So I got laid off my previous company HundredX which was a startup based out in Texas. I had gotten some severance so I didn't start looking as I was recharging. Well maybe I should have started right away because little did I know this job search would not be for the weak. Countless applications, reframing my resume and cover letter, continuously adding recruiters, responding to countless emails, applying for roles that may or may not fit your background, questioning my sanity, numerous job sites, updating job profiles, hitting up people I haven't talked to if ever in ages, getting few interviews, getting ghosted after one interview, completing all rounds of the interview process only to not get selected and when asking for feedback no response, random off shore recruiters calling you at odd times, when given feedback all they say is that they wanted more "experience" in this area, finally making it through to the end and all things are right in the universe only to get the "we flipped a coin and we really loved you but ultimately decided on another candidate", asking AI for all the life lines and rewrites. Is this you? Because this was/is me. What can I tell you is that no matter what put on that smile and keep on going. You've worked too hard to get this far. And yeah if it was a cakewalk then everyone can do it. And it would get boring fast. Just keep recharging your batteries with your loved ones, friends, outlets and anything you can. Take little breaks so that your head doesn't explode from over thinking or being drained. And look for positive outlets. I found that here with @Anna Miller and @Nate Hobi and the Insiders here. It was definitely a breath of fresh air. I got some new ideas being here and started applying them. So thank you for the support. And with that it has been a long time coming but I just signed onto a role with Apple. I can finally breath.

Just purely out of curiosity, wanted to take a poll in the group. What do most of you think is holding you back from consistent interviews?

So I tried to follow the 'Reframing Your Resume' guide. I am keeping this one short. More bullet points. Two pages. Only reflecting the last 3 employers which make up the last what 10 years of employment for me. I showcased with a short headline some big names who I worked for per @Nate Hobi suggestion. I appreciate all thoughts, comments and any advice on how to improve. Also if you could Nate please check it out I would appreciate it.

I’m going to be real here. I’ve been on the job hunt for about a year now. After my last role ended, I took a couple of months off, then jumped headfirst into searching for my next opportunity. I wasn’t prepared for how tough this was going to be. Since then, I’ve applied to over 800 jobs. Some of those applications landed interviews. maybe around 20 total. A handful came from recruiters reaching out, while others were from me directly applying. Some of the roles would’ve been a step back in my career, others a step forward. I’ve been through it all: first-round rejections, mid-process letdowns, and even final rounds where I felt like everything clicked only to hear it came down to a “coin flip” or I was just shy in one area. That just happened again. I had a series of six interviews with a company I was really excited about . All within a week and a half. Every conversation felt strong. I thought I had it. Then today, the senior recruiter called to say the team loved me… but felt I lacked in one specific area. My stomach dropped. What stings even more is that I reviewed my transcripts from the interviews and found that I actually spoke to that exact area in detail it’s something I’ve done regularly in my past roles. Right now, I’m still in process with another company, and I’m doing my best to focus on that. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling burned out and a little defeated. I joined the Insiders meeting last Wednesday and got a great pep talk from Nate. One thing that stuck with me was his advice to flip my resume upside down highlight the companies I’ve worked for and emphasize the value I brought to each. So that’s what I’m working on next. I’m dropping the resume I’ve been using [here], and I’d love any feedback — layout suggestions, content changes, anything. Also, if you have any insight on what direction to take from here or just want to share your own journey, I’m all ears. Here’s my LinkedIn as well:👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-r-chavez/

My name is Nick, and I’m a Senior QA Engineer with 16+ years of experience across video game and software development, based in Los Angeles. I’ve worked with companies like PayPal /Honey, TMZ, and HundredX, and have built automation frameworks, streamlined QA processes, and helped teams deliver better, faster. After about 10 months of being in the job market, I’ve realized that this search has been very different from past cycles. I’ve updated my resume, tailored my outreach, interviewed with several teams and still haven’t landed that next opportunity. I’ve made it to final rounds multiple times, only to hear it came down to me and one other person. I’m here because I know it’s time for a new approach. I believe in what I bring to the table but I also know this is a moment where community, insight, and connection can make a difference. I’d welcome any advice, feedback, or just good conversation with others navigating this same path. Looking forward to learning, sharing, and hopefully helping each other succeed.