I got laid off about a month ago from my role in analytics, and since then, I've been applying to over 200 jobs. I feel like corporate life just isn't for me. My friends are supportive, checking in on me regularly, but they can't truly understand what I'm going through since they've never experienced a layoff. I get it, I would have been clueless too if I were in their shoes. I've gotten close to landing a couple of international roles, but both times I was rejected after the final round because they opted for local candidates instead. It’s frustrating because I received good feedback throughout the process, and I feel like my time was wasted. Maybe I'm just overreacting due to exhaustion; it’s part of the job search process, I suppose. I’ve also applied for local positions, but I keep getting rejected due to salary expectations or budget constraints. So, I've started interviewing for roles with a pay cut, hoping something will come through. Most of the interviews I've had are for local roles, but I’ve also started applying internationally since my resume was getting rejected locally. I’ve had six interviews so far, and I’ve noticed that hiring managers often seem offended when I ask about their management style or how they handle team conflicts. I see this as a potential red flag; maybe it means the company or manager isn’t right for me. I’ve had bad experiences with managers in the past, which led to my layoff after I spoke up about the issues. I don’t regret that at all. Even though I enjoyed my job, I always felt I would retire early to pursue my passion for art. I’m currently trying to improve my craft while applying for tech jobs, which I’m not even sure I want to continue in. I’ve been feeling guilty for wanting to take a break from job hunting, but I can't shake the feeling that I should be constantly searching. This whole process has made me feel hopeless about my art, which used to bring me joy. I’m just venting here, hoping things will get better.