities to make sure your mindset is resilient. Here’s some resources with more guidance: https://www.iamwoken.com/post/follow-this-weekly-reflection-exercise-to-assess-improve-your-job-search and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXIbDy-6VAg&t=19sPS, I’m Rachel. If you want to discuss further, check my profile to book a call to dive deeper into your goals/challenges.

madelineeggering·Jul 12

Hi Chloe,First I want you to know you are not alone. I work with executive level women on a daily basis that are in similar situations. It is extremely frustrating and I want you to know, it's not you, it's the system. Our search system is broken for the potential employees but fantastic for the companies. There are techniques and strategies that can be used to help you land faster and make sure you are compensated properly. I see it happen everyday. Recently I had someone that was in a similar boat and had been without a role for over a year by the time she came to us. She had to do a refresh on her goals, make sure she was positioned properly, make sure she had the right connections and guidance through the process but she did land a role 7 months in with us an SVP at a company she loves and is paid more than she was when she got laid off. Let me know if you want to chat. I would love to see if we can help you or even just give you a few tips that might help. If you're interested, check out www.bossmakeher.com or schedule a chat with me https://calendly.com/madeline-bossmakeher/initial-consult

KQ·Jul 14

I'm old school in terms of networking. I also believe in creating roles + bold reach out to companies/people that you would love to be in the energy of. I'm happy to jam with you more: https://kqunplugged.as.me/givefirst

carriewickmandorn·Jul 17

Hi Chloe,I’m sorry to hear you’re going through this, job searching is one of life’s most difficult situations. I’m a career and life coach and am starting a job search support group soon, so if that’s something you might be interested in joining, please let me know. :)Feel free to email me at [email protected].Sending you lots of positive energy and support!Warmly,Carriewww.carriewickmandorn.com

Kathryn162·Aug 09

Hello. I am in a similar situation to you. For resume tips, I would suggest reaching out to your college career services. My uni gives us lifelong access to career services for free. I met with the Executive Director and got my resume tailored. It's been three weeks and I have 4 interviews lined up.

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