Since then, I have rewritten my resume, attended dozens of events, applied to many roles, and had only one interview—which I did not get.

This experience has been humbling, challenging, and deeply educational.

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned after six months of senior-level job searching.

Over the past six months, I have had the opportunity to rethink my career pivot strategy. I reworked my resume with the help of two coaches, a recruiter, and tools such as Jobscan. I narrowed down the field I want to transition into, attended numerous professional events, and submitted many applications. Despite these efforts, I have had only one interview for a director-level position, which I ultimately did not get.

Making a senior-level career transition in the current environment has been extremely challenging. I have never been out of work for this long. When you are competing with more than 300,000 federal workers—not even counting the contractors who were also laid off in 2025—the competition becomes incredibly tough.

One of the first improvements I made was organizational. In January, instead of continuing to send resumes and losing track of where I had already applied, I created an Excel tracker to monitor my applications, rejections, and overall progress. This tool also helps me track documentation related to unemployment benefits. More recently, I added a separate tab dedicated to tracking networking outreach.

I will also continue attending professional events. Some of the events organized by Georgetown University, with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, have been particularly valuable. I even set a goal of watching or rewatching recordings of the sessions to stay informed and motivated.

In addition, I discovered valuable programs offered at the county level, including the Montgomery County Virtual 50+ Employment Expo. Despite the name, the event is open and helpful to a much broader audience. Through this program, I have been able to attend training sessions and explore additional career pathways.

These experiences have also pushed me to explore entrepreneurship and franchising opportunities. Recently, I created a profile on Fiverr to begin exploring freelance work as another possible avenue.

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that simply sending resumes is not enough.

With thousands of applications submitted for many positions, recruiters are overwhelmed and competition is intense. On top of that, applicants must navigate automated screening systems (ATS), which can make it even harder to get noticed.

Going forward, I plan to focus much more aggressively on networking. I want to reconnect with people in my network and actively seek conversations, introductions, and advice.

Another priority will be continuing education. After six months out of the workforce, I am conscious of the gap on my resume. To address this, I plan to pursue additional training and certifications through programs such as Montgomery County workforce initiatives, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning.

I am also exploring volunteer opportunities, including with international organizations such as the United Nations, to remain professionally engaged while contributing to meaningful work.

Finally, I plan to more actively pursue freelancing, consulting, small business training through the Maryland Small Business Development Center, and franchising as potential alternative career paths.

The biggest lesson I have learned is the importance of perseverance—and organization.

Networking can feel uncomfortable, and many people may not respond. But persistence is essential. Ironically, I know that in the past I may not always have responded to similar requests myself.

Looking for a job is truly a full-time job—and yes, it sucks!

During this period, I have also realized how important it is to protect mental health.

For me, that means staying active and maintaining routines: using meditation apps such as Calm (which I need to renew since my previous subscription was offered through my former employer), going to the gym, getting the occasional massage, and staying connected with friends.

These small habits help maintain balance during what can be a very uncertain and stressful time.