What it's like to find a job today

JOB HUNTING 101: When 26-year-old Skyler Aikerson got laid off from her media job in February of this year, she thought she would have a similar experience as the last time she was in-between jobs. What awaited her, however, was a much more frustrating process. Over the last three months, Aikerson has spent five to 10 hours a day combing through job postings across every available platform and filling out countless applications. When she isn't glued to her computer, she's attending networking events and scheduling coffees with potential contacts.?So far, her efforts have led to only few responses from recruiters and even fewer interviews.??

"The market is really strange right now," Aikerson says. "It seems like every week I'm hearing about another friend that has gotten laid off, but I also know people who are being turned down for opportunities they're qualified and even overqualified for — it's discouraging."

Aikerson shared more about her experience and how she's maintaining her well-being on the job hunt:?'Trying to stay human': A look into what it takes to land a job

PRO TIPS FROM THE C-SUITE: Employees often aspire to reach the C-suite on their career journeys, but getting to the top isn't always as easy as it looks.?For leaders at 沃尔玛 , Lyft , DailyPay, Inc. and more, their career paths have been far from a straight line, filled with challenges, career changes and some tough lessons along the way. While learning how to lead comes with a few growing pains, these leaders prove that the right mindset can lead to success.??

Read more about the career paths of these top HR execs: How I got this job: Leaders from the C-suite share their secrets

A SECOND CHANCE: Five years ago, Amber Lucky was 28 years old, pregnant with her first daughter and homeless. Today, Lucky lives with her two daughters in a townhome and has started her career as a property manager, all while working through the death of her husband and her struggle with substance abuse. It took a village's worth of resources — in Lucky's case, the support of Father Joe's Villages , a homeless center based in San Diego that provides everything from healthcare and child care to housing, education and employment programs.?

"I had to put in the work, and I did work really hard, but the resources I had made it possible," says Lucky. "It's amazing the doors it opens. It's like a movie. I never thought I would be a property manager, and now I can provide a beautiful home for my children."

Read more about Lucy's journey and the support her family received along the way: How this organization is setting homeless moms up for professional success