See for yourself

When people ask me what I am doing next I don’t know how to answer the question. I want to do a million things but I am still trying to get a feel for the market. I mean - have you been looking around. I have not seen a market like this for a long time. Combined with recent layoffs this just ads to the confusion. If you’re looking for a job right now, you don’t need me to tell you how brutal it feels.

Every rejection.
Every ghosted email.
Every LinkedIn post announcing “So excited to share I got a new job!” while you’re still waiting on a company to respond.

This isn’t just you. It’s all of us. And you have to stay sane.

Right now, active job seekers in the U.S. report feeling less confident than ever.
The economy is sending mixed signals.
Companies are laying off and hiring at the same time.
Salaries are stagnant, but job postings are everywhere.

It doesn’t make sense.

And if you feel like you’re spiraling it is because you probably are.

Honestly? I thought about renaming My Uncertainty Era to My REALLY, REALLY Uncertainty Era.

But that’s not just a joke.

I’ve spent weeks researching John Vervaeke and the meaning crisis (AKA why so many of us feel lost, disconnected, and anxious about work.)

And I found some answers.

Vervaeke, a cognitive scientist and researcher, studies why people feel lost in modern work and life. His research explains why job loss, or even just being unhappy at work can trigger an identity crisis.

And if you stay in this loop too long? Your brain shifts into scarcity mode.

You get anxious.
You lower your expectations.
You settle for whatever comes first, even if it’s worse than where you started.

But here’s the truth:

The real problem isn’t your resume.
It’s not your network.
It’s not even the job market.

It’s the way we’ve been conditioned to think about work, success, and meaning.

It’s time to reset.

A new job doesn’t always equal a fresh start.

If you don’t fix your relationship with work, you’ll keep ending up in jobs that drain you.

That’s why we’re focusing on three things:

Let’s break it down.

The job search process is designed to make you feel powerless.

❌ Companies make you wait.
❌ Recruiters ghost you.
❌ Decision-makers drag out hiring for months.

But there are gifts in the search.

Action step: Flip the script.
Write out your criteria for the job you want. What kind of leader do you want? What kind of work excites you? If a company doesn’t match your standards, they don’t deserve you. Even if you had to take the job out of necessity. Keep looking.

Most people spend hours applying to jobs they don’t even want.
Every rejection makes them feel worse.

You need to shift from passive to active.

The best jobs never make it to job boards. They go to people who already positioned themselves as valuable before a role even opened.

Start sharing your expertise. Even one LinkedIn post a week can make a difference. Even just a response! Follow me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackyeclayton

Build something - ANYTHING. A project, a blog, a portfolio. Start a YouTube channel! Show, don’t just tell.

Reach out with value, not desperation. Instead of asking for a job, start a conversation. Build a connection. Offer value, be open to receiving value. And write down the value you have found.

Action step: Audit your online presence.
If a hiring manager Googles you, what do they find? If the answer is your prom picture from your last High School reunion, it’s time to change that.

If you’re job hunting alone, you’re doing it wrong.

Most people land jobs through weak ties. Not close friends, but acquaintances and new connections.

But here’s the problem:
Most job seekers only reach out when they need something.

The real key? Ongoing support, strategy, and community.

Which brings me to…

I started a thing. (So Excited!!!)

And it’s already changing lives!

🔹 What it is: A biweekly, subscriber-only space for people in career flux.
💻 What we do: Show up, co-work, vent, share job leads, and actually support each other.
⏳ When: Every other Wednesday at 12 PM CT
📅 First Session: Wednesday, March 12
📍 Where? GoBrunch (It’s free & easy. No, really. A link will be sent after to sign up!)

Because job searches expose who’s really in your corner.

Some people disappear the second your job title changes.
Some stab you in the back.
Some stab you right in the face.

But the right people? They show up.
And that’s what The Reset Room is about.

Only my newsletter subscribers get in.

Step 1: Subscribe → jackyes-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Step 2: Sign up for The Reset Room → https://forms.gle/76U6A5T8ytk6qLRr6
(A Link will be emailed to you!)

Already subscribed? Just fill out the form, and I’ll send the details. Feel Free to forward to others looking for a new opportunity.

Come as you are.
Camera on, camera off, doesn’t matter.
Just don’t do this alone. We’ll figure it out together.

I want you to land a great job. But I also want you to land in a career that actually works for you.

One that gives you options.
One that gives you control.
One that you don’t have to escape from in 12 months.

I’m researching and building systems to change the future of work so we can find meaningful work in a safe environment.
📩 Subscribe. Show up.

– Jackye