Man, I really just don't know what to do anymore.
I have been in the job market for seven months now after being laid off and feel like I am just at a loss on where to go from here. I've interviewed for 16 different positions (20 if you count recruiters reaching out to me), made it to the hiring manager or further 6 times, and no offers yet. I'm technically still alive for a position now, the initial feedback was very good, but I just feel this dread that no matter what I do or how hard I try, it'll end up in rejection again.
I went to the third round for a position I really, really wanted last week -- the best one I've interviewed for yet -- and was edged out by someone yet again. I put my heart and soul into this one... I researched the company, watched videos of the leaders I'd be supporting, developed strong responses to questions, did AI practice interviews on Yoodli, etc. I recorded the interviews on my phone and had AI rate my performance, and it rated them positively.
The interviews are usually full of compliments about my work and my experience. I'm professional, personable, and usually get the interviewers smiling and nodding. I even met with a colleague from HR from my old job who has done "thousands of interviews" and she thought I came across very well in our mock session.
For this last one, the hiring manager mentioned wanting someone with a creative approach to communications. I really, really wanted this one so I came up a package of creative concepts, leveraging my graphic design skillset to demonstrate communication skills beyond just writing. I was really trying to position myself as the "ultimate candidate". And still, despite dozens of hours of work... once again, they are "moving forward with someone else".
Meanwhile, I'm left with no way of knowing what went wrong or why the other candidate was deemed a "better fit" than me. It's happened enough times that I know there's something off but I have done everything possible to check and improve what I'm doing outside of hiring an expensive career coach.
Sorry to dump this all on you guys but I just got the rejection note an hour or two ago. I'm just so burned out on this. I feel heartbroken and despondent. I have a wife and two kids who are counting on me and I'm not sure what I'm going to do to break through. I am wondering if I need to throw away my "great experience" in internal communications and find another line of work.
I just don't know where to go from here.