I was laid off after 20 years at one company. It took me nearly a year to find a job — and it wasn't through a job board.

Michelle Keller, 59, took nearly one year after being laid off to get her first and only job offer. Michelle Keller Michelle Keller was laid off in April 2025 from a company she'd worked at for 20 years. She applied to dozens of jobs online with no success until a friend told her that her company was hiring. Keller likens looking for a job to the dating market and encourages others to be vocal about their job search. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michelle Keller, a 5...