I was laid off in May and have been tirelessly searching for a new job ever since. I've applied to countless positions, but only heard back from one company that seemed like the perfect fit for me. With ten years of experience in the same field, I went through three interviews and a work assessment over the past month and a half. I felt confident throughout the process, especially after receiving positive feedback on my assessment and interviews. However, today I received an email informing me that they decided to go in a different direction. I'm devastated. My unemployment benefits are about to run out in just two weeks, and I'm feeling mentally and emotionally drained from this experience. At this point, I’m considering taking a retail job just to keep things afloat while I continue my job search. I feel completely defeated and uncertain about my next steps.