I was laid off from my full-time job earlier this year, where I was making $55k annually. It was a shock because my managers had been giving me positive feedback. Now, I'm back at my old part-time job, earning $18 an hour, which my parents don't consider a real job. They don't understand how I went from a stable position to working retail part-time, especially since I have a degree. I live with them, and while I’m frugal with my spending, I feel like I'm not meeting their expectations. Currently, I work about 20 hours a week and spend my mornings applying for jobs—I've submitted around 60 applications so far, tailoring each one to fit the role. Despite my efforts, many hiring managers have informed me that they are on hiring freezes. I'm also considering gig work, like Walmart Spark, to increase my income and get out of the house more. I've been helping my parents with their tech issues and taking them to medical appointments since they don’t speak English well and have health problems. It feels frustrating to be in this situation, and I often feel like a failure even though my only debt is student loans. I want to find a full-time job, but the market is tough, and I’m trying to stay positive while navigating this challenging time.