In despair. Husband is taking ages to find a role

I entirely agree. Something definitely isnt working and some interview coaching and other job seeking support would definitely assist.
Tbh the organisations who failed to respond to an unsuccessful candidate's request for feedback are unlikely to be great employers, so bullet dodged.
The definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different result!

I’d disagree actually. If he gets two or three highlighting rather more experience in a particular area then he can either see what he can do to become more proficient in that or maybe tweak his cv and how he presents his experience to highlight what he has achieved in that area. He may not be giving enough importance to that when he tells his story and at this point fine margins are clearly making the difference.

Of course you can ask why but I don’t think he will get a response that will be particularly helpful. Not saying he shouldn’t ask but I don’t think this is the magic bullet to suddenly being successful.

Requesting feedback ? at the moment, you’re lucky if they ever even tell you you’ve not been successful
People have been through five stages of interviews and not even heard back for months that they didn’t get the job. I mean they presumed. They’ve not got it after the third week but they’ve never been actually told.

I would suggest some form of interview coaching at this stage - there seems to be something not quite right in the final round. Worth investing a little in trying to fix that

In that situation I was always able to say WHY we had gone with the other candidate if asked. Sadly most candidates did not ask.

You make it sound so easy, the feedback will be we decided to go with a different candidate

OK - is he requesting feedback on his failed interviews? If he's getting to second stage and on 4 occasions he's missing out, there's likely to be a similar element about how he's interviewing that isnt resulting in a job offer ie dont just take thanks but no thanks - instead it should be thanks but why not? Some employers may decline to provide a response but dont just turn away when its another rejection - find out WHY. Only then can he learn and adapt his interview technique/style. He should also consider a closing question to the interviewer to ask if there is anything he hasn't clarified that would prevent him from getting to the next stage or an offer. Sometimes you do just have to be a little pushy and not just accept yet another rejection. Find out WHY NOT!

You need to support him more
not worry about getting pedicures

My sympathies @saminamama, it's horrible for him being out of work, and stressful for you too. At least he's getting interviews, so don't give up.

I'm a career consultant and I wouldnt tell someone not to look for work every day. You have to treat it like a day job and commit x hours every day to job seeking - in all its forms. What I would propose is a range of actions that can be undertaken that are all geared towards obtaining employment eg attend networking groups, make new connections, use LinkedIn in proactively rather than passively eg reposting, commenting and making new connections, teaching himself new skills eg using AI, get his cv reviewed and critiqued/updated, visit the careers office and ask for support, consider working as a contractor which often goes perm, contact your local University to see if they have any short courses that could be useful, .... the list is endless and if he's fully committed to a wide range of activities as this he should be knackered but also start to see some results!! And at least it's demonstrating that he's 100% committed to job seeking which doesn't sound like what's currently happening! Good luck!

I feel your pain.
I have just had an argument with partner about looking for work. He was made redundant 9 months ago and still has no job. He has applied for maybe 3 or 4 jobs and been rejected. I know he has had a horrible time, has been hurt, lost his confidence, been traumatised really by what has happened, but I am also finding it very hard.
He says he's been 'told not to' look for work every day by a career counsellor and I really don't know what he does all day. If I ask he will say, I did some hoovering or I did the shopping, but actually I think he just does...not much. He begins to be defensive and becomes sulky and monosyllabic if I ask him what he does in the daytime. We still have a sizeable chunk of mortgage to pay. We could lose the house.
I work full time but I don't get paid much and I'm just exhausted.

You need to take control of that and knock that on the head firmly
You’re doing 60 to 80 hours a week then you’re literally eating sleeping and picking up your keys in the house nothing else
you know, like a dad

You're lucky, 11 months and counting for my DP, and yet I'm somehow doing the bulk around the house while working 60-80 hour weeks.

Yes, and having a routine is really important as well. And you can't search for jobs all day every day, there aren't enough out there

I disagree with you. In order to successfully find a job it is very necessary to also prioritise your mental health and the swimming probably helps here.

OP says in one of her replies they have £25k in savings.

Been in a similar position with my DH and it took him 3-4 months to secure a new job and that was a few years ago in a relatively healthy jobs market.

We did really have to squeeze our budget though to make the redundancy pay cover those 4 months. With £11k you should be able to cover 4+months if you budget very carefully and drop any unnecessary outgoings eg gym, sky, days out, take aways… its rubbish but doable unless you have a very big mortgage. Sit down and go through every item on your bank statement for the last 3 month and see where you can cut back.

I had some sympathy with his situation initially as DH has ex colleagues who are finding it hard to secure a new post and who are not messing about - but based on this post my sympathy has evaporated. He is taking g the proverbial massively. He does not need to go swimming to set him up for the day, he needs to crack on finding a job - any job for now.

It is but I expect to get the personality test after they’ve pretty much got you as their preferred or back up candidate.

It does sound painful. But just to assure you that personality type analysis is not uncommon at senior roles. I've just got through the process for a senior role and it has been the first not to do one since I've been looking.

The job market is the toughest it has been for a long time. Your DH is getting and going through interviews and so he’s doing the right things. It maybe that his desperation and stress is showing through in his conversations and sans negative feedback he is doing his thing.

You could do more of your thing? Don’t project all your generational stress on your DH. He’s probably got some of his own. Give him the peaceful home and conviction through what is his difficult time. I realise it’s hard for you also but this is not your battle so your job is to feed the soldier. What you can do is think about alternatives to being in some money into the house - yourself or your DH. Do something in practice rather that creating knots of worry.

All the best to both of you!