I applied for a coordinator role in HR/People Ops at a company I found on LinkedIn around 4 am. To my surprise, I received an email from a recruiter just four hours later, at 8 am, asking to schedule a screening call. This is my first time going through an interview screening process, and I honestly expected to wait weeks or even months for a response, likely leading to a rejection. The job posting has been up for about a month, and only 20 people have applied, which makes me feel a bit more hopeful since I noticed there were only 6 applicants when I submitted my application. I'm trying to pivot into a corporate role after spending the last two years working part-time in public-facing positions. Now, I'm wondering what to expect from this screening call. I've read that it usually lasts about 20 to 30 minutes and serves as a fit check rather than a final interview. I need to prepare a brief introduction that ties my experience in public roles to the responsibilities in People Ops, like managing sensitive information and staying organized. I'm feeling a mix of excitement and nerves about this opportunity.

I just started a new job today as a temporary position while I search for something more permanent. I needed to leave my previous job because they were only giving me 18 hours a week, which wasn't sustainable. During the interview, I was assured that all mandatory training costs would be reimbursed by the company, which totals over $200. However, I found out today that if I quit before a year, I would have to pay back all the training costs. This has left me feeling uncertain about whether I should continue investing in these trainings or if I should start looking for something else right away. Additionally, I learned that instead of a 30-minute break during my 6-hour shift, I would have a 1.5-hour break, which forced me to sit in my car in a Walmart parking lot. I was also told that my shift could end early at times, which adds to the unpredictability. Having been unemployed for a year before my last job, I'm really anxious about going through that again. I'm just feeling frustrated and tired of being misled.

I recently found a job in the Public Sector at the county level, which is a manager position, and I'm grateful for that. The pay is similar to what I was making before I was laid off. However, this new job is located in the Bay Area, while I’m originally from Southern California where all my family, friends, and my soon-to-be wife live. The transition has been tough. I had to use my remaining EDD money to find a place to live and quickly pack my bags. I’ve been feeling homesick and constantly emotional, and it’s been hard on both me and my spouse. I feel grateful for the job opportunity, but I’m also struggling with the situation I’ve been thrust into due to the layoff. My father has been giving me tough love, telling me to just work hard and not complain, which adds to my internal conflict. I haven’t been sleeping well because I’m away from my loved ones and my dogs, and it’s uncomfortable. To cope, I’ve been going out to try new food spots, but it feels isolating since I don’t know anyone here. My partner is considering moving up, but she’s focused on her master’s degree and job hunting, so we’re managing a long-distance relationship for now. I’m flying back to SoCal almost weekly, but with the rising costs, I might have to scale back to biweekly visits.

I really dislike Workday. I've applied for a couple of roles as I'm anticipating being laid off soon. After going through about 849 rejections before landing my current role last year, I'm pretty much fine with rejection at this point. However, what really frustrates me is receiving an obviously AI-generated rejection email at 12:05 a.m., stating that they are moving on to other candidates. It feels like absolute BS that I was filtered out for being over 40 and rejected based on that. I know I’m a perfect match for the role. It's hard to believe they are actually reviewing resumes at that hour. It just feels dishonest.

I recently completed two rounds of interviews for a role that I felt went exceptionally well. The recruiter informed me that the feedback was very positive and that I'm moving on to the final round with the SVP or C-suite, although that hasn't been scheduled yet. However, right after our call, I noticed that the recruiter posted about the same job on LinkedIn, which struck me as odd. It seems like they might still be looking for other candidates, even though I'm in the final stages. I'm trying not to read too much into it, but it's hard not to wonder if I should be concerned. I know the recruiter is just doing her job, but it feels a bit unsettling. For now, I'm going to keep my options open and continue my job search until I have a firm offer.

I was recently laid off from a small firm with 55 employees, where I worked on the revenue generation side. The company had a surprisingly large management structure, including a chief transformation officer, a global president, two chiefs of staff, an executive assistant, five marketing personnel, two finance staff, and several senior and associate directors. It’s hard to believe they kept 12% of the firm in roles that don’t directly generate revenue while letting me go, likely because I didn’t fit their culture. It’s frustrating to see such a disproportionate focus on management over actual revenue generation. I know I was considered expensive, but the whole situation feels absurd.

I've been job hunting since my junior year of high school, starting as a volunteer outreach coordinator at an animal shelter. After six months, I landed an apprenticeship as a motorcycle technician, which I enjoyed for nearly two years until my boss decided to liquidate the shop due to age. Now, I've graduated high school and am studying to become an automotive engineer while doing freelance work on cars and bikes for acquaintances. I expected that finishing high school and gaining more experience would make finding a job easier, but it feels like the opposite is true. Over the past three years, I've submitted over 1000 applications and only received about 20 interviews. I was hired at one place, but it was very sketchy and not in line with my rights, so I left after just a week. I'm currently using platforms like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and LinkedIn, but I'm struggling to get noticed. If anyone has advice on increasing my chances of landing interviews, I'd really appreciate it.

I recently had a couple of interviews for a position that I was really excited about. On Wednesday, I received a verbal offer, which felt like a huge relief since I'm currently in a job that I absolutely do not enjoy. I was told to expect a follow-up from HR regarding the next steps, and I was over the moon with the news. However, as the days passed without a formal written offer, I started to feel anxious. I understand that these things take time, and I wasn't expecting to hear back immediately, but I couldn't shake the fear that the verbal offer might fall through. To ease my mind, I sent a polite follow-up email today, but I haven't received a response yet. I know that the hiring process can be slow and that HR likely has a lot on their plate, but I'm struggling to stay calm. I really don't want to be stuck in my current job, which doesn't even cover my bills. I'm trying to figure out what a realistic timeline for hearing back might be, but the uncertainty is tough.

Applied at city government for teacher's assistant

I worked at SPX in Jinping, China for about two years, but I had to step away for personal reasons. Now I'm trying to get a position at their location in America, but I haven't received any responses to my applications, even though I feel competent for almost every role they have. Has anyone else faced a similar situation when trying to re-enter the job market?

This week, I received my layoff notice after over 20 years with the company. They are offshoring my role along with others in the same position outside of India. I had a feeling this was coming but was hoping to hold on for at least another year. My severance package will cover me for about 8 or 9 months, which gives me a decent timeframe to find a new job. I've already applied for three roles and have a few more in mind, mainly in the areas of AI engagement, transformation, learning, and change management. To cope with the news, I treated myself to some pizza and took a moment to commiserate.

I received a job offer about a month ago, but unfortunately, it was rescinded right before I was set to start. I was pretty disheartened, but yesterday I got a call from the company saying they wanted to offer me the position again. It's a bit of a mixed bag for me because I’m a recent college graduate and I was hoping for a higher starting salary than the $16 an hour they’re offering. Still, I’m considering it since the job market has been tough.

I was let go from my last job last month due to my anger issues, which I struggled to control. I was earning $25 an hour while working 36 hours a week, primarily 12-hour shifts from Saturday to Monday. Now, I've secured a new position that pays $18 an hour, working Monday to Friday from 8 to 5. The work is similar, focusing on logistics and shipping, but it feels like I'm downsizing in my career. I can't shake the feeling that I'm stuck in warehouse jobs, which makes me question my worth and identity. After a few weeks of feeling down, I started to improve mentally, but now that I’m about to start this new job on Monday, I’m filled with anxiety. I worry about messing up again or ending up unhappy in this role. I found this job through an employment agency, which makes me feel even more inadequate, especially since I have a bachelor's degree that hasn’t opened many doors for me in the past six years. At least I’ll be earning again, and $18 an hour is certainly better than nothing.

I recently found myself in a tough spot while applying for jobs. After leaving my toxic homophobic family this summer, I moved into university dorms and I'm really proud of that decision. However, as I've been applying for jobs, I hit a snag. One company got back to me, but I only have one reference available—my university tutor. They require two references, and since I'm estranged from my family, I don't have anyone else to turn to. I'm feeling really stuck. Should I give up on this job application and keep looking for other opportunities, knowing they might also ask for two references? Or should I consider finding someone to fabricate a reference for me? I know that lying isn't the best route, but I'm worried about my finances during university if I can't secure a job. I'm torn about whether to cancel the application altogether.

I recently found myself in a tough situation regarding my wife's unemployment benefits. She was temporarily let go from her job in February 2025 due to a lack of work, returned in April, but was permanently terminated in October. After her termination, she applied for unemployment benefits but faced complications when her previous employer appealed the determination, claiming she was doing word puzzles instead of working. This was not the reason given in her termination letter, which cited her sales performance. After a hearing, the officer ruled against her, stating this was grounds for disqualification from benefits, and now we are facing an overpayment notice of over $7,000. We believe this decision is unfair, especially since she was told to stop doing puzzles and was never coached on her performance. She missed the appeal deadline for the new determination letter, thinking she could wait to see if an overpayment notice would come. Now, we are unsure whether to appeal both the determination and the overpayment or apply for an overpayment waiver, especially since she is currently employed. I’m considering seeking legal counsel to navigate this complicated situation.

Today, I learned a hard lesson about job scams while my spouse was job hunting. They received an unsolicited email claiming to be from Uber for a position in business operations. The email was from someone named "Lucy Nutting" using the domain "lucy@contact-uber.com". My spouse was excited and logged into a Teams meeting for the interview, but things quickly took a strange turn. During the call, they received a notification that their microphone and camera were not accessible. The scammer prompted them to use a terminal app to copy and paste a URL, which led to a download attempt. Thankfully, the installation failed, but it was unsettling to see a person on the other end of the call who looked like a poorly looped video—definitely not a real person. I’m worried about potential hacking concerns and whether anyone else has experienced something similar. It’s a reminder to be cautious and skeptical about unsolicited job offers. If anyone has advice or similar experiences, I’d love to hear them.

I've been receiving rejection emails lately that say the company is no longer hiring for the position I applied for. This has happened four times now, and I'm starting to wonder if this is a new tactic from recruiters to soften the blow after choosing someone else. I work in marketing and communications, and I can't tell if it's just the job market or if this is a new trend in how rejections are communicated. The emotional toll of being rejected repeatedly is really weighing on me. I've been unemployed for almost a year now, and my savings have run out. I never expected the job search to be this difficult, and I feel exhausted and deeply depressed about my situation. How do others cope with this kind of endless rejection? It feels like I'm stuck in a hole with no way out.

I recently graduated in the UK with a degree in accounting and finance, but I'm struggling to land an interview. I lack any relevant experience like internships, and I'm unsure about which career path to pursue. I've been applying for a wide range of positions, from management roles to analyst jobs, but my only work experience is in retail. I'm multilingual, so I've also searched for jobs that require specific language skills, yet I keep receiving rejections. Most of my applications go through LinkedIn and Reed, but I know those platforms are quite competitive. I'm looking for advice on how to find more job opportunities or improve my CV. I've been advised to lie on my CV, but I want to stay honest. I'm focusing on graduate schemes or any position outside of retail and hospitality, but I can't relocate as I help my mum with rent in London. Any tips or guidance would be greatly appreciated!

I just got laid off from my third job since graduating college in 2024 with a business/marketing degree, and I'm starting to question if I'm the problem. At 23, I've had three different roles, and each one has come with its own set of challenges. My boyfriend pointed out that I might be the common denominator in these situations, which has really gotten me thinking. In my first job, I was a digital marketer making $85k, but after about six months, I was laid off due to the company's financial issues. The CEO promised mentorship but ended up shifting me to sales, which didn't work out well. My second job was at a restaurant where the boss was very intimidating and aggressive, making the work environment uncomfortable. I left that position to take on my third job, which I just lost. In this last role, I was hired as a Digital Marketing & E-commerce Manager at a small family-owned apparel company. However, the job turned out to be more about general office work than actual marketing, which was misleading. I was doing everything from social media management to customer service, but the boundaries were blurred, and I felt overwhelmed by the family dynamics at play. I was making $20/hour, working about 30 hours a week without benefits, and I often felt like I was thrown into situations without clear instructions. My boss had a temper and yelled at me multiple times, which made the work environment even more stressful. Just recently, I was fired after a particularly chaotic situation where I was struggling to meet a tight deadline due to WiFi issues. I stayed late, anxious and shaking, trying to get everything done, but it wasn't enough. Now I'm left wondering if I'm truly the issue here. I recognize that I've made mistakes and have areas to improve, especially in communication and managing expectations. But I also feel like the workplaces I've been in had their own significant problems. I want to learn from these experiences and not repeat the same mistakes, but I also don't want to internalize the idea that every bad situation is my fault. I'm feeling financially stressed and exhausted, and I'm looking for honest feedback on what I could change moving forward.

I started my new job two weeks ago, and I’m heading into my third week on Monday. Despite nothing bad happening, I'm struggling mentally. I've been in my previous role for 10 years, and I think that’s making this transition even tougher. I can't quite put my finger on the feeling—it's not exactly anxiety, but it's definitely unsettling. I’m also feeling burnt out from working in a nursery, which is pushing me to consider a career change. I had to leave my last job because it became a toxic environment, and now I'm feeling stuck on what to do next. Honestly, I just want to feel like myself again, but this strange feeling lingers even during my weekends off. I would really appreciate any advice or just knowing that others have experienced something similar.