I'm currently weighing my job options and could use some advice. I'm in my mid-30s, married with three young kids, and I work as a tech consultant/engineer. I joined my current company in January and earn around $150–170k. I'm on a long-term, high-budget project, so I feel secure in my position for at least the next four years. However, I’m not sure if this is the right career path for me long-term, as parts of my role might become obsolete. Recently, a large tech company reached out about a contract position that aligns better with my career goals. The pay would be 15–20% higher, and while I would lose some annual leave, the benefits are similar to what I currently receive. The catch is that it’s a contract role, which raises concerns about job security. My family is financially stable, and my wife works remotely, so I can take some risks. However, I'm hesitant to leave a permanent role after less than a year. I see the potential for a stronger career trajectory if I take the contract role, but I worry about the uncertainty of contract work. Has anyone made a similar transition? Would you take the risk, or is it too soon to leave a secure position?

I've been struggling to find an entry-level job lately. I'm not yet thirty and I don't have a GED or any diplomas, which makes things tough. My social skills were neglected during my childhood, so I find it really hard to talk to strangers. I did manage to get an interview recently, but unfortunately, I didn't get the job. Most of the other applications I've submitted online haven't even received a response. Right now, I'm relying on my family for support. I'm looking for advice on how to improve my chances of landing an entry-level position, given my current education level and social skills. I've heard that getting a GED could really help, and I'm considering it.

I'm currently in a tough spot at work and considering resigning. My relationship with my manager has deteriorated despite my efforts to improve it, while I get along well with everyone else on the team. I'm curious about how difficult it is to find a new job when I'm not currently employed. I've heard mixed opinions on whether being unemployed affects hiring chances, and I'm eager to hear about others' experiences. I want to know if my situation will make it harder to land a new role.

I'm 30 years old and feeling completely stuck in my life. I started my first job at 25, but it didn't offer any insurance. Eventually, I landed a full-time position through a family member, which was amazing until I got arrested for a minor misdemeanor. I hired a lawyer who got me out of prison, but I lost my job shortly after. I managed to work for a bit longer, but they decided to let me go instead of suspending me. I really needed that job, and finding another one has been a struggle. After being fired, I found another job three months later, but it was a nightmare. The micromanagement and unrealistic expectations made it unbearable, and I was let go for something trivial. I was unemployed for about 6-7 months, desperately searching for work. Finally, I got my current job, but it’s only part-time with no insurance and inconsistent hours. I’m grateful to have it, but I need a full-time position with benefits. I’ve been applying to full-time jobs and have had several interviews, but they haven’t hired me. It’s frustrating, and I feel like I’m at a dead end. I can’t drive, so I’m limited to jobs I can easily reach, like in Manhattan or Hell's Kitchen. My stress levels are through the roof, and I’m willing to do anything for a decent paycheck and health insurance. I really don’t know what to do next.

I recently moved to the United States and I'm fully authorized to work, but I've been struggling to find a job in my field of property management. I've been applying for about a month now and have had two interviews, but unfortunately, I didn't get either position. I'm starting to broaden my search and apply for service jobs at places like Walmart and Costco. So far, I've attended around four or five interviews, both online and in person, and while I feel like I've done well, I've faced rejection each time. It's been two months into my job search, and I've applied to about 40 or 50 positions. I'm looking for any advice or actionable suggestions that could help me in this process. I understand that the job market is tough right now, and I appreciate any insights.

I've been working in the corporate world for a few years now, and honestly, I've been hoping to get laid off for quite some time. I thought that getting severance would be a way out, but after keeping an eye on the job market, I've come to realize that things aren't looking too great out there. The more I read about the impact of AI on jobs, the more worried I become. While my specific role may not be completely obsolete, I can see how companies are increasingly relying on AI to handle tasks that used to require a full team. This means they might only need one competent person to oversee everything, which puts many of us at risk. I'm curious to hear how AI is affecting others in their jobs.

I was recently laid off from my role at a private equity-owned company where I had worked for three years. My experience took a turn for the worse when a new manager joined the team about a year ago. From the start, he made condescending remarks about me, often at my expense to entertain the team. After weeks of this behavior, I confronted him, which led to a meeting where he mockingly referred to it as our 'first case.' Before this manager arrived, my previous supervisor had assigned me to a significant project that I was really excited about. However, the new manager took me off that project to handle it himself, likely to gain visibility. He ended up messing it up, resulting in thousands of angry customers for months. After that, he assigned me another important project but pulled me off it just as I started receiving recognition from the CEO. Recently, my manager began making comments about my impending termination, and two weeks ago, during a meeting with the CEO and CTO, he smiled while informing me that my position was being eliminated. I managed to stay calm and thanked the CTO for the opportunity to work with him. The next day, I decided to sue the company, as I had ample documentation to support my case. My lawyer offered me a $12,000 severance package, which I accepted to move on, but I am still filled with anger and anxiety over how I was treated. It feels unjust that after three years of hard work, I was discarded due to a personal vendetta from a manager who seemed to enjoy undermining me. I can't shake the feeling that my dedication and friendly nature have been tarnished by this experience. I witnessed how my manager also manipulated situations to get rid of others, including a senior engineer who, despite not contributing much, was spared because of his relationship with the manager. Reflecting on this, I realize how toxic the environment was, and I am now grappling with the fear of facing similar situations in the future. It's disheartening to see someone thrive by taking credit for others' work while I was pushed out for no valid reason.

I've been stuck in a frustrating loop of job applications and interviews for the past 10 months. It feels like I've gone through countless rounds of interviews without any offers. Each time I think I'm close to landing a position, it falls through, and I'm left back at square one. It's been exhausting and disheartening, and I'm starting to feel like I'm running out of options.

I was fired six months ago from my role at a nonprofit organization during a family crisis. Recently, I received a message from a friend still working there, asking if I would consider returning. I initially laughed it off, thinking it was a joke, but it turns out that a director and a coordinator had discussed my potential return with her. The next day, I got multiple calls and texts from my old supervisor, who was also fired, but I chose to ignore them as I wasn't ready to respond. I'm apprehensive about going back to a place that treated me as disposable during such a vulnerable time. The way they reached out through my friend feels unprofessional, and I suspect there are underlying issues. I learned that my former supervisor has an active lawsuit against the organization for racial discrimination, which adds to my concerns about the workplace culture. After I was let go, I found out that the person promoted to my position was someone who had always made me uncomfortable with their behavior. They claimed to be intimidated by my skills, and I later discovered they were using my absence due to personal loss as an excuse to complain about their workload. While I miss the financial stability and benefits from that job, I can't justify returning to an environment that felt toxic and undermining. It's almost comical how the situation has unfolded, and I feel a sense of vindication knowing that my work was still being utilized despite their claims about my performance. I’m still navigating my next steps, but returning to that place doesn’t seem worth it.

I’ve been unemployed for about 10 months after being laid off from my previous job. Recently, I reached out to my former manager at a manufacturing company where I worked early in my career. She was very supportive and offered me a position right away, skipping the interview process due to my relevant R&D experience. However, the salary she offered is a 50% pay cut from what I was earning before, which is why I hesitated to contact her initially. Despite the pay cut, I know I need to take the job since it’s better than being unemployed. I’m set to meet her this Monday to sign the contract. Complicating things, I had a good interview last week for an R&D position with another company, and the salary could be significantly higher. I’m really torn because I don’t want to start the manufacturing job and then leave shortly after if I get the R&D offer. I feel like that would put my old manager in a tough spot, especially since she went out of her way to bring me back. I’m considering being honest with her on Monday and letting her know I’m interviewing elsewhere. I might ask if we could delay my start date by two weeks. That way, if I get the R&D offer, I can take it; if not, I’ll start the manufacturing job as planned. I’m really unsure about what to do in this situation.

I'm currently in a tough position at my job where I'm making around $90k, but I absolutely despise the management and team leaders. This toxic environment has been so mentally draining that I've been calling in sick frequently, and I've only worked 5 days this month. I went back to school to escape this situation, and I have a lot of vacation and time off left, which means I can work less than 50% of my scheduled shifts for the rest of the year. Now, I've been offered a management position in the same field that pays about $93k, with the potential to increase to $105k after 24 months. However, this job is a 2-hour drive away, requires me to be in-person, and would mean working five days a week plus being on call during weekends. I know I won't get a management role at my current employer, and I'm planning a significant career change that I hope to be ready for by early 2027. Moving isn't an option right now because I'm heavily invested in my training, having spent around $50k so far, with another $25-40k left to go. I'm torn between sticking it out at my current job until I can take long-term sick leave in January 2027 and negotiating severance later, or taking the management job as a backup in case my career change doesn't pan out. I just don't know if it's worth staying in a job I hate for a bit longer or if I should jump into this new opportunity. Any advice would be appreciated.

I recently faced an unexpected layoff from my job in Virginia, where I was working for a year before things took a turn after I requested disability accommodations for my mental health. My employer fired me over Zoom without providing a specific reason, and I didn't receive any formal warnings or a performance improvement plan prior to this. Now, I'm applying for unemployment benefits, but the application asks for the reason for my termination, and I'm unsure how to answer since my employer has refused to provide any information. In the past, I had a negative experience with the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) during COVID, where my case was dismissed due to my employer's claims that I had quit, which wasn't true. This led to my account being locked for months, and I struggled to get back-pay. Given this history, I'm anxious about my current situation and the potential for being disqualified from receiving benefits due to a lack of clarity around my termination. I've been trying to reach out to the VEC for guidance, but it's been frustratingly difficult to get through. I’m considering selecting 'Terminated - Other' on the application and explaining that I wasn't given a reason for my termination. However, I'm worried that this might lead to complications if my employer disputes my claim. I'm looking for advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation or has insights on how to navigate this process effectively.

I’m currently working a 6-month temp position at Yale, and I’m in the second month of my role. I really enjoy the job, but since it’s new and there’s no guarantee of extension, I’m considering applying for other positions I’ve found on the internal portal. I’m debating whether I should talk to my boss about this. My thought is to express that my first choice is to stay in my current position, but I also want to be proactive about my job security since the temp role will end in four months. I’m hoping my boss could put in a good word for me if I decide to apply elsewhere.

I have a 6-year employment gap on my resume because I was on disability. I'm currently looking for ways to explain this gap to potential employers. I'm unsure how to address it in interviews or on my resume without it raising red flags. I want to be honest about my situation while also focusing on my skills and experiences that are relevant to the roles I'm applying for. Any advice on how to approach this would be greatly appreciated.

I've been struggling to find real entry-level roles that offer decent wages. It seems like most job boards are filled with senior positions offering poverty-level pay for the amount of work expected. I have a background in liberal arts and sciences, with some graphic design electives under my belt. I've dedicated around 30,000 hours to self-study through biographical interviews and audiobooks, trying to build my skills. Recently, I converted an old Windows 8 eMachine into a media server, and I’ve also been working on a 2009 Mac Mini to set it up as a Pi-hole. I have experience in illustration and photography, including traditional and digital DSLR photography, and I used to take action shots at indie concerts. I even considered starting a pop-up dog and pet photo stand, but the upfront costs are daunting. I once dreamed of working in the film industry, but I quickly realized that entry-level wages are often as low as those in retail. I've done tech support in the past and have some experience modding game files to bypass grindy tasks. I created an animatic proof of concept for an IP I love and tried my hand at low-content notebooks and Redbubble, but I've only made about $20 overall. The challenge is that while I can develop functional skills, the lack of immediate return on investment or feedback makes it hard to build on my experiences. I'm feeling overwhelmed and just need a break to clear my head, as the endless cycle of labor and the constant struggle with poverty is exhausting, especially without stable employment.

I’ve been applying to a lot of entry-level jobs lately, as I really need to secure some income to cover my rent and basic needs. I don’t have a degree or any formal training, and I struggle with social skills due to my upbringing. It’s been quite challenging for me, but I’m trying to push through. I’m curious about how applying to more jobs might improve my chances of getting hired. I’ve heard that the chances increase non-linearly, but I’m not sure how that works in practice. Also, I wonder if there’s any possibility that a company that rejected me after an interview might reach out later for another position. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I recently attended an off-site hiring event for Nordstrom and was offered a Seasonal Selling Floor position on the spot. The interviewer provided me with the onboarding paperwork, including my job title, pay, and start date of October 9th. However, I'm currently seeing my status as "Under Consideration" in Workday, and I haven't received my offer letter or any background check tasks yet. I reached out to the local store, and they confirmed that my profile is active, but the offer letter hasn't been generated yet. It's been a few days now, and with my start date approaching, I'm feeling a bit anxious. I've heard that delays can happen, especially with off-site events, but I'm not sure if this is typical. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this process. Is a 3-5 day delay common for off-site event batches? Should I just keep checking my Candidate Home and following up with the store? Also, is there a specific contact I can reach out to for more information on my offer letter? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I wanted to share a warning about a company I recently encountered during my job search. A recruiter reached out to me regarding a Senior Technical Business Analyst position for 2024, but I have serious doubts about the validity of this role. The job listing keeps getting relisted on LinkedIn, and despite my efforts to flag it, LinkedIn hasn't taken any action. Additionally, I noticed that several other positions at this company have been open for over a year, which raises red flags. I believe it's important for us to share our experiences with companies like this to help others avoid wasting time on potentially fake job opportunities.

I'm feeling really stuck right now with my career path. I have a B.A. in Psychology and an Associate's in Library Technology, but my original goal of becoming a forensic psychologist fell through when I wasn't accepted into grad school. I tried to shift gears towards library science because I enjoy the idea of working in a library, but the job market in my area is dismal. I can't find a single job opening for a library tech or even a library page, and volunteer opportunities are non-existent since the only local library only accepts high school students. Currently, I'm stuck in a job as an accounts payable clerk, which I absolutely dislike. I also have some experience as a mental health crisis counselor, hospice volunteer, and administrative assistant, but I feel like my education and experience aren't leading me anywhere. Most positions I'm interested in require more experience or further education, which is frustrating. I'm really at a loss for what to do next.

Today was a turning point for me at my job as a Food Server Assistant (essentially a busser) at a local restaurant where I've been working for a year and a half. We were incredibly busy, and I noticed my partner was struggling to keep up. After waiting for about 5-10 minutes while he worked on one table, I approached him with what I thought was a straightforward request to speed up, given the line out the door. Unfortunately, he reacted defensively, claiming I was cursing him out, which I definitely wasn't. Things escalated when he confronted me aggressively, even grabbing my wrist to prevent me from backing away. I felt unsafe and yelled at him to stop touching me before I ran off to speak with management. When I finally got to talk to my manager, I was shocked to hear that I should have kept quiet instead of addressing the issue directly. This is frustrating because I've raised concerns about his pace multiple times, but nothing has changed. To make matters worse, my manager has been spreading the idea that I exaggerated the situation and even questioned my honesty about him grabbing me. This has left me feeling unsupported and uncertain about returning to work tomorrow, especially since I have to deal with the same manager who doubts me. I'm feeling drained and overwhelmed by this whole experience, and I'm starting to wonder if I should look for a new job. The thought of having to explain to a future employer that I need a month off next summer for my wedding adds another layer of stress. I'm really at a crossroads and would appreciate any advice on how to handle this situation moving forward.