The realistic numbers, useful both for setting expectations and for not panicking when you're 3 months in.
Median time-to-offer in tech (2026 data, ~5+ YOE roles): Software Engineering IC: 14-18 weeks Product Management: 18-24 weeks Design IC: 16-22 weeks Engineering Management: 22-30 weeks VP / Director: 26-40 weeks
Senior+ roles take longer. Counter-intuitively, the more senior you are, the smaller the pool of roles, the longer the search.
What "time-to-offer" means: the gap between starting an active search and signing an offer. Not the gap between layoff and signed offer (which includes 2-4 weeks of recovery + portfolio prep).
Distribution matters more than median. 25% of senior IC searches close in <12 weeks. Another 25% take >30 weeks. Where you land depends heavily on: (a) market fit of your specific skills, (b) network strength, (c) how many recruiter conversations you take.
Don't be the person who's surprised at week 12. Plan financially for 24 weeks. If you find something faster, great. If you're at week 12 panicking because you assumed 6 weeks, the panic itself hurts your performance in late-stage interviews.
If you've been searching >9 months at a senior level, the problem is usually positioning, not market. Worth a strategy reset rather than more volume.