I was laid off last week after eight years of dedicated service at my company due to a decline in revenue and workload issues. At 28 years old, I'm now back in the job hunt and feeling overwhelmed by the current job market. I've heard that many companies are not hiring, which adds to the frustration. I'm looking for any tips on how to navigate this situation. Should I reach out to recruiters from my former company? I'm also in the process of updating my resume after so long, and it's definitely a challenge. I'm using AI tools to help speed up the process, but I still want to make sure I personalize each application. I'm curious about others' experiences—are people still submitting cover letters and tailoring their resumes for each job? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!