Boo! Did I scare you? I hope not too much. Spooky season is well underway. Like many of you, this time of the year is a lot of fun to me. But if you are like me, it is not the ghosts, goblins and ghouls that are scaring you — it is the state of the job market.
As I write this, the Labor Department reported Oct. 3 applications for jobless claims rose by 6,000 to 225,000 for the week of Sept. 28. But the four-week average did fall, and the Federal Reserve lowered target interest rates to the 4.75% to 5% range in September. So, it is not all doom and gloom I suppose. But concerns among U.S. workers remain, and for good reasons. As of this year, Layoffs.fyi reports there have been 139,534 layoffs in the tech industry across 457 companies. Are you ready to hide under the covers?
I had the inspiration to write this article as I reflected on the one-year mark of my unemployment in August. It has taken me these past couple of months to pause, reflect and find the right words to talk about this issue so openly. What could be a more appropriate time to write this article and take off my proverbial “everything is ok” mask than a time of year when wearing masks is encouraged?
I was laid off from my comfortable full-time job as a senior editor for a small digital marketing agency in August 2023. Unfortunately, I was joined by 191,000 workers in U.S.-based tech companies who lost their jobs in mass layoffs that year. We all know the reasons behind the layoffs, so I won’t go into too much detail. The reasons include the over-hiring that happened during the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation that has risen significantly since 2021 in the pandemic’s aftermath.
Regardless of the cause, workers like myself bore the effect. I was laid off amidst the rising tide of generative AI that had been taking the world by storm since ChatGPT’s release in November 2022. For writers like me, it was a scary time. While I was not laid off directly due to AI, it was a contributing factor as more companies could automate entry-level creative tasks. And, as it goes in business, the bottom line is all that matters. The technology didn’t need to write better than me — it just needed to be cheaper.
And amidst the rising inflation, every company was looking to cut costs. It really was a perfect storm. I was very concerned, to say the least. I did my due diligence and filed for unemployment; I got to work on hundreds upon hundreds of job applications; tweaked my resume dozens of times; and went to every job fair and networking event in the city I lived in. The result? Nothing. Nothing fruitful, I mean. I had plenty of phone screenings, first, second, third and sometimes fourth-round interviews, as well as lengthy “assessments” (i.e., free work for employers) of my ability. I went through all that just to hear the good old, “We regret to inform you…” and you know the rest. That is, if I ever heard anything back at all. Enter “ghosting.”
Ghosting is not a new concept. While it was initially a term for the wild world of online dating for when you make a connection with someone and they suddenly stop talking to you. However, it has become applicable in the workforce.
A September 2023 report released by the Thriving Center of Psychology stated that 35% of job seekers in the U.S. aged 18-42 reported being ghosted by a prospective employer during the interview process. Of course, job seekers are guilty of this conduct as well. In a January report by Indeed, 61% of U.S. job seekers admitted to ghosting a range of two to four employers within a one-year period.
How did the workforce become the plot of the next Stephen King novel? I don’t know. But as I reflect on this long journey, I have taken the time to appreciate all the good. I appreciate every employer who DID offer feedback and respected my time. I appreciate everyone in my network who advocated for me when I wasn’t in the room. I appreciate every word of encouragement from family, friends and former coworkers who sincerely believe in my abilities and want to see me flourish.
Perhaps, most importantly, I have learned to give myself grace and patience during this process. And I have so much more understanding and empathy to offer those going through similar situations.
So, though the workplace may still seem as scary as a haunted hayride, opportunities for important lessons in growth, humility and respect abound. So, where’s the candy? All this job hunting has me wanting something sweet.
Featured image: Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
Edited by James Sutton & Steven London
