Employee gets laid off after 10 years, so he starts applying to thousands of jobs, even finishing the interview process in one with flying colors: 'But then I got the email today that they decided to go in a different direction.'

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Jul 19, 2026 1:00 PM EDT

Going through an extensive interview process just to get rejected after all. That sounds like poor planning on the company's recruitment team's part. 

Interviews can be awful and stressful, but the complete interview process, well, that's just lunacy. You're going to 3 or 4 rounds of interviews with different recruiters that expect different things from you. You take tests, start to study your future job, spend weeks, all just to discover they end up hiring someone internally. How is that possible? Does the recruitment team just like to torture unemployed people seeking a stable job? Is the company trying to justify the salary of the recruiters? Are they just pretending they are hiring so the company seems to be growing? I just think it proves that these people don't care at all about their candidates or future employees. 

Everything was easier before, without job-looking platforms and elevated tests. Before, you just went directly to the company to leave your resume, or just checked which companies were hiring from the newspaper. One interview or even none, and they call you to tell you that you got the job or not, easy peasy. When I read stories like this one with people being so frustrated about the job market, I think that maybe the industry is wrong. There is some big change we need to be doing, going a little bit back to the basics. Not forcing unemployed people onto a several-week trial. 

Maybe there is a reason for things to work like this, but, from my perspective, this doesn't seem fair. It seems like a manipulative scheme that makes you believe that you got a job when you didn't. Is unfair, and it dehumanizes the candidates who are putting so much effort just to get a chance to get a job position.



 

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  • 01
    Long story short, I was laid off at the beginning of May after nearly 10 years with the same company. That alone was devastating enough, but the job search has been absolutely brutal. There's just nothing out there, and for the few jobs that I've found, there's been so many other people applying. I've been religiously applying to just about anything that matches my skill set, and I finally managed
    via Al115
  • 02
    A typewriter with a job application in it, model image.
    via Markus Winkler

    A typewriter with a job application in it, model image. 

  • 03
    to land an interview for a role that was nearly identical to what I'd been doing. Went through the complete interview process (3 interviews) as well as a work assessment over the course of 1 1/2 months. Received nothing but glowing feedback from everyone I spoke and was overall just really excited at the prospect of joining this team. Really thought I had it in the bag. But then I got the email today
    via Al115
  • 04
    that they decided to go in a different direction. So here I am with jut 2 weeks left of unemployment after this week and absolutely no job prospects. I truly don't think I've ever felt more devastated or defeated. My only option now is to resort to retail as I attempt to figure out my next steps and continue applying to jobs, which means I'll be living paycheck to paycheck. And resorting back to retail after I
    via Al115
  • 05
    worked so hard to get out of retail just feels like I've completely failed myself. I'm just embarrassed and defeated and so exhausted, and nobody I've talked to really seems to get that. They're all "this is just a bump in the road" and "everything will work out," and hearing that just makes me so angry. Idk. I'm just ranting because I feel like nobody I know understands what this feels like right now. And I just feel completely lost.
    via Al115
  • 06
    Capable-Entrance-533 This job market is absolutely insane (I totally agree with you). Keep fighting the great fight! Something else will come up for you soon, just keep applying, networking and asking for referrals. A lot of times these companies already have an internal candidate in place and they still make other people apply just to shut them down. It's no reflection on you.
    via Al115
  • 07
    An interview with a candidate and two recruiters.
    via Walls.io

    An interview with a candidate and two recruiters. 

    Representation. 

  • 08
    External_Goat_4512 I understand how you feel, and how bad this job market is. I can't offer any advice - nothing seems to make any difference - but I can offer consolation that it's not just you.
    via Al115
  • 09
    Moist-Response-5685 I am so sorry this happened to you. This happened to me recently except I didn't even get a rejection notification. They simply ghosted me. And I was the only person who applied with any industry experience.
    via Al115
  • 10
    alpha-sheep I get you and I'm sorry you're going through this right now. It's not ideal..going back to retail isn't what you want but it's temporary to keep you afloat. It's a wise decision. Let the interviews, your performance/training build you up and your confidence. You were stellar at it. Let that define you and not the fact that they decided to go a different direction ok? I know it's easier said than done. I'm
    via Al115
  • 11
    in a rough spot myself and rebuilding from scratch. You could possibly look at teaching jobs or aide jobs at schools. The school seasons ramping up so they're looking for aides asap and generally entry level friendly. A lot of Catholic schools will hire and no you don't have to be Catholic. Don't give up.
    via Al115
  • 12
    Eton Rd I understand how you feel, I've been there. Your feelings are valid. It's very scary out there. That said, while I understand doing a stint back in retail is a dim prospect, it does give you the ability to earn some money while you're looking. Potential employers will actually like if you're working, and you can very cheerfully say interviews that you're working retail because you wanted to keep busy while you're looking for
    via Al115
  • 13
    the right opportunity. Some employers get a real bug up their a if you're not working. They think it translates to you sitting around watching TV and eating Doritos all day. You can put a good spin on this for potential employers. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. I know many smart, hard- working people who have been laid off over the course of their careers. What you're hearing from the people
    via Al115
  • 14
    around you with "everything will work out" is toxic positivity. They don't know how to deal with the reality that you are suffering, because they can't fix it. They don't know how to just say "I'm sorry you're going through this."
    via Al115
  • 15
    MamaMiaXOX I'm so sorry this happened to you. I know how it feels. It's happened to me, as well. They act like you are in, say things that make you believe that you're in, and then the rug is pulled out from under you. It s ks. I don't know what kind of job you're looking for but can you take a local job? Or look for a temporary job? Or contracted job? Some of these may be options you didn't look into because you thought you'd be working by now( been there, done that).
    via Al115
  • 16
    According-Tackle-266 I'm 60 and have been through some hellish situations at jobs. I've been at this one for 23 years and I'm getting laid off in September because I'm not in the right coast to matter. I've saved them from many bad situations and even managed to make them look good in the process. But I can tell you this. I'm leaving with my head held high and I will somehow make it. I don't know what the new job will look like or where it
    via Al115
  • 17
    will be, but I will be ok. You are very fortunate you can go into a different field and so can I and therefore I'm feeling ok and yes my anxiety can be overwhelming but again those are just bad moments. So keep looking forward, you will be ok. Big virtual hug. I'm sorry about the rough time, but I know you will still be ok.
    via Al115
  • 18
    Beautiful_Menu_9935 I get why the "everything happens for a reason" stuff is making you angry. You invested six weeks, got encouraging feedback, and were close enough to picture your life stabilizing again. Taking a retail job to keep money coming in would not erase the decade of experience you built or mean you failed. It would be a bridge while you keep looking, even if it feels deeply unfair that you need one.
    via Al115

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