Harsh Realities, Interesting Trends, and Hope Remains During a Job Search. From a 39-Month Job Search Veteran.

After years of an environment where “everyone who wants a job has one” and “employers cannot find enough talent,” COVID-19 has called both of those statements into question with unemployment numbers that at once seemed unfathomable. Official unemployment at 14.7% is the highest number seen in the Great Depression. And some suggest that the actual number of unemployed people is much higher. One thing is sure — millions of Americans are now without a job and across all industries and employment levels.

This situation, which caught many employers and employees off guard, has brought new activity to people’s lives in the form of job searches and LinkedIn posts announcing being laid off and seeking help. Anecdotally, my phone and text message have been ringing a little more frequently these days with old colleagues or random LinkedIn connections asking for career advice.

The irony of it is I am not a recruiter or even someone with the ear of dozens of employers with access to job opportunities. If anything, I may be the worst person to speak to about landing a new position. I am now in month 39 — yes, 39 — of actively seeking full-time employment in an organization. Since my prior role ended in a very intriguing manner in February 2017, I…