After being made redundant three times, Giovanna Ventola says she’s “cracked the code” to applying for jobs without burning out – and it’s all about timing.
Giovanna Ventola knows the sting of redundancy all too well.
The 30-something, based in Charleston, US, has been laid off three times in just three years – most recently in November 2023.
“I’ve applied to more than 180 corporate jobs [since November], which led to six interviews, but none progressed to the final round or resulted in a job offer,” she told Hype Daily. “This is by far the most brutal job market I’ve experienced.”
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A woman who was laid off three times over the space of three years has shared her “genius” tip for efficiently searching for jobs – saying she has “cracked the code”.
Giovanna Ventola was crushed when her last job made her redundant in November 2023 – following a rough handful of years in which she was also let go from two other companies.
Determined to break out of the vicious cycle, she started seeking advice on how best to break through the masses of job applications and stand out – all while not breaking down from the effort.
Having previously worked in commercial real estate development, Giovanna’s career was repeatedly knocked sideways by Covid and other external factors.
Each time she lost her job, it took months to secure the next role – and now, despite even applying for stop-gap retail or restaurant gigs, she’s had “no success.”
But after speaking with a recruiter during a group call for jobseekers, Giovanna discovered a surprisingly simple hack to make job hunting more efficient – and it’s since gone viral on her TikTok, racking up over two million views.
The recruiter explained that many companies post vacancies on Mondays, review applications on Tuesdays, and begin scheduling interviews mid-week.
By Friday, they may even re-list the job if they’re not satisfied with the pool of candidates.
So Giovanna now does all her job applications on Mondays, then steps away midweek to avoid burnout. If nothing lands, she tries again on Friday.
“I have not heard such tangible advice in the three layoffs and three years that I’ve been going through this,” she said. “We just cracked some code of scheduling and managing our own calendar.”
For Giovanna, this structure has been a lifeline for both productivity and mental health.
“When you can manage your own calendar and your time, and you feel like you’re doing real work and you’re productive, your mental health just goes up,” she said. “This is genius.”
Out of her own struggles, Giovanna also founded Rhize – a fast-growing online community with 2,000 active members, designed as a safe space for unemployed people to share their experiences and network.
“In my desperate attempt to grow my professional network, I accidentally started a new company that can really change how people navigate their careers,” she explained.
“Although I’m technically still unemployed, I never imagined that my layoffs would lead me to start a company like Rhize. If I can help even one person land their dream job, discover their purpose, or provide a safe haven during difficult times, then Rhize is fulfilling its mission.”
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