Just remember that so much of the job interview process is out of your hands, it’s unlikely that one thing that you do that’s a small thing is really going to have an impact.

A lot of it comes out through it being budget issues, the slowness of the process, there being multiple good candidates, internal politics, etc. All which is out of your control.

Just knowing this makes it easier to handle sometimes because it is less personal.

Very, very best of luck to you OP! I so hope you get it!!!

This is OP... interview went okay I think but they told me I likely won't hear anything for a few weeks as they go through their process (they stressed not to worry about not hearing from them... but I'm worried lol).

I very much hate this process.

Anonymous wrote:Between A.I. taking many desk jobs and careers, and hiring bias against anyone over 35 years old now, it will get worse.

What a stupid response.

^^ okay, that's not helpful.

I get it, OP. Can you feel confidence in the fact that you made it beyond the recruiter, and build on that?

Also, I too recently looked at the people who "liked" a certain role that was posted. I quickly determined that they weren't qualified for the job in the way that I was and one of them, in fact, was in a non-adjacent and (IMO) non-applicable field. "Liking" doesn't mean they're more qualified than you.

I have felt really low since my RIF in June, but then there are moments when I advance a little in a search or just network and am reminded that I have accomplished things. You surely have, too. It's a time when we're not getting the external validation of the workplace (however minimal it might have been) and it's easy to lose sight of our own self-worth. Have you considered volunteering? Doing something to support #FreeDC? (Not shilling for them--just noting that many folks' job search despair is compounded by local events, and that this might build some feelings of efficacy.)

You will get to a better place. I hope that when you do, you can feel proud that you've navigated another valley.

Between A.I. taking many desk jobs and careers, and hiring bias against anyone over 35 years old now, it will get worse.

Anyone other job searchers feeling major imposter syndrome and feeling like we’ll never get a new job?

I have round 3 for a job I really, really want coming up on Thursday. This is the first one with the hiring manager as opposed to the recruiter. I’ve been working to study up as much s I can on the person I’ll be talking to and polishing my talking points but I’m really nervous. And in my anxiety I’ve been going back to the posting on the company’s LinkedIn page for the role and looking at the profiles of everyone who liked the post. There are so many people in that group who I suspect are also being considered and I can’t help feeling like I stand no shot.

I know, stop looking, worry about doing the best I can, but I just feel defeated.

I just really need this job.