I’ve been on the job hunt for the past 12 weeks as an industrial sales rep, which is usually a stable field for me. Typically, I receive about two calls a week from headhunters, and when I interview with 2-5 companies, I usually end up with 2-3 offers. However, this time around, it's been an entirely different experience. I've had numerous interviews, even with C-suite executives, but each time I've faced rejection. It's been frustrating and confusing, as there are usually more job openings than candidates in my area of expertise. This has been the longest and most challenging search of my career.

I was laid off after 2.5 years as a Cloud Engineer in Canada, specifically in Mississauga, where I started my role in August 2023 after graduating with a Bachelor's in Computer Science. This was my first job post-university, and I was let go in December 2025. My experience includes working with AWS and Azure, utilizing tools like AWS CDK (Python), CloudFormation, and CI/CD practices, as well as skills in IAM, infrastructure automation, cost optimization, monitoring, and troubleshooting. Now, I'm contemplating my next steps. I'm targeting roles in Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Operations, cloud/platform engineering, DevOps, SRE, and even Linux/sysadmin/help desk positions if they are feasible. I also speak French and am open to bilingual roles or relocation opportunities. I've been actively networking, seeking referrals, and enhancing my resume, but unfortunately, referrals haven't led to any technical interviews yet. I've faced rejections even when my resume closely matched job requirements, and I've noticed many job postings are being reposted for months, which feels discouraging. I'm receiving mixed advice on how to proceed: some suggest I learn Java or full-stack development, dive into AI, get familiar with Kubernetes, pursue AWS certifications, or even consider starting over in help desk/sysadmin roles. I'm hesitant to spend time on unrelated skills without knowing if they'll actually boost my job prospects. I'm seeking guidance on a few key questions: Is pursuing a career in Cloud still viable in Canada with my experience? What adjacent roles could I consider? And would obtaining AWS certifications significantly help given my 2.5 years of experience, or should I focus on projects related to AWS, Terraform, Linux, or DevOps instead? I'm committed to putting in the effort; I just need realistic direction based on my current background.

Since January 1 of this year, I've been actively applying for jobs and going through interviews, but it's been a tough journey. I have one year of full-time work experience, and I've made it past the application stage with 16 organizations, with one more still in progress. Here's a breakdown of my experiences: 1. I completed a work test but was rejected. 2. I went through a paid work test, which also ended in rejection. 3. I had a short screener with a founder but was rejected. 4. I passed three rounds of online tests, but after the first interview, I was told that while my alignment with the role was good, other candidates were more structured and insightful in their problem-solving. 5. I had to decline an interview for a traineeship because of start date conflicts. 6. I was rejected after a first interview for a part-time job. 7. I passed a work test but was rejected after a one-way asynchronous interview. After these initial setbacks, I started training for interviews with a coach, hoping to improve my chances. I received an internship offer after three interviews but declined due to the interviewers badmouthing the company, a low hourly rate, and the fact that it wasn't a permanent position. I faced more rejections after various stages: - Rejected after a first interview with a hiring manager who hadn’t even read my resume. - I was told they would circle back for an autumn hiring cohort, but ultimately, I was rejected after an interview that ended early due to start date and location issues. - I was rejected after an HR screener. - I did well in an interview and work test, receiving praise for my written work and thoughtful responses, but they felt I would be a better fit elsewhere due to my lack of direct experience in their work environment. - More rejections followed after HR screeners and interviews. - The organization that said they would circle back ultimately rejected me after a case-style interview, stating they couldn't see the underlying analysis in my recommendations. - I passed a work test but was rejected after an HR screener. - Finally, I passed an HR screener and a work test but was rejected because they chose candidates with more experience. All of these roles were generalist, non-technical positions, and I can't help but feel that this bottlenecking is making it increasingly difficult for me to get my life off the ground.

I recently reached out to my former manager at a large oil and gas company where I used to work. I loved the culture and the team, but the pay was tough to manage, which is why I left for a new opportunity about three months ago. Unfortunately, my new job has been a nightmare, primarily due to my manager's style. I noticed that my old position was posted online, so I decided to swallow my pride and text my previous manager to see if they had filled the role yet. He responded that they are interviewing candidates and even hinted at my dissatisfaction with my current job. I expressed my interest in returning, and he mentioned he would keep me posted as he has interviews lined up next week. I'm trying to gauge whether this means he might be open to bringing me back. I left on good terms, so I'm hopeful, but I'm also aware that there may be formalities to follow. Should I remain optimistic about this possibility?

I recently completed my background check for a position at Whole Foods, and after a week of waiting, I finally got the notification that it’s complete. I'm curious about how long others had to wait for the next steps in the hiring process. What was your experience like?

I got laid off from Extreme Networks in July 2026, where I worked as a Staff Software Engineer. Since then, I've been following how other companies are adapting to AI technology, particularly in customer service roles. I recently learned about Ingka Group, which operates most IKEA stores, and their implementation of an AI customer service bot named Billie, after the iconic Billy bookcase. Billie has taken over a significant portion of simple customer inquiries, which could have led to layoffs. However, instead of cutting jobs, Ingka reskilled around 8,500 call center employees to take on more complex support cases, as well as roles in remote interior design and sales. This reskilling process took about two years to fully integrate, while new hires in this area now receive around five to six weeks of training. It's impressive to see such a large-scale effort to adapt and retain employees rather than resorting to layoffs, although I understand that layoffs have occurred elsewhere in the company unrelated to the bot's impact.

I recently started a new job in accounting after leaving my previous position of over three years due to a decline in company culture and increasing stress that was affecting my mental health. I was excited about this new opportunity, but after just one week, I'm already feeling uncertain. The company is not US-based, which has introduced some confusing nuances, and while my coworkers are nice, I'm struggling with my boss's micromanagement style. She insists on reviewing all my emails for grammar and wording, which feels excessive. Additionally, I was put off by her behavior during a team lunch where she was rude to the waitress. The commute is also a downside; it's about 50 minutes each way, significantly longer than my previous job. I can work from home occasionally, but only with my boss's permission. I know people say it takes time to adjust, but I can't shake the feeling that this job isn't a good fit for me. I've been feeling emotional about it, often crying during my commute home, and I find myself longing for my old job. I'm considering applying for positions closer to home, but I feel guilty about potentially leaving this company so soon after they invested time in training me. I'm feeling lost and confused about what to do next.

I was laid off in March 2025 and have found myself in a teaching role since then. It's been a challenging transition, and I often feel depressed and embarrassed about it. Teaching is incredibly time-consuming and demanding, making it difficult for me to focus on interviewing or upskilling for my previous career in finance. I feel trapped in this position, and with only four years since my undergraduate degree, I'm worried that my teaching career might extend longer than my finance career ever did. This thought is quite frightening for me.

I recently found myself reflecting on the severance package offered by my company after a round of layoffs. I received one month of salary and health insurance for every year I worked there, with a minimum of one month, and they round down the years of service. It feels like a decent package, but I can't help but wonder how it compares to others in the tech industry. I came across a post where someone mentioned their company offering four months of salary, six months of health insurance, and three months of coaching or headhunter support, which seems incredibly generous. They also received $1,500 for professional training or certification, which they fully utilized. I'm curious if there are caps on these packages, as it sounds like a great safety net during such a challenging time.

I’ve been thinking about my job search lately and how overwhelming it can be. I currently work a busy job, but I’m trying to explore other opportunities and see what compensation offers are out there. The problem is, applying for jobs feels like a full-time job in itself. I have to create accounts on various job sites, fill out endless forms, tweak my resume for each position, and then keep track of all my applications. It’s exhausting, especially since I have to do this on my own time, which is often limited. I was wondering if there’s a service that could help streamline this process. Something where I could provide my resume and relevant information, and they would apply for jobs on my behalf, maybe even using my LinkedIn or Indeed accounts. It would be great to have someone handle the back-and-forth communication with employers and schedule interviews, especially since many of them want to talk during my work hours. I know there are concerns about personal data security with such services, but I’m curious if anything like this exists or if there are alternatives that could make my job search more manageable.

I have two job offers on the table and I'm really struggling to decide which one to take. Job A is a part-time position just 3 minutes from my home, offering great benefits. It pays $21.77 per hour for 20 hours a week, and I would have the flexibility to work in the office on my own schedule with a friendly staff environment. On the other hand, Job B is a full-time role that pays $25 an hour, but it requires a one-hour commute each way, meaning I'd be working from 7 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. The benefits are decent, and I would get summers off, but the job is in a field I'm not really interested in. I'm weighing the pros and cons of both offers and would appreciate any thoughts or advice.

I just had a major realization about my job search that I want to share. For the past six months, I’ve submitted over 400 customized applications for various roles, but I received absolutely no callbacks. I was beginning to think the job market was just unresponsive. Last week, I decided to run my resume through an ATS scanner and discovered that it was being read as a completely blank page. It turns out that the 'aesthetic' template I purchased online, which included columns and text boxes, was causing the corporate hiring software to filter my applications out before they even reached a human. I quickly switched to a clean, single-column, ATS-friendly format and sent out 15 applications this week. Already, I have two interviews lined up for next Tuesday. If you’re struggling to get responses, I highly recommend checking your resume formatting. Avoid multi-column templates or text fields, as they can confuse the ATS systems.

I recently started as an IT specialist at a large corporation and I'm currently in my probation period. I'm feeling quite frustrated with the onboarding process, which has been anything but smooth. From day one, my assigned trainer has been negative about the company and expressed doubts about my commitment, saying he wouldn't teach me everything like he did with the previous hire who left after two months. The training has been disorganized; I've mostly been sitting next to different team members or joining Teams meetings where I get bits of information about internal systems. There’s no structured training plan, and when I asked a lot of questions initially, I was told I was asking too many and needed to figure things out myself. I tried to adapt by researching on my own and asking fewer questions. However, during a meeting with my actual manager, I was told to ask for help whenever I needed it, which contradicted what my colleague had said. I’ve faced criticism for not knowing processes that I wasn’t taught, and sometimes asking a simple question turns into a quiz on terminology instead of a straightforward answer. To cope, I started creating my own manual to organize the fragmented information I was receiving. I shared it with my colleague, who promised to review it, but after a week of silence, I received an email with a new assignment to expand my notes into a comprehensive document that should be usable by someone outside my position. The catch? I have only five days to complete it, including a public holiday, while managing my regular support responsibilities. This situation feels like I joined a company without a proper onboarding process, and now my notes have turned into an assignment to create the knowledge base that the company lacks. I’m seriously considering using my probation period to leave, as I’m struggling with the expectation to independently reconstruct years of company knowledge while being judged on things I wasn’t properly taught. I’m curious if others in corporate IT have experienced similar onboarding issues and if this seems like a major red flag.

I’ve been working as a Universal Banker at a credit union for the past 6 months, but I've come to realize that the sales pressure and cross-selling quotas just aren't for me. I'm preparing for an interview for an Indirect Loan Processor role focused on auto and dealer lending at another credit union. I'm seeking insights on a few things: - What does the daily routine look like? How much time is spent on file reviews versus dealing with dealerships over the phone? - How intense does the month-end volume get? - Any advice on what I should emphasize in my interview to showcase my transition from branch retail to this new role? I’d love to hear about others' experiences in this position—what did you enjoy, what did you dislike, and if you've moved on, where are you now?

I’m feeling pretty anxious about my job situation right now. I’m almost certain that I’m going to get fired during my next shift at work. I’m weighing my options: should I go in and let them fire me, quit and text my manager, or just stop showing up altogether? My shift is later today, and I’m looking for advice on what to do. I’ve read that if I let them fire me, I might be able to collect unemployment, which could help while I search for a new job. But I’m also considering quitting if things have been really bad lately. I’m just not sure what the best course of action is. Should I trust my gut and go in, or take the leap and quit?

I recently faced a challenging situation at Amcor, where I work as a factory employee. On August 30, a mold technician approached me and used a derogatory term after I turned my light on for him to fix a machine. He mistakenly believed the machine was backed up, which it wasn't, and he began to mock me. In a moment of anger, I responded with a harsh comment. This led to me being sent home on administrative leave. Three weeks later, I went to HR for an update, only to find out that the investigation had just been submitted that morning. I’ve been a good employee with perfect attendance, and witnesses can confirm my side of the story, including the inappropriate comment made by the technician. There’s also camera footage showing that the machine malfunctioned on its own, which supports my case. I’m now wondering what my chances are of being offered a last chance agreement instead of termination, especially since I still have building access and haven’t been fired yet. HR mentioned that if I’m allowed back, I would receive full backpay.

I received a job offer today and now I need to go through a background check with Checkr. However, I'm a bit anxious because I may have misrepresented my previous role; I claimed I was a supervisor when I was actually a step below that position. While I did perform some supervisory duties, I didn't hold the title or receive the pay that came with it. I'm concerned that this discrepancy might cause issues with my new offer, even though the job I'm being offered is unrelated to my past responsibilities. I wonder if this will show up in the background check or if it will mainly focus on criminal history. I'm also worried about potential reference checks that could reveal the truth.

I'm currently two years post-graduation with a degree in health and nutritional science. I started my first job in January at a federally funded health program, but I've realized that I really dislike it, and the pay is only $45,000. I've been trying to pivot towards the corporate sector, specifically in operations and compliance, and I'm open to health-adjacent roles in pharmaceuticals and biotech. So far, I've had two interviews with a top advertising company and a growing health tech startup, but neither led to anything. However, those experiences have boosted my confidence that I can make this transition soon. I have an upcoming interview with a city-funded program through a nonprofit, and the pay range is $27-30 an hour. It's a hybrid position with decent benefits, and while the work is similar to what I'm doing now, it leans more into compliance. My main concern is that this isn't the pay raise I'm looking for, and I really want to leave the public health nonprofit space altogether. I'm wondering if I should seriously consider this interview or potential job offer, especially since I'm based in NYC where salary is crucial.

I recently received a job offer for an IT Help Desk position at Holiday Inn Vacation Club, thanks to an internal referral from my dad, who works at the same company but on a different team. However, I have some concerns regarding my background check. Last year, I was arrested for petty theft in Florida, but the charges were dismissed due to a pre-trial diversion program. Although I'm in the process of getting that expunged, it hasn't been finalized yet. I completed the background check through HireRight and received the orientation and onboarding paperwork, but I'm worried that HR might flag my past arrest during their review. The email I received stated that onboarding would only be sent after successfully clearing the background check, which adds to my anxiety. I haven't received a clear confirmation that I've cleared the background check, so I'm left wondering if my job offer could be rescinded. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has had similar experiences or can offer advice on how to handle this situation. I'm really hopeful about this opportunity and just want to ensure everything goes smoothly.

I experienced a layoff today that feels incredibly unfair. I had only recently joined the company after a long 14-month process to secure my position. I put in a lot of effort over the past three months, but it all came crashing down when HR unexpectedly came in and informed me that my role was eliminated. They didn't hold any meetings or one-on-ones to discuss this; it was just a sudden decision from management. It seems like a new guy came in and decided to clean house, bringing in his own team and letting go of several of us. In the last two weeks alone, around eight people have been affected, and I fear more layoffs are on the way. I’m struggling to find the right words to tell my family about this situation, as I know it will lead to a lot of stress and concern for them. Sleep has been elusive, and my mind is racing with thoughts about what to do next. I feel a deep frustration towards the new hires and the way management has handled this entire situation. I even spent nearly two months' salary to relocate for this job, and it feels like they don't care at all about the impact on our lives. I just wish I had some support or clarity from HR, but they seem completely detached, simply stating that it was a management decision with no room for discussion. It’s a tough pill to swallow.