This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Maggie Bodner, a 28-year-old employee at Spirit Halloween, based in the Fort Lauderdale area. Her identity and employment have been verified by Business Insider. This story has been edited for length and clarity.
I was laid off in June and started to apply for jobs like crazy.
When people say the job market is tough, the job market is tough . It’s especially challenging if you do something really specific, like learning and development. It’s just rejection email after rejection email, and some of them come in an hour after I applied.
In July, my boyfriend asked me if there was anything I’ve…
