This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Elizabeth Davis, a 59-year-old based outside D.C., who previously worked in communications. Her identity and application count have been verified by Business Insider. This story has been edited for length and clarity. Just over a year ago, I was laid off from Broadcom . I did internal communications and employee engagement, and it was a total dream job. I started looking for a role in October 2024, and I've come close a number of times. But