I've applied for nearly 200 jobs and can't get hired. I always thought I could fall back on a 'bridge job' stocking shelves — I was wrong.

• Giovanna Ventola was laid off for the third time in three years in November 2023.
• After struggling to find another corporate job, she tried to land a "bridge job" in the meantime.
• She always thought she could fall back on a bridge job but has been met with rejection or silence.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Giovanna Ventola, a 34-year-old job seeker in South Carolina. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I was laid off three times in three years in the real-estate industry, most recently in November 2023.