After 25 years of building a successful career and steadily climbing the corporate ladder, one father never imagined he would be in this position: unemployed for more than a year, facing rejection after rejection, and watching the stress spill over into his home life.
In the last 15 months, he has submitted over 1,500 job applications — yet he remains without work. While the professional toll has been enormous, the personal impact has been even more devastating, especially on his wife and children.
From Career Growth to Sudden Collapse
Just a few years ago, things looked promising. He joined his last company as a director of product, and within months he was promoted to vice president of product. But soon after, the business faltered. Despite layoffs that cut nearly the entire staff, he stayed on to help the company survive, pushing through the challenges with determination.
Eventually, it became clear the startup would not recover. He resigned, turning his attention to the future. He saw promise in artificial intelligence, an area he had explored over the years, and believed combining that knowledge with his product experience would open new doors.
Instead, it marked the beginning of a long and grueling chapter.
1,500 Applications, Countless Rejections
Over the next year, he applied to more than 1,500 roles — but always carefully, targeting jobs he believed were the right fit. Even so, he found himself lost in the flood of applicants.
“You find a role that’s perfect for you, posted just three days ago, and it already says 1,000 applicants,” he explained. “I submit my résumé and reach out to the hiring manager on LinkedIn, but more often than not, I never hear back.”
The silence became routine. The disappointment, constant. He applied everywhere — even for hourly roles at Home Depot and Lowe’s — but couldn’t get a callback.
“I’d shovel manure for 20 years if it meant I could support my family,” he said. “Right now, I just need to pull in income so my wife doesn’t have to work two jobs.”
A Glimmer of Hope, Then Heartbreak
At one point, it seemed like things were turning around. Through a personal contact, he landed conversations with a startup that felt like the perfect fit. They even gave him a project to work on, which he tackled enthusiastically. After several calls, his contact told him they were going to bring him on board.
The news left him overwhelmed with relief.
“When I got off the video call, I broke down in tears,” he said. “It felt like a dream come true. I was ready to do anything for them.”
But the joy didn’t last. Days later, the company pulled back, saying the role needed to be based locally. “I went from tears of joy to tears of devastation,” he said. “It was like Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown.”
The Toll on His Family
For him, the hardest part hasn’t been the rejection — it’s the impact on his kids.
He recalls when his daughter used to come home from school and ask, “Daddy, did you find a job?” Over time, she stopped asking because she already knew the answer.
“That silence haunts me,” he admitted.
Months later, while monitoring her tablet, he found a phrase she had typed in: “How do I make my dad happy?”
The discovery shattered him. “Even my younger children sense the strain. They pick up on my nonverbal cues. They see me working every day, but I know they feel bad for me.”
Staying Strong Through the Gut Punch
Despite the setbacks, he refuses to give up.
“I’ve spent 25 years climbing the corporate ladder only to be in this position. It’s a gut punch,” he said. “But I can’t wallow in pity. My family needs me. I have to keep my head high, believe in myself, and push forward.”
The long and frustrating job search has humbled him, but it has also reshaped how he sees himself. “This whole process has helped me deconstruct my ego,” he said. “It’s made me realize I want to be the kind of leader and father who grows from this experience.”
Even now, with emotions running high, he insists he will find the right opportunity. “I know I’m going to be a unicorn. I feel it in my bones. My kids see I’m putting in the work, and I want them to see that perseverance matters.”
Final Thoughts
The story of one father’s 1,500 job applications is a stark reminder of how today’s job market tests not only professional resilience but also personal strength. Behind every résumé is a family hoping for stability, children hoping for a sense of normalcy, and a spouse carrying an extra load.
For this father, the fight continues — not just for a job, but for his family’s future and for the hope that his children will one day see their dad happy again.
