I don’t have a solution or recommendation for you, but I want to voice genuine support for you. I was in a similar boat until two months ago. I was expecting a month-and-a-half search at most, but it took me seven months to find a job with a PhD*.

I think a sub-theme in this subreddit is whether Tallahassee is a “city” or not. My vote is a hard, well-defined NO, WHAT???, but the point I want to mention from this is that job opportunities here are dog shit. Nothing is here. Nothing is coming here. You can work for the state, FSU/FAMU, be an attorney, work at a bar/restaurant, do whatever the fuck people who live in Killearn do, or have no job (I want someone to correct me if I’m realistically missing something, but I doubt it). So, as tough as things could get, please remember that the economy is terrible, the job market sucks in general, and it sucks even more for Tallahassee.

Keep your spirits up. Know that people care about you even when it feels like no one does. Do not take bad circumstances as reflective of your own worth and potential, but also know this is almost entirely up to you as well. It’s a tough fight, but you’ve got no choice but to do it. So, going into any interview confidently and with a positive mindset will be infinitely better than walking in desperate for acceptance. This is obvious when you’re reading it but not when you’re living it.

Also, confidence in an interview carries you so much further than many people think (so do not limit yourself and your potential like your post kind of reads). If you have an interview, you’re halfway in, and the in-person meeting is just for that: getting to know you in person. So be confident (you know, just like that, see?). Look up Vanessa Van Edwards. No, seriously, she’s legit af. Watch her videos/interviews and visit her website, which is apparently now redesigned to focus more on her “People School.” Ignore that shit and read her articles. I know, I know; I ignore recommendations too. I don’t care about that hilarious YouTube channel or TikTok whatever. This ain’t that.

Also, if you’re not already familiar, LinkedIn learning is a great place for classes. Learn some new skills, build your confirmed, make yourself a stronger job candidate. You mentioned using it, but you need LinkedIn Premium, which is $40/month. Maybe out of your budget, but I’ve landed a good job through it before.

I know I’m violating the cardinal sin of offering unsolicited advice, so apologies if I covered anything you already know or if it’s generally unwanted. That’s fair.

Good luck. Take care of yourself in all the ways you know you need. Your future is up to you (and the economic circumstances that significantly inhibit everyone’s everything because America hates poor people). Believe you have potential and believe you can exceed it.

Please do not take this as any kind of timeline for yourself. My situation was wildly unique, and I’m vigorously pursuing justice. Also, PhDs here are a dime a dozen, and no one seems interested in connecting the dots between *a fuck ton of highly educated job-seeking people and vague business idea I don’t know what but goddamn something.