The hardest part of being ISP'd was genuinely that I wouldn't get to see the people I got to know over a decade. I kept in touch with some that left on their own, pretty much all who I knew that also got ISP'd, and some that are still there. I know how they're doing, but I'm wondering how things turned out more generally. Maybe it'll be cathartic for us all?
I'll go first: I was in Tech and had been at Jones for coming up on 15 years. I tried really hard to stay and put in dozens of internal apps but at first I wouldn't apply to anything more than 2 pay grades under where I was. I still panicked and applied 3-4 levels down to some roles I actually had before under the same leaders I had when I was there but even then I didn't get any interviews at all. I had stellar reviews, great recommendations, thought I knew people, but got nowhere. I think leaders were instructed not to talk with ISP'ers... I couldn't even get my old leaders to respond to a "hi". I learned later that applications have to pass through HR before they ever see them, so I'm guessing the ones that knew me never actually saw my applications.
I didn't really apply to anything external at all, I was so sure I'd be staying... but it just didn't happen. I called multiple times to confirm if I reach my last day I'd still be able to see my open applications but then after my last day and a few days of mostly just shutting my brain off by sleeping, I logged in and none of the applications were there... I never heard anything about them again and when I called about it they just told me all of them were closed. Everyone on the phone was always really nice, and seemed like they were really upset that I was leaving or at least sad that Jones was doing this at all.
Well... I felt bad about it for a while, but now I realize applying externally earlier probably wouldn't have changed anything and I'm still looking for a new job. I'm applying just about anywhere local remote competitor or even Jones again but no luck. I keep a spreadsheet for my applications (anyone applying to jobs I really recommend it because you can keep track for unemployment benefits and keep notes about the company/role/if you can find the hiring manager's name to reach out to later/if you tried something new with your resume, anything helps! I also just like documentation and data, I mean... it was my job and I liked it lol) and I'm just about to cross the big 1000 applications. That's since August, so I average about 3 applications a day. I've only gotten 13 requests to interview but one cancelled and half of those I got at least a second interview with two of them getting to a fourth... About half of these never actually denied me, they just disappeared. The last one was about a month ago and they actually gave me an offer!! It was at half what I used to make but more than unemployment checks were and those ran out a while ago so I was jumping all over it!! Finally, something!! I accepted and we talked about start dates, then they never sent me any paperwork and after a few weeks I got a generic denial email from them...
I'm still applying like crazy to anything that fits and more thankful than ever for government assistance programs. P.S. is anyone else scared about the Medicaid changes?? I can't get ANY hours of work a month let alone 80! They let you include training and schooling in that so I'm exploring going for a second masters, keeping up the applications, and I'll either drop out if I find a job quickly or finish it really slowly if I manage to get pretty far in... I really don't want and can't afford more student loans though... I've thought about trades but I don't think my body can handle it... if it could I wouldn't be so scared of losing Medicaid. Thank God for Medicaid though!! They were so nice to me helping me sign up, and it's been the best and easiest insurance I've ever had! I've not missed any meds due to "prior authorization" approvals like I did with Anthem and haven't had to argue with anyone over whether something should be covered. By now I'd already have spent my whole deductible with Anthem but they've covered everything!
I always thought with my history I'd be tripping over offers... But I only have a 1% success rate of getting at least to the first interview. Trimester and annual reviews that "exceed expectations" and a reputation for being really good at what you do, don't help you at all externally... And you're not allowed to give direct references either, you can only give the generic line that confirms you worked there and are eligible for rehire... If you guys have any tricks that worked for you please let me know!! I tailor my resume for every application. I've tried removing the year from my degree and certifications, removing old jobs or roles, talking about accomplishments more than duties, I refused to embellish at first but I've come around on that... I've tried using AI a bunch of ways like hitting keywords and hiding instructions (none of the AI touched resumes ever did anything and I felt dirty trying that...) but also just trying to give advice on what to change and then rewriting it myself and I've spent hours with one doing interview prep to get a consistent "S" rating. One of my friends who was ISP'd too started a website business so I asked him to make me a little professional one and a couple interviews mentioned things that were only there so I feel like that helped a lot. I had to buy the domain for that so I registered a professional email address with my name too. I've tried messaging hiring managers and contacts, and trying to follow up on applications. I've tried showing up in person to talk with a manager and apply (It was really embarrassing, it felt like they were laughing at me for trying this) or just follow up on an application. Tried being honest in the little checkbox disclosure about disability, and "lying" by not checking it. I've gone to job fairs and even practiced my handshake (lol)... Maybe I'm invisible or there's a weird quirk in most systems that marks me NULL or something.
Anyway... hoping everyone else has had some better luck than I have. It'd be great if I was an outlier and you all did better, but if I'm not I don't know how anyone's getting by these days...