I was laid off after 20 years at one company. It took me nearly a year to find a job — and it wasn't through a job board.

Michelle Keller, 59, was laid off in April 2025 after 20 years at a company and spent nearly a year searching for a job before receiving an offer through a friend's network. She accepted a billing clerk position at a commercial insurance agency, which required adjusting her caregiving responsibilities for her father with Alzheimer's.