Over the past year, I’ve spoken withdozens of fed-up American job seekers. As the number of open roles in the US dwindles from the record-highs reached in 2022, many have told me their searches are stressful, emotionally draining, and isolating.
They’ve also found it difficult to assess the flood of advice they come across, saying the market is shifting so quickly — due to factors that include tariffs and AI — that it’s hard to know which tips will actually pay off. So I invited six of them to join a group chat to share what they’re going through.
Between June and September, they opened up about how their search has affected them emotionally and financially, the strategies they’ve tried, and the obstacles they believe have stood in their way. Here are some of the highlights from our conversations, lightly edited for length and clarity.
Meet the Participants:
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Scott Strohmyer, 60, Nebraska — Looking for full-time IT sales jobs since being laid off last year
Hilary Nordland, 53, Minnesota — Looking for full-time healthcare marketing jobs since being laid off in 2023
Chris Patterson, 55, Ohio — Looking for full-time sales jobs since being laid off last year
Brad, 27, Utah — Looking for full-time communications jobs since earning a bachelor’s degree in communications last year. His last name has been excluded because he recently found full-time employment, but is still actively searching for a new role.
Heather Driscoll, 53, Colorado — Looking for full-time healthcare management jobs since being laid off last year
Juan Pelaez, 48, New Jersey — Looking for full-time marketing or project management jobs since being laid off in 2023
Why do you think your job search has been so challenging?
How has your job search affected your finances?
Has anything helped you manage stress during your job search?
How much of a pay cut compared to your previous job would you be willing to take for a full-time role?
