Today marked my last day at a university job I cherished for nearly three years. I’m 26, and this job was my first real career path where I could envision a future. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts and declining enrollment, my position was eliminated. I’m feeling completely lost and heartbroken. I won’t get to see the students I started with graduate, and the future I imagined for myself has vanished. The job market feels bleak, and I’m struggling with the reality that my college degree doesn’t seem to hold much value right now. I’m in desperate need of benefits, and moving is not an option for me financially. I’ve started applying for new jobs, but I doubt I’ll hear back anytime soon. The waiting period for unemployment benefits is daunting, and I can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the pressure of bills piling up. I’ve considered doing gig work like DoorDash, but the thought of putting on a brave face and pretending everything is okay feels exhausting. I just want to do something productive, but I feel paralyzed by my emotions. I know I’m not alone in this struggle, but it’s hard to see a way forward right now.

I recently got hired for a serving position, and I’m feeling really anxious about starting. I’m 18 and it’s been 9 months since I last worked as a server, which makes me worry that I’ll mess up and my coworkers or managers won’t like me. I have over two years of experience and have always been praised for being a hard worker, but the fear of not being seen as reliable or good at my job is overwhelming. I need this job not just for the money, but also to help my mom and pay for school. The thought of no-showing and having to go through the job search process again is terrifying. I know I should take this opportunity, but I feel stuck and the comfort of not going is tempting. I’m looking for advice on how to overcome this fear and anxiety before I start.

I've been struggling to find full-time work for over two years now, and I'm starting to wonder if it's time for a career switch. I'm currently in the data science field, but my job search has been pretty bleak. I feel lost and unsure about what direction to take next. Has anyone else faced a similar situation? I'd really appreciate any tips or advice on how to navigate this. I know I need to improve my resume, as I've received feedback that it's lacking in skills and experience. It seems like the projects I've listed are too basic and don't showcase my capabilities effectively. I'm considering how to better present my experience, especially in areas like forecasting and predictive model development. Any thoughts on pivoting careers or enhancing my resume would be incredibly helpful.

I just had a frustrating interview for what was advertised as an admin role, but it turned out to be more of a personal assistant position. The interviewer struggled with English, and I found it really hard to understand what they were saying. I kept asking about the job responsibilities, but all I got was vague answers about making personal appointments and managing their stress. I even pointed out that they were really looking for an Executive Assistant. I asked for a salary of $35-40/hr, hoping that would deter them from hiring me. On top of that, they can’t schedule my second interview until the end of the month, which feels like a huge red flag. I’m really confused about what the day-to-day would look like and if this is even a role I want to pursue.

I had an interview at Aritzia yesterday for a retail position. I've been a fan of their brand for a while, so I was genuinely excited about the opportunity. I felt well-prepared and dressed appropriately for the interview. While I don't think it went poorly, I'm also not sure if it went particularly well either, as it really depends on what they're looking for and how competitive the candidate pool is. They mentioned that I should hear back in about a week regarding their decision, but now I can't help but replay the interview in my mind, searching for any signs of how it went. It's driving me a bit crazy, oscillating between thinking I might get hired and fearing I won't. I'm curious if anyone else has been in a similar situation or if there are current employees or other candidates I could connect with!

I recently connected with a recruiter but I'm feeling a bit lost on how to make the most of that relationship. I scheduled a call with them and I'm not sure what I should be asking or sharing during our conversation. I also want to reach out to people on LinkedIn who are in the roles I'm targeting, but I could use some guidance on that too. I'm looking for a step-by-step approach to effectively engage with recruiters and hopefully land a job. Has anyone had success after connecting with a recruiter? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

I had a frustrating experience with a recruiter recently. Yesterday, they reached out to me and asked if I could come in for an interview for a position next week. I was excited and confirmed my availability. However, today they contacted me again to say that management and HR are trying to change the position, so they’re not sure what will happen next. To make matters worse, the recruiter mentioned they would be on vacation until September 29th, which means I won't hear back for a while. I’m feeling really exhausted by this whole situation. It’s disheartening to deal with such uncertainty, especially when I was looking forward to the opportunity. I just needed to vent about this experience.

I applied for a public sector job through governmentjobs.com and went through two rounds of interviews. They mentioned that I would hear back within a couple of weeks after the in-person interview. Now, it's the end of the third week, and I haven't heard anything yet. I understand that the recent holiday may have caused some delays, but I'm considering reaching out to HR for an update. I know the public sector operates differently than the private sector, so I'm unsure if it's appropriate to follow up at this stage.

I recently applied for a couple of jobs that I'm really excited about, but there's a bit of a hiccup. I'm a Senior in college and set to graduate in December, but the positions I want have start dates in mid-October. I've already submitted my applications and mentioned that I won't be available until after the semester ends. Now, I'm left wondering if companies ever consider extending start dates for candidates who are still in school. Should I keep my hopes up for these roles or is it time to move on?

I have been struggling to find a job for 11 months after being laid off from my role in a new grad program at a tech company. I had two years of experience, but the program I started in was quite intense, focusing on critical work that reported directly to upper management. While I worked with some great people, the experience didn't align well with my career goals, as I was involved in various tasks like data analysis, project coordination, and SharePoint site maintenance, which didn't help me build a focused skill set. I was laid off in October 2025 due to "operational efficiency" along with others in my department. Since then, I've applied for around 10 to 20 jobs, but I've mostly received feedback that I lost out to candidates with more relevant experience. It's been tough finding roles that match my background, and I've noticed that junior positions are often filled by individuals with significantly more experience due to the current job market. In light of this, I've started applying for rotational programs, as they typically seek candidates with less than two years of experience. However, I've already faced a few rejections, although the response rate is better than for other jobs. I'm targeting rotational programs related to business analysis and product management, which align with my degree in UX Design and Data Analysis. I'm open to exploring new career paths, even if it means a pay cut or relocation. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has advice or knows someone who successfully transitioned into a rotational program with a similar background. I'm feeling a bit lost and would appreciate any insights.

I was laid off in April and have been actively job searching since then. Recently, I completed a final round interview with a company I'll refer to as Co A, and I received an offer from them. However, I also have a final round interview scheduled with another company, Co B, this coming Tuesday. I feel more inclined towards Co B, but I'm unsure if they will extend an offer. I'm contemplating whether it's appropriate to ask Co A for more time to make my decision. I'm seeking advice on how to handle the situation and what information, if any, I should share with both companies regarding my decision timeline.

I am beyond thrilled to share that I just landed a new job! After leaving my kitchen management position of six years in late June, I took a leap of faith to return to the service industry as a full-time bartender/waitress. My previous job was exhausting, with 10+ hour shifts and over 16,000 steps a day, not to mention the constant battles over basic hygiene with younger staff. I was earning $23/hr doing something I dreaded, and I felt trapped. Finally, I decided enough was enough and made the switch, but my first attempt at a service job fell through after just one shift. For about 2.5 months, I lived off my savings while applying and interviewing everywhere. I faced a lot of challenges with poorly managed businesses and frustrating experiences. Eventually, I applied for a corporate banking position, despite having no prior banking experience. I went through a rigorous four-part interview process, and yesterday, I received an offer! They even increased the pay to $31/hour because they were impressed with my interview performance. Now, I won’t have to work nights, weekends, or holidays, and I’m free from managing adults or dealing with the mess of a kitchen. I feel like I’ve not only secured a job but a career with plenty of growth potential. I was worried about losing everything I had worked for, but it seems like this is just the beginning of something great!

I recently went through a tough experience after applying for an Environmental & Sustainability Engineer position in July. The interview process was quite extensive, involving around four rounds followed by an onsite interview. After investing so much time and effort, I was ultimately informed that they chose another candidate. This rejection hit hard, especially as an international student trying to establish my career in the UK. It makes me question if there's something I should be doing differently. I'm curious to hear from others in the environmental or sustainability fields: how common is it to reach the final stage and still face rejection? If you've been in a similar situation, how did you handle your next applications? For those who have hired international graduates, are there specific qualities or experiences you think candidates often overlook? Is it a good sign to repeatedly reach the final stage, even if it doesn't lead to an offer?

I recently applied for a Growth Marketing role at a Series B tech startup and made it to the final round. The hiring manager requested a "practical assessment" to evaluate my thought process, which turned out to be a full go-to-market strategy deck for their new analytics tool. They provided real company metrics and asked for specific ad copy, audience segmentation, and channel budgets. I dedicated my entire Saturday to this task, creating a polished twelve-slide presentation complete with customized Figma mockups and a campaign tagline. However, the following Monday, I received a generic automated rejection email with no feedback. Fast forward to today, a friend pointed out that my exact campaign tagline is now featured prominently on their product landing page, along with the customer acquisition funnel diagrams I had created in my presentation. It feels like they used my work without any intention of hiring me, essentially taking advantage of my skills for free. I can't believe this kind of corporate behavior is tolerated. I wish I had watermarked my slides to protect my intellectual property.

I was recently laid off from my position as a daycare worker. The directors decided to hire a college student to cover my shifts on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which left me in a difficult position. I had communicated that I couldn't work on the other three days due to childcare issues for my son, and they initially assured me that I could continue my original hours. However, I was unexpectedly removed from the work app without any formal termination notice. It feels like I’ve been pushed out to make room for someone cheaper, even though they still need help for the rest of the week. I understand the need for staffing, but I expected better communication throughout this process. This has been a frustrating experience for me, especially since I've never faced a layoff or termination before. I'm feeling a mix of sadness and annoyance, especially since this all happened right before I was set to return to work.

I’m about to start a new job after applying to over 300 positions in the last four months. Even though I’ll soon be employed, I’m still receiving rejection letters, which is frustrating. I want to be prepared for the possibility of getting interviews for better opportunities. I plan to be more selective now, but if something comes up that seems significantly better than my current role, I’m unsure how to handle the interview process. I don’t have any PTO yet, and it feels awkward to leave my new job so soon for an interview. I’ve seen suggestions to use my lunch break or to say I have a doctor’s appointment for interviews that don’t fit my schedule. I’m considering taking those routes if needed.

Today, I found myself in a tough situation at my job where I've been working for the past four years. Due to my father's unexpected passing last year, my availability has become quite limited. I currently only have one four-hour shift each week, and to help cover bills, my mother and I started working a weekend job since April. My boss recently told me that my limited availability isn't working for the company, especially with the holiday season approaching. She suggested that I need to either change my availability or quit and reapply if I can. This has left me feeling anxious, as I suspect she might hire seasonal workers and not bring me back. Given my chronic illness, finding another job is challenging, but I'm actively searching since seasonal positions are scarce. I'm considering whether I should report this situation to HR, but I'm unsure if my boss's actions are even legal.

I recently traveled out of the country for 7 days, from a Thursday to the following Wednesday, and I'm concerned about how to report my availability for unemployment benefits. The issue is that these days are split across two filing weeks, and I'm worried that if I only report one week as unavailable, it might look like I'm committing fraud. Since I usually work remotely, I feel like I should still be considered available, as I could theoretically log on to work from anywhere. However, I really need that one week of pay. It feels frustrating that the system seems to penalize people who are unemployed and want to travel. I’m hoping to get some advice on how to navigate this without getting into trouble.

I’m currently navigating a tough situation at my company, where I’ve been for nearly a decade. Recently, I was promoted to a new role, but I’ve been completely idle since starting a month ago. This restructuring has me feeling exhausted and anxious, especially since I’m the only US employee, which makes me feel vulnerable in terms of layoffs. Over my 9.5 years here, I’ve witnessed eight rounds of layoffs, so the fear is always looming. If I were laid off, my severance would be substantial—around $140k, which includes 10 months of pay and my 2026 bonus. While that’s tempting, I’m also aware that it’s year-end, and I’m uncertain about finding a new job quickly after a layoff. I’ve been stuck in a situation where my pay has stagnated, but the benefits have kept me from leaving. Here’s where it gets complicated: I finally received a job offer from Microsoft, which would pay me 15% more than my current total compensation. The role is in data center construction, requires a move, and would mean my husband would also need to find a new job. We’re open to the move since it’s to a more affordable area, but my husband took 26 months to find a job after his last layoff, and his pay was recently cut by 30%. Now I’m torn between taking the Microsoft offer and starting fresh or waiting to see if I get laid off and potentially cash in on the severance. The golden handcuffs are tough to break, but I’m also aware that staying in a job with so much uncertainty may not be worth it. It feels like a gamble, and I’m trying to weigh the risks and rewards carefully.

I'm currently facing potential layoffs at my large tech company where I've worked for over 10 years. I've always had high performance ratings, but I've learned that my organization is planning a non-performance-based layoff around October, likely affecting me. Although my friends have asked for an exception on my behalf, the outlook isn't optimistic. I’m trying to figure out my next steps. I’m fortunate that the severance package would be substantial—8 months of base pay plus stock vesting—so I’m torn between starting my job search now or waiting it out to collect the severance. The idea of taking a break and enjoying life before diving back into work sounds appealing, but the uncertainty of the job market makes me anxious about not having a solid plan. I’ve been advised to gather metrics and feedback from my current role while I still can, and to start reaching out to my network under the guise of catching up. I’m wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation and can share their experiences or advice.