This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michele Wilke, a 63-year-old job seeker in Chicago. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Over the past eight months, I applied to dozens of jobs and landed some interviews, but I struggled to find work. To stay afloat, I relied on loans from well-off friends and launched a GoFundMe to help me pay my rent.
I have less than $2,000 in my bank account, I’ve been struggling to pay the roughly $1,000 rent for my studio apartment, and I’ve worried about being evicted.
I recently received a job offer for a catering sales manager role that I’m hoping doesn’t fall through. But even with a job, it’ll take a lot to climb out of my financial hole.
I applied for everything — and still couldn’t get hired
Since 2020, I’ve been either unemployed or underemployed, which has taken a toll on my finances. My most recent role ended in December 2024. When I began my job search, I applied to jobs in four areas I knew well — HR, restaurant management, event and catering sales, and admin work.
Since 2020, I’ve been either unemployed or underemployed, which has taken a toll on my finances. When I began my job search, I applied to jobs in four areas I knew well — HR, restaurant management, event and catering sales, and admin work.
But as the months dragged on, I expanded my search to include dog walking, house cleaning, florist shops, house manager roles, and delivery driving. I even went door-to-door in my neighborhood, handing out résumés at cafés and restaurants.
I’ve also applied to more junior-level jobs, but interviewers often expressed concern that I was overqualified or that I’d get bored — even though I was willing to do the work. I just needed a steady paycheck.
To try to stand out, I began refining my résumé format over time. I included a brief reason for leaving each job and listed the revenue of my past employers to give a sense of scale — details recruiters have said they appreciate.
I also shifted my strategy from sending a few tailored applications to applying more widely. While my approach landed me interviews, it didn’t seem to do much to help me secure employment.
I launched a GoFundMe and borrowed money from friends
I’ve been fortunate to receive some financial support to help keep me afloat. In July, I launched a GoFundMe titled “Help Michele stay housed after job loss” that raised nearly $3,000. One of my friends told me that a GoFundMe had helped him pay rent, so he created the campaign for me.
Several generous friends have also loaned me money in recent years and told me I can pay them back whenever I can. Another friend and I arranged a work trade; in exchange for several thousand dollars’ worth of financial help, I cat-sit for him when he travels, cook for him once a week, and clean his home twice a month.
Over the past few years, the money from my friends has gone toward expenses related to food, rent, gas, a dentist appointment, a car oil change, and public transportation. Altogether, I owe more than $20,000 in personal debt, in addition to over $20,000 in credit card and bank loan debt.
I stretch every dollar to try to conserve money. I shop at Aldi, cook all my meals at home, and don’t buy anything non-essential. I rarely use my car, have cut back significantly on air conditioning, and don’t travel. I live a few blocks from Lake Michigan, and going there is the closest thing I have to a vacation these days.
The financial support I’ve received so far has helped, but I don’t expect any more.
I want to pay off my debt and have a fresh start
The longer unemployment went on, the harder it got. I was doing everything I could to stay afloat.
I applied for the catering sales manager role through Indeed, and after several interviews, I got the offer. I’m not sure why this one worked out when so many others didn’t, but it aligns well with my past experience, so I feel ready for it.
My goal is to make some money and pay off my debt. I want a fresh start.
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