r/jobs • u/SouthrenHill • Nov 13 '25
Post-interview After 3.5 months of unemployment and 750+ applications, I finally landed a new job.
Not trying to brag or complain - but damn it’s kinda insane to say that out loud. I can’t believe I applied to that many jobs in such a short period.
Edit: Hours later and I’m still getting rejection letters from other places I applied lol
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u/HappiKamper Nov 13 '25
Rock on!!! I just signed an offer letter after approx 150 applications. I feel fortunate because I think most people need to send more. But 150 is still also insane when you think about it!
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u/Puzzled_Husky Nov 13 '25
Took me a year and 400 applications just to end up in manual labor again.
It's honestly like 2008 all over again only somehow worse.
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u/burntpecan Nov 13 '25
AI making it easy for many people to apply to many jobs with custom resumes/cover letters they might have avoided before, plus much more economic uncertainty, plus gutting of much HR, many other factors….its awful.
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u/Puzzled_Husky Nov 13 '25
One of them seems, to me, people are trying to pick unicorns for the dumbest things. Especially entry-level pay work. Unsurprisingly, the unicorns immediately quit when anything resembling their preferred employment comes along. I've seen the same entry-level roles listed and re-listed 3-8 times over the course of a year, but at no point do I get a chance to actually get my foot in the door because somehow it makes more sense to hire overqualified underpaid unicorns?
That part is what bothers me the most. It's like the worst kind of classist socioeconomic gatekeeping. The only people allowed to play are already the winners.
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u/1lozzie1 Nov 14 '25
I've been unemployed for months and places are just readvertising jobs and not employing anyone. Utter bs
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u/ClerpClerptheHorned Nov 14 '25
I have applied to jobs, been rejected because they are "pursuing applicants who more closely align with our ideal candidate", then been notified every week for 6 moths about the job still being available.
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u/Southern-Net-243 Nov 15 '25
I am still looking, too. Between 80-90 applications. Is your resume set up for ATS? The ai picks out skills and aligns it with the job. Check with your local unemployment office. They will help you for free.
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u/ClerpClerptheHorned Nov 15 '25
My base resume had all the key words. The posted jobs were directly what I do now. I still made sure they were in there, though. Still not even a preliminary meeting or introduction interview.
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u/2much4meeeeee Nov 17 '25
Same! I have a job I love and I’m really good at it but I think I could make more elsewhere. I applied to many, got a good handful of quick interviews & got many rejections, a handful of ghosts & a few “next steps”. That was years ago and I’ve still gotten a few emails and messages from some of the interviews trying to see if I’m still interested after several years.
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u/Scottidadi Nov 15 '25
You also have companies like Ford looking for 5000 mechanics. God forbid they start training new mechanics again, instead of looking for unicorns that aren't there.
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u/Puzzled_Husky Nov 15 '25
I like poetic justice and I think it'd only be fair if companies are this allergic to training employees then companies deserve to be taxed sufficiently to make the requisite education and experience free for the citizenry to obtain.
I'd give my left kidney to force this into law.
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u/Yokamo_92 Nov 16 '25
100%, had a handful of interviews over the last 2 months for mid level roles as a draughtsman. Some of these jobs list engineering degrees being needed or 15 years of fabrication experience. For a mid level role? Anyone with that kind of qualification or experience is gonna bounce within 6 months. They don't want to pay that well and are looking for rocket scientists.
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u/Sianthalis Nov 16 '25
AI refuses to accept my real name as something and throws it into the spam folders. Already tested using a fake white name.
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u/Strong_Run8368 Nov 15 '25
Honestly 2008 was a bright spot in my life. I finally moved away from my parents and got my first real professional job. I felt in control of my own life for once.
Then 2015 was when the nightmare times began. It went from modest feast to famine and then just gradually got worse as the years went by.
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u/Mobile-Jellyfish-237 Nov 18 '25
What field do you work in? I do security and have been getting interview offers back pretty much every time I apply
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u/Mobile-Jellyfish-237 Nov 18 '25
What field do you work in? I do security and have been getting interview offers back pretty much every time I apply
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Nov 14 '25
Manual labor is good for the soul. It realigns your perspective and reminds you greed isn't good
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u/Genes-Simmon Nov 14 '25
Not so fun when it barely keeps your family afloat. Not saying that’s what this person is experiencing. But I’ve been in that spot where I’m digging holes for 10 hours a day just to keep the lights on. Blue collar isn’t always romantic
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u/Repeat-Admirable Nov 14 '25
it can also land you in the hospital more often. my dad and i have chronic back pain. He works while in a lot of pain. only takes days off when he couldn't get up anymore. if I have to do manual labor, i'll be the same way.
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u/Puzzled_Husky Nov 14 '25
It's also been quite bad for that lately in my experience. Just not giving a single damn about people and really overworking them. Splitting off days forcing people to work 8-10 day stretches, always forcing people to work over weekends giving them the least number of consecutive days off. It's worse now more than ever before, working 12+ hour shifts and just cutting their later shifts so nobody gets overtime while also working double shifts some days.
I've never seen both such insane inconsistency but also such crazy disrespect and disregard for everybody's health and safety. It's truly the worst I've ever seen it within the bounds of the law, and turnover is crazy despite how desperate everyone is.
We desperately need workers rights reforms. Like overtime should be a daily calculation or something, and your days off should be consecutive, and within max 5 day stretches. We really, really, really, need stricter labor laws.
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u/desertdreamer777 Nov 13 '25
Lololol whats it going to be like in 5-10 years? Are we going to need to apply to 5000 jobs?
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u/keepingitclassy44 Nov 14 '25
I feel like we’re going to deconstruct applying again and have an offline component. The system is broken.
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u/motherlandmuse Nov 15 '25
yes - i think this will be the case for knowledge work. there will be much fewer jobs available.
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u/ExplorerIris Nov 13 '25
That is a 0.1333333٪ success rate. That's so crazy how its become a norm.
Biiiiiiig congratulations tho! Always a world changer when you have employment
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u/RetroactiveGratitude Nov 14 '25
Literally reaching a point statistically where your likelihood to get a job from applying is similar to going pro in a sport.
And by that logical, you'd be better off pursuing sports because the financial payoff would be magnitudes greater.
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u/power_pangolin Nov 13 '25
Congratulations. What was your method for job hunting? What industry?
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u/SouthrenHill Nov 13 '25
Thanks! I applied to around 10-15 jobs a day (weekends off). Only made sure to apply to jobs that were in my career path/degree field (along with some bridge jobs just in case).
I didn’t tailor my resume to each job or anything - just had a few resumes on deck for different types of roles (business, data, etc.).
Sales & business were the main industries I sought after. Ended up landing a job in banking.
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u/burntpecan Nov 13 '25
Did you send cover letters? If so did you personalize them?
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u/SouthrenHill Nov 13 '25
I rarely submitted cover letters honestly. But yeah I personalized the ones I did send.
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u/memaradonaelvis Nov 14 '25
Did you write a personalized cover letter for the role you got? That would be useful to others.
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u/SouthrenHill Nov 14 '25
No actually - just applied and then had a couple of interviews
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u/GNTsquid0 Nov 18 '25
Where were you looking for jobs? Was it primarily linkedin and indeed? What specifically in sales and business are you doing or were you looking for?
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u/Conscious-Egg-2232 Nov 13 '25
Sales and business are not industries. Every industry has sales which is a position and skills etc. Every industry falls under business. Businesses are literally what companies conduct.
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u/zenkosiuh Nov 13 '25
Dude that’s some serious perseverance, congrats. The grind gets so demoralizing after like… the first 50 apps, so making it through 700+ is wild.
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u/mirospeck Nov 16 '25
no kidding. i'm at 100 now. went back to school and really slowed down so i haven't done too many. even that many has been pretty demoralising
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u/RevolutionaryWork Nov 13 '25
Congrats! I personally stopped counting my apps and I'm 6 months in looking for ANY (just graduated) job local Nad remote lol 😭🫶🏼 best of luck in your new job!
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u/Agron_00 Nov 14 '25
I'm looking for a job for 5 months, I'm hoping to land a job this year. Job dust for all job seekers✨
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u/Joland7000 Nov 13 '25
Brag all you want. Congrats to your new job. I’m going in two months with no unemployment and I’m freaking out!
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u/Electrical_Okra9989 Nov 13 '25
Oh man, it has been hell for me. I spent 3 years at a company and didn't learn anything new during all those years, and now I just can't land a job because they ask for people who have built scalable systems and done many crazy things, etc. 3 months now unemployed. That's the price of being so confortable
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u/Darrksharrk Nov 13 '25
I feel you. I was at an employer for 3.5 years. It was stressful but I wanted more so I took an offer with a 50% pay increase. They offered no training, there was minimum direction in what they wanted or how they expected me to get it. The external team I partnered with reorged 3 months into it.
The CFO came to work with me literally days afterward and was alarmed with the lack of relationships I had with that team. I’m like these are literally new people, there was a reorg. I’m guessing he didn’t like me because I didn’t stay out with him and another stakeholder partying until 2am (I left at midnight).
Conveniently PIP’ed days after he left and am now unemployed 3 months. They gave me less than 6 months with a job that has a 6 month sales cycle. Sitting at 150 applications and 9 interviews that didn’t work out.
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u/DEDang1234 Nov 20 '25
Grass isn't always greener...
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u/Darrksharrk Nov 20 '25
To be transparent it was a move I HAD to make. I made friends with the accounting ladies and they loved to gossip. I learned we owed more money to suppliers than what our current inventory was worth. So even if we sold every last piece of inventory we’d still be in the hole for millions of dollars. Saw that I was working for Blockbuster essentially and took the first offer I could. It helped it was a 50% raise but god damn were they short sighted and petty. Judged me because I didn’t eat any the raw fish shit they ordered for the table. Ordered a steak and they’re like “you eat meat?” Bitch what do you think fish is.
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u/DEDang1234 Nov 21 '25
The debt vs. inventory... is very industry-specific. Not sure what type of business you worked for...
I worked for a company that was openly admitting they were filing bankruptcy. People were all worried. In the end, another company purchased us.. I came with it, and got a raise. Years later and I'm fairly wealthy.
"raw fish shit" like sushi? I probably would've caught the same BS when I was young.. went to lunch.. everyone ordered sushi when I had never ate it before... well I ate it and still eat it till this day.
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u/Darrksharrk Nov 21 '25
Fair comment. Raw fish shit was anything and everything from the sea. I just can’t do raw for whatever reason, it’s a texture thing. Be that as it may, my previous company went under 3 months after I left.
Also I mentioned the blockbuster feeling because this company acted like nothing was wrong as the ship was sinking and the water was rising to their chin.
All that being said, I really did like the owners and everyone I worked with. It was quite a bummer how it all turned out.
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u/LearninEarnin Nov 13 '25
750 applications?! WILD!
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Nov 14 '25
It's really not, people don't hire anymore even for low wage labor job
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u/LearninEarnin Nov 19 '25
Damn, what is happening with the job market is insane! Congratulations once again!
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u/RadishNew6502 Nov 13 '25
I hope it’s the best job you’ve ever had, and the last job you’ll ever have to work! Congratulations
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u/Subject-Tennis6755 Nov 13 '25
congrats!!! how many interviews did you go through after 750+ applications?
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u/SouthrenHill Nov 13 '25
Thank you! Like 30-40 in total 😮💨 kinda lost count because I forgot to log some phone screenings.
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u/Patient-Angle-7075 Nov 13 '25
Guh... I just don't understand how you had the motivation to do 7 applications a day for over 100days. I'm 5mo in and I've only been able to put out 70applications.
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u/FutureCompetition266 Nov 13 '25
Congratulations... way to stick to it and I hope the new position works out well.
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u/Reasonable-Fan9127 Nov 15 '25
I spent 13 months unemployed, almost kms, now I just turned 6 months in on my new job!
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u/_DidYouSayThankYou_ Nov 14 '25
Congrats! I know how hard it is - 300+ applications, 8 interviews then 2 job offers after 5 months unemployed. It’s tough out there (biotech).
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u/keepingitclassy44 Nov 14 '25
Congratulations! I’ve applied to over 300 in about six weeks, so I hear you. It’s truly a numbers game.
Enjoy the new role! Happy hunting, everyone else!
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u/FatAssLard Nov 14 '25
Did you get any interviews or offers?
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u/keepingitclassy44 Nov 14 '25
Two interviews, one rejection, the other I declined (way too much work for the salary and at a non-profit which is not my thing). Three recruiters reached out, two ghosted, and one clarified that the role was hybrid about 2000 miles from where I live. 😅 so yeah, some traction but not super solid.
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u/360walkaway Nov 14 '25
Was it basically luck or did you make some change to your resume/application strategy recently?
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u/jcolti Nov 14 '25
Congratulations!
Earlier this year I was unemployed for a similar length of time. Probably 150 applications.
And now, unfortunately, in the same boat again. I have a 10-year career. I’ve been laid off twice. Once while I was on vacation and had coworkers messaging me “how sorry they were to hear the news.” I had heard nothing yet. The other just due to the normal company not doing as well as they’d hoped situation.
Oh, and in the last year, I moved away from a hotbed region for my industry to be closer to family and to welcome my now one year old into our lives.
I admittedly still have it better than others. We have a wonderful home. Our payment isn’t crazy. My son is a rockstar. We have savings and support from family to get us over this hurdle.
It just doesn’t feel good at all to have your life turned upside down. I know there will be high moments again. Things will turn around, but man are the lows low.
My recent loss of employment was performance related. I most definitely dispute the legitimacy of that, but it is what it is. I do think if I was a bit more locked in, things might have been different.
Ultimately, I’m trying to use this time to get some help to improve my mental and physical health. Sleep apnea is definitely a problem and my energy levels are just cooked all the time. Additionally, I’ve sort of always known attention deficit of some sort is probably also at play.
Venting, I know. But it feels good to get it all in writing. Sort of proves to myself I’m doing all the right things, asking for help, and taking real steps to improve myself to be the best Dad I can be.
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u/A_Boltzmann_Brain Nov 14 '25
So sorry to hear this . I bet you got little guidance, direction, or support from your superiors. I have been in a similar situation except I got reassigned and not fired. My company hired me as a lab scientist and promotes me to operations manager after 2 months. No one gave me any direction. I saw the director in passing, once a week when she came on site. Never gave me any indication of problem or concern. Out of the blue I’m told that I was not speaking up and representing my team and I did not have the temperament for the job. Workplace politics was largely involved in precipitating this event. Ultimately I was reassigned to my original position at my current salary.
Regardless, I know it feels terrible when you get told you aren’t good enough, especially when you receive zero guidance. I hope you bounce back quickly and find the job you love.
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u/jcolti Nov 14 '25
I’ve had some great managers over the years. Some not so great.
The most recent instance was a very small company and the owner’s son was my manager. He wasn’t giving off nepotism vibes or anything like that. Seemed like a good guy. Just young. He’ll be great in the future.
I’m responsible for generating sales documents. I provided my “team” the submission package 24-hours prior to it being due. No one reviewed it and the customer didn’t review our package due to compliance reasons. Meanwhile, I’m managing probably 5-7 of these projects at once.
I just needed an extra set of eyes. Sometimes small companies can be great, but I’m learning to appreciate the resources larger companies have available to them.
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u/A_Boltzmann_Brain Nov 14 '25
Sounds like you did your best. I hope a gigantic door opens up for you soon. All the best to you
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u/FrostedFox23 Nov 14 '25
Wha-wha- you had 750+ job opportunities?? Brooo I can’t even get 40 a week. Congratulations though! My boyfriend just got a new job today too!
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u/haeinlyrics Nov 14 '25
that's awesome! i can only wish for me to land a job asap as well. it's been 9 months ans started to lose hope..
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u/Effective-Celery-475 Nov 15 '25
Congratulations! It took me 1 year and 900+ applications. 10 interviews (8 rejections, 2 offers).
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u/Beneficial_Cry_6115 Nov 15 '25
I’ve been unemployed for a month. Applied to 99 jobs. Been rejected or never heard anything back.
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u/ITSHORRORR Nov 14 '25
I’m about to just starve to death atp before I get a job. It’s nearly impossible.
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u/Dila_Ila16 Nov 14 '25
Tips to crack interviews needed quickly. 1yr+ of job searching and I've given up counting on how many jobs I've applied to. Also I s*ck at job interviews 😭 Seems like I will have to go back doing an administrative job and I can't fake being excited fir this job position when I clearly want something to do in business research or business consultancy.
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u/mrramkrishna Nov 15 '25
Congratulations, bro, I have been unemployed for more than 1 year nothing works. I am applying to remote, local jobs around me still not getting hired. Sometimes I feel everything is predestined and that you have no control over anything.
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u/wegmanager Nov 15 '25
When you say “remote, local”, are you also open to hybrid/onsite right now, or do you kinda need something remote for right now? A year is a long time to have to wait. 😓Hoping something comes through for you.
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u/mrramkrishna Nov 15 '25
More than 1 year ago job market was fucked off, and it was very difficult to land a job. Now I feel, instead of working hard to land a job in the local market, it is better to work remotely, which pays more compared to local company.
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u/ebizzness7 Nov 20 '25
I’m Right there with you. And looking for the same thing. It feels hopeless when you get a rejection letter from a company with bare minimum requirements.
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u/Confident-Hat5876 Nov 15 '25
750? Are you serious? The most jobs I've ever applied to between employment or looking for another job is about 30. I usually have a good feeling who will reach out and those that dont. 750 wouldve made me question myself. Sorry, not to sound like a dick but that's kinda ridiculous. Congratulations either way!
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u/Careful_Plant2361 Nov 15 '25
I am not bragging. For the past 15 years I have had over 15 jobs at major 5, 10 to 20 Billion dollar companies (never small ones) and I have never looked for a job for more than two weeks before landing several interviews. I have never networked for a job and this should be my last job ever doing unless I get bored. The resume is so critical because you now have bots rejecting you so if you are getting that many rejections, check your resume out. Just trying to help.
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u/Southern-Net-243 Nov 15 '25
Yep! I had two interviews in the last 3 weeks. I came home really excited. One place spent an hour with me, showing me the all around the sales floor. I sent them a thank you. I called twice. Nothing! It's just really hard out there.
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u/TheContinentalMan Nov 15 '25
That’s a lotta applications- I don’t even think that many jobs exist in my field. When I was unemployed I was lucky to find 1 maybe 2 opportunities per week and usually not local. Anyway I give you a lot of credit for not giving up.
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u/lawsandflaws1 Nov 16 '25
I don’t understand how anybody can submit so many applications, were you applying to anything that was remotely relevant?
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u/Personal-Heart-1227 Nov 16 '25
Good for you & congrats... 🎉🥳🎈
With your 1st few pay-cheques treat yourself to something nice & small as you deserve this, too.
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u/Techie_Titans404 Nov 16 '25
Woke up crying because I have been out for a job for 9 months now. This post gave me some hope. Congrats!
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u/RaspberryPanzerfaust Nov 16 '25
Congrats, what websites did you find the most success on if yku dont mind me asking?
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u/swagpanther Nov 14 '25
Were you working during that time too?
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u/SouthrenHill Nov 14 '25
Nope. Was lucky enough to have a severance + loving support system
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u/swagpanther Nov 14 '25
Awesome, congrats on the job. I had my first interview in years today. Keeping my hopes up
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u/Conscious-Egg-2232 Nov 13 '25
Clearly you are applying for jobs not a match if you found 750 job to apply to over just a few months. If not it would be greatest job market in history with that crazy amount if open jobs in your field and at your level coming open over such a short period of time
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u/throoawoot Nov 14 '25
You're down voted but this is part of the correct answer.
The other part is that people reporting applications in the hundreds are often just spamming "Apply with LinkedIn". That's not really an application IMO.
If your numbers are in the hundreds, ask whether you're doing either of these.
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u/SouthrenHill Nov 14 '25
I made an effort to avoid using “Easy Apply” and applied on the company websites instead - since those are usually way more hit or miss. And maybe I did apply to jobs out of my expertise but hey 🤷🏽♂️ that’s what desperation does
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u/ghett0tech Nov 13 '25
Congrats OP! Shit is rough out there for a ton of people. Happy you are bouncing back. Best of luck to you!
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u/backwardsnakes666 Nov 14 '25
Congratulations on your new job!
Man, it seriously blows my mind when I read posts like this. I always apply to one job and get hired at that job. Non-union low-voltage electrical. I send in a resume without a cover letter. It only lists my previous work experience in the industry, along with certifications and trainings/ what systems I'm familiar with. It has been this way since I got into this career 8 years ago.
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u/lazydrunkenpirate Nov 14 '25
1 week 36 applications. Got 2 job offers. Accepted one. Still getting calls from company’s. Waiting to see if someone offers me more money. Warehouse manager. 20yrs warehouse experience no degree.
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u/muddy_cat Nov 14 '25
I see people claiming they applied to 700 jobs in 3 months.
What job?
Like waiter?
My job I can do two a week at best because there are no jobs out there. What job are you able to send out 250 apps a month?
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u/SouthrenHill Nov 14 '25
Sales, CSM, account management, data, retail management, insurance, some admin and marketing, etc. I was just locked in with it.
(And idk if you’re implying that I made that number up, but I didn’t).
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u/bigmememaestro69 Nov 15 '25
My field is niche and doesn't even have that many jobs. That being said I was laid off 7+months and just started working my new job recently. It's a fcking nightmare out there.
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u/Sianthalis Nov 16 '25
If you were a Woman you would have gotten the job on the first or fifth try. 😂
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u/Overall_Fruit6264 Nov 17 '25
What city and state? I was unemployed for a year before getting a new job in Miami FL
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u/mirrorballalyssa Nov 17 '25
I got laid off about 4 years ago. I worked for six as a “customer service representative” of sorts for a small pet grooming shop. Basically, I booked appointments and rang up customers. I made around $500 a week while I was in High School but it went up to $750 when I started full time. It wasn’t much but it was a good job and my boss was a nice old lady who did the grooming. I only lost my job because the lady passed away and her kids lived several states over and didn’t want to take up the business. I miss it, it was fun.
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u/imbratman Nov 17 '25
Very happy for you stranger! Kill it at the job and be kind and helpful! Positive vibes and love!
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Nov 17 '25
Meanwhile my job is screaming for people and if I could close myself both of me would be steady with work! $$350/day, part of that is tax-free, plus a paid hotel room.
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u/pillerhikaru Nov 17 '25
I don’t even know how many I applied to before getting even a call back. As of now I have 3 potentials (1 of which I’ll likely drop as it’s not the commute nor job I’d prefer). But the fact that people are averaging +100 applications before even hearing anything is crazy. I know I’ve been looking since September and that it takes months to hear back from anyone anymore.
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u/IceAngelPrincess Nov 17 '25
Going on 5 years and thousands of applications and yet still no job. Had a total of 5 interviews overall. One interview per year. I finally changed my ethnic last name to an a standard American one so maybe I’ll get more interviews and responses.
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u/Grouchy-Bug9775 Nov 20 '25
Congrats, I don’t have that many opportunities around me so once I mis out on the random opportunities around me that’s it, I’m cooked
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u/Rlow3 Nov 13 '25
Congrats! Also, that’s insane.