dhekurbaba's journey

I just received a verbal offer today after a challenging job search, and I'm hopeful that a written offer will follow tomorrow. My journey started with a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) at my previous company, which was unexpected and vague in its feedback. Despite my efforts to improve, it became clear that I was unlikely to succeed, so I began applying for new jobs. I had my last working day confirmed about a month ago, and it felt like a layoff disguised as performance issues since the company handbook stated that severance is only provided for layoffs. During this time, I kept applying aggressively, using tools like ChatGPT to refine my resume to be ATS-friendly and creating multiple versions tailored for different roles. After submitting around 950-1000 applications over two months, I received callbacks from a few companies and went through several interviews. Ultimately, I got a verbal offer for a more senior position with a slight salary increase, but it comes with a 50-minute commute and is fully onsite, which is a big change from my previous remote setup. I know nothing is finalized until I sign the written offer, but I’m relieved that my unemployment may soon be over. This experience has been incredibly stressful, and it’s disheartening to see how many applications go unanswered. I learned that while some recommend a careful approach to job applications, sometimes a broader strategy is necessary, as many positions can disappear unexpectedly. I sincerely hope the job market improves soon.