I was laid off from my investment management job in June due to a departmental restructure initiated by a new VP who wanted to bring in their own team. This was my first experience with a layoff, and it was tough. Over the next few months, I applied to around 100 jobs and networked extensively, but I faced a lot of challenges. I encountered everything from job postings being pulled after I applied to dealing with AI screeners and logic assessments. Ghosting was common too, with about 40% of my applications not even receiving a rejection email. However, since Labor Day, things started to change. I began receiving multiple screener calls and interview requests, which I learned is typical for the fall job market. I also reached out to a contact who had recently taken a director role at a company where I had applied. He informed me about two new roles on his team that matched my background well. Although I felt slightly overqualified, I decided to apply anyway. I quickly had a screener call followed by interviews with the director and two team members. I was thrilled to receive an offer for the position, which included an updated title and a pay increase compared to my previous job. While I initially didn’t plan to return to private wealth, this new role is focused purely on research without client interactions or marketing, and it offers me the chance to leverage my experience to build something meaningful. I’m set to start in November, just as my severance ends and right after my twins are born. For anyone still job hunting, I want to share that there is hope out there and a role that fits your skills. There truly is light at the end of the tunnel.