In this deeply human episode of The Reboot Era, we explore the emotional rollercoaster of job loss, job searching, and the quiet fight to keep going. Host Dray Jankowski is joined by two guests — Christine Vela, a seasoned sales and business development expert with decades of experience and multiple layoffs behind her, and Ry Mantione, a marketing pro and creative force navigating unemployment, identity, and reinvention in Los Angeles.
Together, they share stories of resilience, rejection, and self-discovery — from Christine’s pivot into healthcare sales to Ry’s 1,200+ job applications and 87 online courses. We talk candidly about mental health, cutting costs to survive, staying creative, navigating LinkedIn, and why being yourself might be your greatest asset during a layoff.
✨ If you’ve ever felt lost, overlooked, or mentally drained by the job search — this episode is for you.
🔍 We cover:
- Applying to 25–50 jobs a day and still hearing “no”
- The emotional weight of multiple layoffs and restructuring
- How to leverage LinkedIn the right way — without burning out
- Creative ways to find free joy, community, and connection
- Dressing authentically during interviews — and when you feel you can’t
- Courses, certifications, and whether LinkedIn Learning is worth it
- What therapy, jazz nights, and road trips can do for your soul
Whether you’re in your first layoff or your fifth, this episode will make you feel seen, validated, and maybe even hopeful.
Follow Today’s Guests:
🔗 Christine Vela on LinkedIn
🔗 Ry Mantione on LinkedIn
💼 Partner: Jobhire.ai — Apply to jobs while you sleep. 30% off in Sept. 2025 with code DRAY30 → jobhire.ai/job-matcher/?imutm=dray (you must use that link)
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👉 Connect on LinkedIn
👉 Buy me a coffee or leave a tip to support the show 💸
🎧 All links: https://linktr.ee/draycation
Thanks for supporting The Reboot Era — every follow, share, and tip helps me keep making content for anyone navigating layoffs, pivots, and everything in between.
Everything shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and opinion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no content should be considered professional, legal, or career advice. Any mention of companies, products, or individuals is done in a personal capacity and does not represent the views or endorsements of those organizations or people. If a sponsorship or paid partnership is ever included, it will be clearly disclosed during the episode.
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