Seeking employment

[TalenaGor]

I hope I am allowed to do this here but times are getting desperate....

I am a Human Resources professional with over 20 years experience, the last 12 in management and leadership. I was previously employed at a clean label food product development consultancy as the Director of HR earning a 6 figure income. In Nov clients stopped signing new contracts..like STOPPED. (Tarriffs?) and 1/3 of us were laid off the day before thanksgiving. I have applied for hundreds of jobs in HR Leadership roles, using all sorts of methods such as agencies, AI auto submissions, networking, etc etc etc, I paid to have my resume rewritten, modified it for AI, customized for each employer, have a letter of recommendation, obtained another certification (CODP - Certified Organizational Development Practitioner) - I have my PHR and SHRM-CP as well as many other random HR related certifications. I am looking for minimum 140k/yr Director level or above.

For hundreds of applications, I have had 2 phone screens. I am now terrified...I only have 3 months of unemployment left. Before I was laid off we had just launched my husbands marine repair company on Oct 1 - its going great but its only breaking even at this point - I have only been able to pay us $500 in 2025 - we spent a lot of money to set his business up - having no idea I was about to be laid off after 3 years there.

I have depleted my savings incl 401k and on Monday I am going to see what my mortgage company can do to help....unemployment cant sustain us at all...

In 2008 I lost everything - all savings, job, marriage, house, credit score etc and wound up renting a tiny room to avoid actual homelessness - I have spent my life since then building back everything I lost - and here I am again. I'm 56 and just cannot imagine going through all that again.

Now all the gov't layoffs - that ripples throughout so many other industries, affecting any related companies....I hear the FDA is on the chopping block now...The job market is being flooded by these layoffs...and its going to get worse....

if any of you happen to know of something I may be a good fit for, please reach out - I would like to work with like-minded people - I will happily send along my resume and love you forever

[jmbar2]

1. I am anguished over what these layoffs are doing to people

I went through 2008 as well as a training professional and remember the terror.

I have no suggestions but feel deeply for your situation. I'm not religious, but sending prayers for you, good energy, or whatever. You didn't deserve this.

[TalenaGor]

2. Thank you! Its comforting to know others understand

[TalenaGor]

3. Thank you - hoping I'll work it out but ugh its scary...need extra lexapro lol

[jmbar2]

4. Better stock up before Secretary Brainworm bans SSRIs

When I was in your situation, I eventually lost my house. Thinking back on it, I wish that I had gotten a roommate early in the process or rented it out. It was my whole retirement plan. But it was an old house, needing lots of repairs that I couldn't afford, so had to let go.

I ended up moving from Houston to Oregon because Oregon had better weather and state health insurance. I've never fully recovered from it financially, but Oregon is kinder on old folks than Houston.

I've been learning to daytrade to make up for the lost retirement. I've made every mistake in the book, but still plugging away at it. Just a thought...

Write if you need/want to.

[TalenaGor]

5. ugh ikr