When I was looking for a job in 2021, I took a couple months off to decompress before I started submitting resumes. I was confident this time. After working in several toxic places and lasting only a few months or forcing myself to stay a year, I thought this search would be a cake walk and it pretty much was.

About 4 months into unemployment, I was interviewing with 4 companies simultaneously and the company I went with, expedited the interview process, offered me more money and upgraded my title.

Once at this company the turnover couldn't be ignored. Every quarter they would fire random teammates and always use the excuse "peformance based".

I knew that my job security wasn't really secure but I loved my boss and my co-worker, the first time I had experienced that sensation. The Great Resignation was in full force but I finally had what I wanted, great leadership and support, work/life balance, the most money I've made so far in my career.

We dodged the bullet for almost 2 years and then one day I was asked to jump on a Zoom call with the new president, I had not met formally and drum roll……..HR. Not my first rodeo. I knew what was next.

I wasn't let go based on performance, but we were no longer required.

I thought no problem, I had recommendations on my LinkedIn from my co-workers, I had almost 2 years at this company, I was able to get multple certifications while in this role. I'll take a couple months off and start to search and I'll get something in a couple months.

It started being really obvious that something was wrong. I wasn't getting responses for my applications, not even rejections. Those who offered to help me within my network seemed more enthusiatic than me to find a new job and then they no longer were responding to my emails or texts.

Not just employers but my network.

Recruiters would reach out with opportunities, stalk me for an entire day to get everything they need to submit me to a role. Once they had my mother's maiden name and street I grew up on (kidding but close enough). Ghosted. No repsonses to follow-up emails.

Don't get me started with LinkedIn.

This weighs on your soul. Now anyone who offers to help "I love connecting people", "I'm happy to help" has become a red flag.

People keep telling me to follow-up but all I can think is "but I could be sending my resume into a gaping void praying for lightning in a bottle".

To those of you that think ghosting is ok, it's not. Common decency is ok. Following through is ok.

Keep in mind nothing is promised and one day, it could be you writing your story for this blog.

Almost 2 years strong and still looking. #opentoghosting

👉 Don’t miss this: What to Expect When You Weren’t Expecting: Understanding the 2025 Hiring Maze

Disclaimer:

The content on this site is for informational and commentary purposes only and reflects the author's personal opinions. It does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. All data sources are cited where applicable. Stories shared by users or sourced from public forums are anonymized and presented for illustrative purposes only.