I was laid off almost 6 and a half months ago, and my unemployment benefits have just run out. Today, I have my final interview for a position that I really hope to land. I've applied to 175 roles so far, gone through 55 interviews, and made it to the final round for 25 of them, but unfortunately, I haven't received a single job offer yet. I've learned from some contacts that a lot of the time, the reason I didn't get the job was because someone else had a more unique skill set than I did. The job market is incredibly tough right now, and it feels brutal. Just the other day, I went to buy my usual case of protein drinks, which used to cost about $25, and now they’re priced at $64. I couldn't afford to buy them. To improve my job search, I created an AI agent that helps me find jobs that match my résumé and experiences. This way, I’m not just randomly applying to positions. The jobs it finds fit me at least 95% and up, but it’s still a struggle. I'm applying to contract roles as well and even considering positions that pay $20K less than what I used to make. I’m sending out good vibes and prayers, hoping to get an offer in the next couple of weeks. After my interview today, I applied to three more jobs. My AI agent is keeping track of everything in a spreadsheet, helping me adjust my résumé and cover letters, and even searching LinkedIn for connections with my interviewers. I’ve also been looking up interview questions on Glassdoor. It’s scary, but I’m grateful for the interviews I’ve been getting. I’m trying to stay positive and keep pushing forward.