I recently went through a challenging job search after being laid off from my role as a senior executive assistant. The application process felt brutal, and I found the mental aspect to be the toughest part. After taking a short break post-layoff, I dove into my job search, focusing on positions like program manager and director of operations. I made sure to tailor each cover letter individually, opting not to use AI for that part, but I did rely heavily on AI for interview preparation. I created a Sankey diagram to visualize my job application journey, and I hope sharing this will inspire others who are also navigating the job market. Good luck to everyone!