I’m feeling really lost in the job market right now. I graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in May 2023, but I was laid off in January 2025. Since then, I've been struggling to find a permanent position. I did manage to get a contract job in July last year, but it only lasted until December because they couldn’t afford to keep me on. My manager said I did great work, but the workload just wasn’t there. After that, I ended up working at Walmart for a few months, making $14 an hour, which was barely enough to get by. Unfortunately, they cut my hours down to just 10 a week, and when I got sick, they fired me for missing a key date. Now, I’ve been on unemployment since May, but that’s running out soon, and I’m down to my last savings. It’s really hard to watch my friends, who have the same degree, move forward in their careers while I feel stuck. My family doesn’t seem to understand the situation either; they keep insisting that I should have a job by now and that I’m not trying hard enough. It’s frustrating and disheartening. I’ve even started to neglect my health, not because I can’t afford food, but because I just don’t have the energy. I spend my days applying for jobs at the library to prove to my family that I’m actively looking. My dad keeps suggesting I go door-to-door to apply, which feels so outdated and unrealistic. I’m really at a low point and have even had thoughts about suicide, though I would never act on them. I just feel trapped in this situation, and it’s overwhelming. I hope others are finding more success in this tough job market.