I struggled to find a job after taking the federal buyout last year. I had to expand my search nationwide to land my next role.

"My 2025 was dominated by the tough decision to leave my job with the federal government in February. After signing the paperwork and moving on, I began thinking about what was next. I enjoyed some time off and dipped my toes back into the job market. I took occasional recruiter calls and experimented with freelance writing while spending time in Mexico City and Rio."

"Suddenly, headlines about a softening job market began to stack up. A year later, many of those same concerns still dominate the conversation. As coverage of layoffs, hiring freezes, and longer job searches became more common, I put my foot on the accelerator. I now work as a compensation analyst in the tech sector, but I had to expand my search to find this job."

"What proved far more difficult was the uncertainty behind it all. I couldn't tell which signals mattered. Was the job market softening because of tariffs? Because of AI? Were we heading toward a recession? Was white-collar work itself undergoing a more permanent shift? Was a referral the only way to get a job? I wasn't sure what information to anchor"

Jide Adebowale left his federal government job in February 2025 after accepting a buyout and spent time off and freelancing while living in Mexico City and Rio. As headlines about a softening job market, layoffs, and hiring freezes increased, he intensified his search. He faced recruiter ghosting, canceled interviews, and opaque signals around tariffs, AI, and recession risk. Traditional strategies like patience, networking, and resilience informed his approach, but local opportunities in New York were scarce. Expanding his search nationally allowed geographic mobility, which enabled a move to Washington, D.C., and a new role as a compensation analyst in tech.

Read at Business Insider