I was laid off in August and since then, I've submitted 38 applications for back-end office roles at the Director+ level in NYC. So far, I've only managed to secure 3 interviews, but unfortunately, none of them led to offers. I'm starting to feel like I'm up against a lot of competition from candidates using AI to tailor their applications, or maybe I'm just making excuses for my lack of success. In the meantime, I'm taking certifications and trying to learn more about AI to improve my chances. My biggest concern is that November and December are typically slow months for hiring, which adds to my anxiety. I recently saw a post from someone who was laid off just two weeks ago and has already sent out 6 applications without receiving any responses, which makes me feel a bit better knowing I'm not alone in this struggle.