Three months into my job search for a director-level position after being laid off from my corporate strategy team. It's been quite a shift since I haven't looked for a job in seven years, and the market has changed drastically since pre-Covid. I was promoted to a director role at my last company, so this is my first time actively seeking a director position. I'm focusing on roles in strategy and market intelligence, where I have the most experience. Although I could pivot to FP&A or product management, my resume doesn't align well with those areas anymore. I'm also unable to relocate, and my local job market is pretty sparse for these roles, which is why I’m applying mainly for remote positions. In the past two months, I've sent out about 150 applications, tailoring most of them for ATS with keyword optimization. I also try to connect with hiring managers or recruiters on LinkedIn when I can. So far, I've had one interview with a hiring manager, which I felt went well, but then I was ghosted. I've had around 4-5 interviews with HR, but things have really slowed down in the last six weeks. Currently, I’m dividing my efforts about 70% on job applications and 30% on networking and recruiter outreach. However, I’m starting to think I might need to flip those percentages, as my response rate is only about 3-4%, which feels dismal. I have a few questions: Should I really consider shifting my focus more towards networking? Are remote job applications worth my time given the competition? And should I think about stepping back to a senior manager role? I worry that my previous director title might be a barrier for those positions. If anyone has experience in corporate strategy and is willing to critique my resume, I would greatly appreciate it.