I recently started applying for jobs after many years in my current role. I had a rather strange experience with a large American company based in Europe. Their job advertisement mentioned that basic language skills were required, but during the first screening, I was surprised to find it was a fluent-level interview. While I handled it well, it felt misleading. After a few days, I received a standard rejection email. Then, a month later, they reached out again, saying new positions had opened and asked if I wanted to continue with the selection process. I agreed, and we moved forward with a 1.5-hour interview with the managers. At the end of the interview, they inquired about my notice period. I mentioned it was 90 days since I hold a senior position at my current job, which I had already stated in my application. The team lead seemed taken aback and became quite rude after I answered. After that interview, they went silent. I followed up with an inquiry email 2-3 weeks later and received an automated rejection. They contacted me again, but it was just another automated message. Is this how companies typically treat applicants these days?

I'm a 23-year-old QA professional with 2 years of experience, currently feeling quite desperate for a job change. I'm working overtime and earning around 20k, but the situation is tough due to a toxic manager, even though my team is decent. I'm urgently seeking a new opportunity and would greatly appreciate any referrals or tips to help me secure a better package. I'm not even receiving calls from job portals, which is really disheartening. Any assistance would mean a lot!

I was recently let go from my job after 8.5 years of service, and I'm feeling a mix of emotions as I navigate this transition. I worked in a mid-level management role at a tech company, and the decision to part ways came as a surprise to me. Now, I'm trying to figure out what my next steps should be. I'm considering updating my resume, reaching out to my network, and possibly exploring new industries. I want to ensure that I take the right approach to my job search and make the most of this opportunity to start fresh.

I recently started a new role as an HR assistant in my city after a long job search that left me feeling desperate and emotional. I was thrilled to land this position because it seemed perfect: morning hours, a chance to learn new skills, no gaps in my resume, and decent pay, all while working for the city through a staffing agency. The team is supportive, and I genuinely appreciate the opportunity, but I feel guilty admitting that I don't enjoy the job at all. The transition has been tough. After being unemployed for a while, my anxiety and perfectionism have spiked, making me feel like I'm underperforming despite receiving praise. The steep learning curve is overwhelming, and I often feel exhausted. My daily routine has become a grind: I wake up early, commute for about 20 minutes, work, and then crash into bed. Transportation has also been a significant issue. I don’t have a car, so getting to work has been costly. My parents help with rides and expenses, but I feel bad relying on them for Ubers. I've been dipping into my savings from my last job, which adds to my stress. My previous job was remote, which spoiled me in terms of convenience, even though I didn't enjoy customer service. Now, I find myself longing for that flexibility again. I've had a history of jobs that didn't quite fit; I left my first job due to health issues related to my art, and my second job was customer service, which I excelled at but wanted to escape. Now, I finally have a job again, and yet I feel like something is still off. It’s frustrating because I want to be happy and productive, but I’m battling with my own mental and physical limitations. Despite all this, I’m grateful for the support around me and just need to figure things out.

I've been working as a mechanical engineer for about a year now, but things have taken a downturn in my current team. We've been losing projects, and several team members have already left or moved to different teams. With the lack of projects, I feel like my technical growth is stagnating, which is why I started applying for new jobs. I recently received an offer for a new position, but I'm torn about whether to accept it or stay where I am. The new job is located in the suburbs of New Jersey, while I'm currently based in NYC. The thought of leaving the city and my vibrant social life is daunting, especially since I'm in my early 20s and love the energy of the city. However, my current role feels unstable, and I'm not learning anything new. The new position offers much better growth opportunities and is in an industry I'm eager to explore, plus the team seems really nice. I'm also considering the option of transferring to another team within my current company, but I doubt it would provide the same level of growth as the new job. I'm really struggling with the decision of whether to take the risk and move for the sake of my career or stay in my comfort zone. It's a tough choice.

I was laid off from my corporate IT job last week without any advance notice. They let me go on the same day, citing that there was no open job role for me, and it wasn't due to poor performance or any misconduct. I had been with the company for nearly five years, and in the severance package, I was only offered two weeks of salary. There was no assistance for health insurance or any additional payouts. This is my first experience with being laid off, and I'm unsure how to handle this severance package. I've heard that typically, employees receive 1-2 weeks of pay for each year of service, but I know that federal law doesn’t require employers to provide severance at all. Two weeks of pay won't sustain me while I search for a new job, especially since I have to cover a significant health insurance premium until I find employment. I feel like after working hard for the company for so long, I deserve more than just two weeks of pay. They didn’t provide me with the company’s severance policy; they only mentioned the two weeks in a letter. I'm considering emailing HR to ask for a better severance package. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I’m in my early 40s, have a family with kids, and my spouse has a low-income freelancing job without health insurance.

I recently applied to over 100 tech jobs in the last few months, but I've only received a handful of interview requests. I'm starting to wonder what I'm doing wrong in my applications. I know that the average interview rate is around 2-5%, so maybe I'm just on the lower end of that spectrum. Still, it feels discouraging to put in so much effort and not see more results. I'm trying to focus on improving my chances with the interviews I do get, but I could really use some advice on how to enhance my application strategy.

Today, I was informed that I am part of a Reduction in Force (RIF) at my company. It hit me hard, especially since I was the only one from my office affected. I feel like I've been kicked in the stomach. It's a tough reminder that no job is truly secure, regardless of what we're told. I received the news at 8 AM this Monday, just a few weeks shy of my five-year anniversary with the company. I've always been a high performer and was well-liked by my colleagues. I built my department from the ground up and preferred to stay in a high-level individual contributor role rather than move into management. They assured me that my termination was not performance-related and offered me two weeks to wrap things up, along with a severance package that feels more insulting than helpful. The separation agreement was filled with typos, which adds to the frustration. Just last night, I was up late working on reports for month-end, as my supervisor needed them completed. Now, I can't help but feel foolish for putting in that extra effort after hours and on weekends, especially after dedicating so much of myself to this role. To top it off, my husband and I just bought a house, and they were aware of that. They claim my role is being eliminated, yet they have already created a new position with a different title that sounds suspiciously similar to what I've been doing for the past year and a half. It's all so disheartening.

I’ve been applying for jobs for a few weeks now, but I’m not getting much traction with my current resume. I’m starting to feel a bit discouraged. I’ve tailored it for each position, but it seems like I’m not landing any interviews. I’m looking for feedback on how to improve it or any tips that might help me stand out more in my applications. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I am currently a Project Manager at a large company and feel quite stable in my role. I’m up for a promotion to Senior Manager soon, but I’ve been overlooked for promotions in the past few years. I’ve had some confrontations with senior leaders that have left me feeling uneasy about my future here. Despite these challenges, my current position offers a six-figure salary and great benefits, which makes me hesitant to leave. Recently, I’ve started networking to explore potential job opportunities, especially in case my upcoming promotion doesn’t pan out or the raise is underwhelming. I’ve connected with a senior leader at another organization who is introducing me to a hiring manager for a Program Manager position. The challenge is that I’m mid-career and technically overqualified for this role, which requires only 2-5 years of experience. However, the position aligns perfectly with my interests and skills, and I know I could excel at a senior level. I’m debating whether I should express my interest in a senior version of the role to the hiring manager right away or if I should apply for the position as listed and then work my way up. The Program Manager role would still offer about a $20k increase in total compensation compared to my current role, while a senior version could potentially increase my compensation by $60-70k. Additionally, I’m curious if anyone has ever applied for a job they were overqualified for and ended up being offered a senior position after the interview, due to their evident capability to exceed the job description.

I recently faced a tough situation after being fired from my job in California. My employer let me go, citing that I was 'annoying coworkers' for reporting abusive behavior in the workplace. I felt it was my responsibility to speak up, but now I'm struggling with the aftermath. I applied for unemployment benefits, but my claim was denied. I'm feeling lost and frustrated, trying to navigate this challenging time and figure out my next steps.

I recently found myself in a bit of a tricky situation regarding my unemployment benefits. I currently have a part-time job that allows me to receive partial unemployment benefits. I had accepted a job offer, but before I even started, I received a better offer and decided to discontinue the first job. Now, I'm unsure how to report this in my weekly unemployment report without jeopardizing my benefits. I want to be honest about my situation, but I'm worried about how the unemployment office will perceive my decision to quit a job I hadn't even started yet. I'm hoping to find guidance on how to navigate this without losing my benefits.

I've been on the job hunt for over a year now, applying to more than 1000 positions and trying out different strategies. Despite countless rewrites of my resume, I've only managed to land one interview. It's really taking a toll on me. I'm specifically looking for remote HR roles since I can't work in person due to some personal circumstances. I know this limits my options, but it's all I can manage right now. Even though I have over three years of experience in HR, I'm primarily targeting entry-level positions. I'm feeling pretty lost and would appreciate any advice on how to improve my chances.

I'm 22 years old and feeling completely lost about my career path. I'm currently a pharma student heading into my senior year, but I've realized that I'm not really passionate about the industry. I had a promising job lined up, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, I've had to start over and now I feel like I'm at square one. I find everything fascinating, and I tend to dive deep into various topics, whether it's writing, art, psychology, or pharmacology. I love connecting seemingly unrelated ideas and learning about different fields, but I struggle to focus on one area long enough to gain expertise. People often tell me I have potential in many areas—teaching, research, creative roles—but I feel unqualified for any of them. My resume is mostly volunteer work and a couple of training experiences, and my GPA is just average. I got my previous job through a friend, but now I'm cut off from that opportunity due to family issues. I'm in a new environment with a blank slate and no clear direction. It's overwhelming, and I feel paralyzed trying to figure out what to do next. I'm reaching out for advice or guidance from anyone who might have insights on how to navigate this confusing time.

Applied at Tesco for Unknown

I was laid off from my job in June and moved back in with my parents to focus on my job search. Thankfully, I received an offer within a month, but the salary is about 35% lower than what I was making before—going from $85k to $55k. Although I'm grateful to have a job again, I can't help but feel the impact of this pay cut. I'm curious if anyone else has experienced a similar situation. How long did it take you to get back to your previous salary? Did taking a lower-paying role help your career in the long run? I'm 26 and this was my first layoff, so I'm still navigating the emotional ups and downs and trying to regain my confidence.

I'm a rising junior and I'm feeling really anxious about my lack of job experience as I search for a summer internship for 2027. So far, I've had no luck at all. My resume is pretty bare; all I have are some school projects and a personal dashboard project that I’m not proud of. I can't really branch out for jobs or volunteering opportunities because I don’t have a car, and I've already exhausted all the nearby options around my college. I'm starting to think about volunteering as a backup plan. I did volunteer for a couple of months at a basic needs center where I stocked shelves and ensured the food was safe and organized, but I worry that it doesn't count as real experience since I can't quantify my impact. I feel like I need something more impressive, like working with a well-known organization where I could show measurable outcomes. I'm considering looking for more volunteering opportunities on campus, but I'm scared it won't make a difference since it seems like everyone else has actual job experience. Everyone keeps saying that junior year is when most people land internships, but they don’t mention that those people usually have some prior experience. Honestly, I’m frustrated and scared about my future because I wouldn’t hire someone like me either.

I recently received an offer from my top choice company, which was exciting! However, there's a catch—the location has changed. Initially, I applied for a position at a larger satellite office, but the recruiter informed me that the hiring manager wants me to work at the company's main HQ instead. While I'm grateful for the offer, I'm concerned about this shift since I was prepared to relocate for the original location. The company plans to start negotiations soon, and I'm contemplating whether I can negotiate to revert back to the original location I applied for. I do have a few verbal offers on the table, but nothing in writing yet. Given that this is a mid-entry level position, I understand it might be seen as expendable, so I don't want to jeopardize the offer by pushing too hard. I'm planning to approach the negotiations carefully, possibly framing my preference for the original location as a flexible request rather than a hard demand. I'm hoping to gauge their willingness to accommodate my preference while still showing my enthusiasm for the role. Any advice on how to navigate this situation would be appreciated!

I recently graduated as an LPN and found myself in a bit of a dilemma. I accepted a job offer that wasn't my first choice because that company was taking too long to finalize their hiring process. The job I accepted was decent, but my heart was really set on the first choice, which is in a field I'm extremely passionate about, even though it pays slightly less. Today, I got the call from my first choice offering me the position, and I couldn't contain my excitement—I accepted it right away! Now, I'm in a tough spot because I’m supposed to start orientation at the other job this week. I feel bad about backing out, but I know I have to follow my passion. I haven’t started the orientation yet, so they haven’t invested much in me, but I’m unsure how to approach this. I’m thinking of just being honest and saying that circumstances have changed and I can’t accept the offer anymore. I hope they understand, but I know it might burn a bridge. I’d appreciate any advice on how to handle this situation!

I'm currently on the job hunt and it's my first time posting here. I'm going through a divorce, which has pushed me to seek a new opportunity. Right now, I'm earning $60k, but I've found a position that offers $80k. The catch is that it would require a 70-minute commute each way. I'm weighing whether this pay increase is worth the long drive. Some advice I've received suggests I should consider moving closer to the job, but since I'm moving further away due to my divorce, it seems like the commute is unavoidable. I only have my dogs, and my parents are helping with them, so that part is manageable. Just trying to figure out if the trade-off is worth it.