Generation X applied to over 200 jobs, but had few interviews

Devon, 48, began looking for work shortly after learning in February that she was being laid off from her job as an analyst.

This is Devon’s first in-depth job search in years; she worked for her previous employer for 10 years, but noted she did a few internal interviews before being laid off.

Despite more than 200 applications since she began her job search in February, she has had fewer than 10 interviews as of this writing. She said her first interview was in the spring; documents shared with Business Insider showed she had a few interviews this summer.

“I had a company, I interviewed in the morning, and I got a rejection email that afternoon,” Devon, who asked to be used only by her first name for privacy reasons, told Business Insider.

Devon didn’t think it would take her this long to find a new job and is surprised that finding work has been difficult, given her “strong work history” and master’s degree.

“A lot of people would probably say I’m overqualified with my master’s degree, but even for jobs that I’m perfectly qualified for according to the job description, I still get no response,” she said.

However, Devon believes the job market can be challenging for job seekers regardless of their education level or work history.

“I know people who have a strong career path and education. I know people who don’t have a strong career path and don’t have any education. We’re all in the same boat,” Devon said. “So you can’t say it’s because you’re overqualified, or you don’t have a strong education or job.”

She’s not alone. More than 7 million people were unemployed in the United States in July. The number of long-term unemployed (those who have been looking for work for at least 27 weeks) has increased from about 1.2 million in July 2023 to about 1.5 million next July. While there are things people can do to potentially increase their chances of landing a job, the job market is tougher than it was a few years ago.

Devon said she’s “really concerned” about not having a job now that she’s been looking for one for several months. She received a severance package, but now that her ability to collect unemployment benefits recently ended, she’s considering dipping into her 401(k) — something she said she doesn’t want to do.

“I apply for jobs that pay significantly less in the hopes of getting something in return,” she said.

She is also looking for non-remote opportunities, despite her interest in working from home, and various positions. “I’ve been a delivery driver. I’ve worked in warehouses, so I’m offering things that have nothing to do with being an analyst, that aren’t even office jobs,” Devon said.

Devon said she hates “the games” that come with job searching. “I’m a very transparent and honest person,” Devon said. “I don’t want to waste anyone’s time, but I can’t go in there and say, ‘I have to put food on the table. Yes, I need this job. I don’t care what I do and I don’t care what you’re going to pay me, but I have to keep a roof over my head.’”

What Job Search and Unemployment Looks Like for Devon

Devon said her former employer provided her with resources to help her write her resume after she was laid off. “I worked for a great company and would love to work for another company or another similar job,” she said in a follow-up email. “I definitely had a dream job.”

The job search, however, was not easy.

“I feel like I was well prepared to succeed even after I got laid off, but having a professionally written resume and everything else still didn’t help me,” Devon said.

Devon’s strategy was to look for job openings on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. She said some weeks she was able to apply for multiple jobs, while other times she had no luck. This schedule was not her initial job search strategy; she said she usually looked every day.

“It became very exhausting, overwhelming and discouraging,” Devon said. “You feel like you’re worthless, like a loser. What was the point of this education?”

She said taking a step back and not applying every day helped her feel more positive about her situation.

She said the interviews she’s had so far haven’t been through her network. Still, Devon said, “It’s always been helpful to know” someone who works for the employer you’re considering.

Devon doesn’t spend all her time filling out job applications. She enjoys volunteering and spending more time outdoors. She suggests others find low-cost activities that bring them joy while unemployed instead of constantly looking for a job.

She said it would be a good idea to take a free course to upskill or retrain if you’ve recently been laid off. “I wish I had known it would take this long, and maybe I would have tried to take a class or two,” Devon said.

For others who have been laid off and are still looking for work, Devon advises to “stay positive” and take care of yourself.

“There’s nothing wrong with taking a day off to relax and do something fun,” she said. “There are a lot of fun things you can do that don’t cost anything. You can go for a walk in the park. I’m always one to stop and smell the roses.”

Contact this journalist at [email protected] to share how long it took or is taking you to find a job.