This story is based on a conversation with Jim Herrington, 62, from Suffolk, England. Edited for length and clarity.
When I was laid off from my electronics marketing job in 2024 because my company downsized, what I never expected was that I would end up applying to 900 jobs before I ended up getting a new job.
I poured everything I had into job hunting. I created personalized resumes, cover letters, and even presentations for individual roles without using AI, contacted employers directly, and even attended physical events to meet new contacts.
my confidence was crushed
I treated every day like a work day. Often at 8 a.m., I searched job sites and methodically selected jobs to apply to based on relevance, industry, and location. I even sent my resume to a trusted colleague for feedback and revisions. I also professed that I was happy to commute to an office that was up to an hour away from where I lived. Early in my career, I drove thousands of miles a year to work.
Throughout this process, my motivation and confidence took a huge hit, especially due to the frustration of conflicting feedback. Some bosses wanted experience in their industry, while others welcomed people from other fields. Some accepted the position of senior marketer, but others said I was overqualified.
The feedback I often received was, “This job would be boring,'' but given my age, I think they were trying to say that people thought I was too old, rather than recognizing my 40+ years of experience, awards, and teaching work.
I don't think AI will help people find jobs.
While AI may be helping companies streamline their hiring processes, I believe it is actually causing more problems. In order to pass an AI screening test, it seems that having all the right buzzwords in your resume and cover letter is more important than whether or not someone is actually a good fit.
Some companies are now starting to implement AI video interviews, but that only increases mistrust and hurts employers' reputations among candidates. Because if a company doesn't have the time or courtesy to talk to me, I'm simply not interested.
There are many things that AI cannot experience during interviews. To me, that shows a total lack of respect for candidates who have put in the time and effort to apply.
But the problem is more complex than just a tough market or lazy applicants using AI. In my experience, many employers lack clarity on what they are looking for.
Not listing salary is useless
It's very difficult if they don't list exactly what they're looking for. If you want the experience, you need to say it. If you're looking for someone who can bring fresh ideas and new approaches, they need to say that. It is not helpful, especially if the salary is not listed.
Instead of applying to 900 jobs, you could have applied to 100. If we had 800 job openings, we would have known we were wasting a lot of effort. Because I knew very well that I was overqualified for most of the jobs. However, many job specifications were poorly written and did not show everything they were looking for.
Finally, in December 2024, I was appointed Marketing Director for Omega Diagnostics, a health testing company. They called me the day after I applied and said, “Hey, you have a great resume. Would you like to talk to me?”
After applying to 900 jobs, you start to question yourself and think, “Am I really that good?” and increase resilience.
For them, my seniority was a huge advantage, but they also valued the fact that I had been successful in other industries and could bring a fresh perspective.
So it worked out in the end. The pay is also good. It's a relatively local place. It is a dynamic and rapidly changing industry. It's an industry that actually has a positive impact on people's lives. I really enjoy being able to personally recommend things that I work on that make a difference.
