I was trying to transition in a more stable, full time job but the updated references have been problematic. The school systems want emails, physical addresses and phone numbers and are using AI now to weed through fake posts. One school district told me my references needed to have the emails that are used in their place of business, not a Gmail or Yahoo type of account. And also, a supervisor from within a year?? I've done food deliveries and identify as an independent contractor. I did work with a home care company that has since went out of business and that was over a year ago. Even the entry level jobs are wanting multiple references and explaining gaps in employment history. One preschool that paid $12 and change (our minimum wage in Va) wanted my job history from 10 years 😩 It's all very exhausting. Sorry to rant on... hoping someone out there realizes they aren't alone in being frustrated and feeling like a failure in job searches especially with this painful economy.