- Sarah Cate Patten has struggled to find a new job after being laid off in February 2024.
- Patten has applied for over 100 jobs, facing lengthy and unclear interview processes.
- She criticizes the job market's reliance on rigid systems and lack of meaningful feedback.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sarah Cate Patten, a 37-year-old digital marketing professional in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It has been edited for length and clarity.
It's been a year and a half since I was laid off from my marketing job, and I'm still looking for a new one. To say that the current job market demotivates you and leaves you hopeless would be an understatement.
I worked for a personal development company for nearly two years before I was told I was getting laid off in February 2024. I saw it coming. The founder hired someone new, and responsibilities kept being taken off my plate and put on theirs.
While looking for my next role, I'm freelancing and making just enough to get by.
I've applied for more than 100 jobs
I have experience in both operations and administration, but digital marketing has been my main area of focus in recent years. I've been applying for all sorts of positions — operations, project management, and other roles like copywriting.
Out of my 100 applications, I've sat through more than 30 job interviews that included both paid and unpaid assessments. I'm grateful that at least 1/3rd of the companies apprised me of their final decision.
What irks me about interviews is companies not being upfront about their process
Is the interview process going to be two rounds or four? I understand that larger companies might need to go through more than a couple of rounds. For smaller businesses, more than three is unnecessary.
I agree that when you reject someone based on an initial email application, sending them a generic message seems realistic, but meaningful feedback is crucial, especially if a potential employee makes it to the final round. It's disheartening and misleading to go through several rounds, commit hours to assignments and interviews, and get turned down without receiving substantial feedback.
I've experimented with every résumé tool available in the hopes of passing the applicant tracking system (ATS)
I frequently receive an automatic response within a few hours, even after taking a very calculated approach. Asking candidates to create an ATS-proof résumé when it's going to be rejected swiftly seems pointless. Gauging your fit based on parameters that are too rigid, rather than the actual skills, is where it's going wrong.
You sometimes also get a form that asks you to fill in your personality type and other details. While I understand that companies want to determine a candidate's fit, questions like which animal I would be, the last podcast I listened to, or the latest book I read don't truly indicate my ability to perform the job well.
Even if I match a desired personality type based on these tests, it doesn't guarantee that I and the company will be well-suited for each other or that I'll excel in my role.
Unpaid tests that are quick and appropriate are acceptable to me
I know some people don't like them, and to each their own. What makes them unfair is when a company sneakily asks candidates to work on something that's part of the literal role in order to receive services without having to pay for it. In that case, it's not an assessment; it's free labour. Paid tests are a better alternative during the later stages of a job interview.
Many times, I've encountered scenarios where companies send assignments without coherent and thorough guidelines and instructions. Asking for clarification has often led to them assuming my lack of comprehension and competence. I've also received responses like "we'll not be answering any questions" from companies when I wanted to resolve my doubts.
Expecting people to be 100% passionate about the role they're applying for and a company's mission is unreasonable
I agree it's the cherry on top when you can align with everything a brand does or says, but let's be real: We're all looking for jobs to meet our financial needs. Candidates don't need to look excited or prove their undying commitment to a company's mission. It's the employer's responsibility to judge if our skills and experience correspond with the requirements of the position and organization.
"Where do you see yourself in five years?" Even the people asking wouldn't know for sure where they're going to be after five years. We don't need to ask these questions — you may hear a perfect response, but it doesn't mean you'll get your ideal employee.
I value any chance given to showcase my skills because I have a wide variety of experiences without a college degree. In my humble opinion, the only valuable criterion is allowing candidates to demonstrate their abilities and whether they can perform the tasks required for the position they are filling.
There are many more facets of this industry that require changes
It's 2025, and organizations need to state what salary they're willing to offer. I don't apply when there's not even a pay range mentioned, and I'm not open to taking a pay cut from my last role.
People at the top of the funnel also need to not be a "this or that" person. "Use this tool for your résumé, use these keywords in your résumé, say this during the interview, don't come off too desperate, be highly enthusiastic."
What one person or company prefers, the next company may loathe. Instead of expecting perfectionism from candidates, it would work better to assess them based on the skills that a particular job demands.
I've taken a few breaks during my job search
I've taken breaks that sometimes last a month, as job hunting is exhausting and demoralizing. My husband underwent surgery after an injury, so I had to care for him and our son.
From what I've experienced and noticed, it's going to get worse. The interview process was already impersonal and way more demanding than it seemed. Many of us don't need a dream job but just stability.
It's taken 18 months and some really close calls on income, but I've landed in a place where I'm making enough, though I'm not making what I was at my full-time job. I'll keep freelancing until I land something new.
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