Applied to a Job

I recently graduated with my master’s degree in communications about two years ago and have been actively searching for a full-time job since then. My experience includes content creation, digital communications, newsletters, social media, and PR-related work, mostly in the higher education sector. I came across a PR Specialist rotation program at a local tech company that piqued my interest, so I decided to apply, even though I’m unsure if my graduation date makes me too far removed from the typical candidate pool. I’m feeling pretty burned out from the job search after applying to numerous positions over the last couple of years, facing constant rejections and a lack of responses. Despite this discouragement, I’m still trying to put myself out there, which is why I went ahead and applied to this program. I’m curious if anyone with experience in rotation programs can offer insight on a few things: 1. Is graduating two years ago too far removed from the typical candidate pool for these programs? 2. Do these programs usually require candidates to be current students or very recent graduates? 3. Would my master’s degree and relevant professional experience actually hurt my chances since I might be seen as beyond the entry-level profile? 4. Is it worth it to keep applying to these programs even if I don’t perfectly fit the timeline? I know the common advice is just to apply, and I did, but I’m looking for some perspective from those who have gone through similar programs or from hiring managers. After two years of searching, I could really use some encouragement and insight.

I was laid off at 54 after spending 12 years as a manager at my company. The entire team was eliminated during a reorganization, and I found myself navigating the job market with limited savings. Thankfully, I had a severance package that covered six months of expenses, which gave me some breathing room. I applied to around 150 jobs over the course of 11 months, but it was a tough journey. Ageism was a constant theme in my experience; it felt like my age was a barrier despite my qualifications. I even had to adjust my resume to remove employment dates and downplay my master's degree in hopes of getting noticed. Ultimately, I managed to secure a lower-paying position, but it was disheartening to realize that I was earning less in 2026 than I was in 2024.

I recently found myself jobless after my contract was terminated while I was on medical leave. It's been a tough two months, and I'm currently relying on my savings to get by. I have about 10 years of experience in Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) and IT process automation, with a strong focus on automation and process improvement. I've been actively applying to jobs through major job portals, but unfortunately, I haven't had much luck so far. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has been in a similar situation and can share what strategies worked for them when traditional job applications weren't yielding results. I'm also open to temporary or remote work opportunities while I continue my search for a more permanent role. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

I’ve been struggling to find a job after moving back to the U.S. from Europe. I’m in my early 30s and have a master’s in biology from a reputable university overseas. Despite being multilingual and having some experience in biotech and quality control, I’ve applied for over 100 positions in various parts of the U.S. in the last few months, but I’ve only received one interview for a role that didn’t even offer a living wage, and I was rejected after the second round. I’m currently living with my parents, which is not a sustainable situation for me. I suspect my resume might be getting filtered out for a few reasons: I’m applying for jobs in bio hubs like Boston and DC while using my parents' address in a different state, and I have a foreign degree that might lead companies to think I need visa sponsorship, even though I clearly state that I’m a U.S. citizen at the top of my resume. I’ve tried reaching out to a recruiter and the head of a lab on LinkedIn, but I haven’t received any responses. I’m feeling lost and considering whether I should just take a job in retail or fast food, but I worry that they wouldn’t hire someone with a master’s degree, and I wouldn’t be able to include that experience on my resume without jeopardizing my chances in my field. I’m looking for advice on how to navigate this situation.

I recently encountered an issue with my background check while applying for a position at a tech company. I was excited about the opportunity for a software engineering role, but during the background check process, I was informed that there was a discrepancy regarding my previous employment dates. I had provided accurate information, but it seems there was a misunderstanding on their end. I reached out to the HR department to clarify the situation and provided additional documentation to support my claims. I'm hoping this gets resolved quickly so I can move forward in the hiring process.

I recently interviewed for a debt/credit role at a startup in Bangalore after a long job search as an MBA Finance fresher. Here’s the timeline of my experience: - On September 15-16, the HR called me and assigned an assignment, which I completed successfully. - I had my interview with a Senior Manager on September 29, where I was asked about my background, my understanding of the role, and my interest in debt over equity, considering my internship was in equity research. - After the interview, I promptly sent a thank-you email to HR, but received no response. - I followed up with a call to HR on Monday, but she said she would call back and didn’t. I tried again at 4 pm with no answer. Today, she picked up my call but disconnected immediately, and my WhatsApp messages and texts about the assignment have gone unanswered. I felt the interview went well, and I spent several days preparing. The interviewer mentioned my profile was good but suggested I needed to use the right technical terms, which is understandable for a fresher. Now, it’s been a week of silence, and I’m unsure if this is typical for startups. I’m considering my options: emailing the Senior Manager for an update, contacting the Senior HR whose number I have, or just waiting it out. I’m worried that reaching out might hurt my chances. Any advice?

I've been feeling really disheartened with my job search lately. I'm a 23-year-old woman with a bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising and a minor in international business, which I completed in 2022. After graduation, I worked as a server for a while and gained some retail and merchandising experience. However, I took a break from pursuing my career after having my son in 2025, and now I've been out of the workforce for about 16 months. For the past four months, I've been actively applying for jobs every day, but I've yet to land a single interview. I've applied for various positions, including merchandising, retail corporate roles, coordinator, analyst, and other entry-level business jobs, even remote ones, but it feels like I'm getting nowhere. I suspect that the gap in my résumé might be a factor, but I'm eager and ready to work. At this point, I'm starting to wonder if I'm doing something wrong with my applications or if the job market is just that tough right now. I'm open to both in-person and remote positions. I'm reaching out to see if anyone else is experiencing similar challenges and if there are any companies hiring for entry-level roles. If anyone in recruiting, HR, merchandising, or business has advice for someone with my background, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm not looking for a high-paying job, just a chance to get back into the workforce, use my degree, gain experience, and build a career.

I'm currently in my 5th semester of B.E. Computer Engineering in India, graduating in 2028, and I'm actively seeking internship opportunities for Summer 2027. I'm particularly interested in 2-month internships for June and July, but I'm also open to 6-month internships during my 7th semester in 2027. Additionally, I'm looking for full-time employment opportunities wherever eligible. My focus is on roles such as Software Development Engineer (SDE), consulting, or any other reputable positions at established companies or startups. I've been applying off-campus for a while now, but I haven't received many responses. While my college has decent placement opportunities, I'm eager to explore options beyond campus to enhance my chances. If anyone has referrals, knows of upcoming openings, or can provide guidance on companies hiring 2028 graduates, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm more than willing to DM my resume to anyone who can assist. Any leads or advice would mean a lot. Thank you!

I was laid off about three and a half months ago, and since then, I've been on the job hunt. I've had a few interviews, but most have ended with me being told I'm either overqualified or that they went with someone else who they felt they could train for less money. I get it, it's frustrating but understandable. What really gets to me, though, are the interviews where everything seems to go perfectly. In one instance, during my first interview, the hiring manager told me I absolutely nailed it and that I was exactly what they were looking for. They promised to reach out soon to schedule the next step. In another case, I made it to the final round, and they told me they wanted me for the role. They just needed to finish up with the remaining candidates and would contact me shortly. But then, silence. Days turned into weeks, and when I followed up, I still heard nothing. Eventually, I received a rejection email that referenced how well I had performed, but they decided to go with someone else. What really irks me is the follow-up line they often include: "If this hire doesn’t work out, we’d love to reconnect with you." Excuse me? You had your chance! You made it clear I was the right fit, and now you want to keep me as a backup? I’m a human being with responsibilities—bills to pay and a future to plan. It’s incredibly disheartening to be led on like that. If you think I’m a great fit, don’t just tell me; act on it. And if you choose someone else, don’t expect me to be waiting in the wings for your next opportunity. I’ve already moved on.

I’m currently a university student and I’m feeling the pressure of job searching. I have about six weeks to secure a job before my finances run out, which is stressing me out more than I anticipated. My previous job opportunities came by chance, like a Facebook message or handing in a resume in a small town, so this structured job search is new for me. I've applied to several places like Coles, Woolworths, and Kmart, and I'm planning to go around later this week to drop off my resume in person. However, the constant searching is taking a toll on my mental health. I find myself doomscrolling through job sites during class, and I know this isn't healthy. I’d really appreciate any advice on how to navigate this situation.

I'm currently a senior process operator in the mining industry, earning $55 an hour. Lately, I've been struggling with my mental health due to management issues, changes in my work scope, unrealistic expectations, and long workdays that last 11 hours, plus a 45-minute commute each way. I've been looking to leave my current job for some time now. Recently, I received an offer from a recruitment agency for a quarry position that involves more mobile equipment and fixed plant operations, like crushers and excavators, which I'm interested in learning. However, the pay would drop by $10 to $15 an hour. Financially, we're not in the best shape, but we could manage if I took the pay cut. The pay is expected to increase once I transition from casual to full-time within six months. I'm really torn about whether I'm making a mistake by considering this opportunity for my mental health.

I’ve been unemployed for about 2 months now, and it’s been a tough journey. My background is in sales, with over 7 years of experience ranging from entry-level positions to leadership roles. I was previously in a well-paying job, but I’ve burned through most of my savings due to high expenses I had before being laid off. Thankfully, my fiancée has been supportive, and my family is willing to help, but I’ve always prided myself on being the breadwinner, and this situation is taking a toll on my mental health. Recently, I accepted a BDR role where my main responsibility is to generate my own leads and make around 80 calls a day to set appointments. The pay is quite low compared to the workload, and I’m feeling the pressure of micromanagement and threats of being fired for underperformance, even before I’ve received my first paycheck. The training was minimal—just 3 days of self-guided learning followed by a single hour of shadowing. Now I’m struggling with lead generation and cold calling, both of which are new to me. I took this job out of a sense of panic, thinking a job is better than no job, but I’m starting to question if it’s the right fit for me. I’m still applying for other positions and have an initial screening interview tomorrow, but I’d appreciate any advice on how to navigate this challenging BDR role and whether I should stick it out or look for something more aligned with my skills.

I lost my job in February 2026 due to a layoff, and since then, I've been actively searching for new opportunities. I'm continuously upskilling, tweaking my resume, and applying to various positions. It's been challenging, and I'm starting to wonder if the job market is really that bad or if my options are just limited. I’ve seen others in similar situations; one person I spoke to lost their job just three weeks ago and has had a few interviews, but had to decline some offers due to scheduling conflicts or unsatisfactory pay. It's tough knowing that I probably won't find a job that pays as well as my previous role, especially after being with my last company for 15 years in the banking sector.

I’ve been working in a tech role at my current company for just over a year, and I’m feeling really overwhelmed and unsupported. From the very beginning, I’ve had to teach myself almost everything related to my job because there was hardly any training provided. My manager always says I can ask questions, but whenever I do, I either get redirected to someone else or I feel like I’m bothering them, which often leads to sarcastic responses. Now, there’s an upcoming group meeting where I’m worried I’ll be blamed for an issue that I just found out about, one that apparently started around the time I was hired. It feels like there might be some plans in place against me, and that’s really stressing me out. On top of this, my workload is becoming unmanageable, and while I’ve started applying for new jobs, I’m looking for advice on how to navigate these concerns in the meantime. Any encouragement or tips would be really appreciated.

I recently started a new job at a healthcare office in a front desk/admin position, which I specifically applied for. During the interview, the manager mentioned that there would be some cross-training for clinical support, but I made it clear that I wasn't interested in that aspect of the job. He assured me that I would primarily be at the front desk, only covering clinical duties when necessary. I accepted the offer based on that understanding. However, within my first week, I was informed that my role would now mainly involve room turnover and cleaning instruments, with front desk duties being a secondary responsibility. A coworker even mentioned that in his year there, he only had to cover the clinical side a handful of times, which makes me feel like I was misled. I'm planning to ask my manager if this change is temporary or permanent, but I'm feeling uneasy about the situation. I have a safety net since I live with family, so I'm not in a financial bind, but I'm anxious about quitting without another job lined up. I really don't want to stay in a position where the terms have changed so drastically so soon. Has anyone else experienced something similar? Should I start job hunting now or wait it out while I look for something else?

I was let go from my job after just 5 weeks, which left me feeling pretty lost and devastated. I shared my struggles here a while back, but I’m back now with some good news! I landed a full-time position starting October 13th! The past few months have been tough. I applied to countless jobs and went through interviews that led nowhere. Not having a vehicle made it even harder, and there were moments I really doubted I’d find something. But finally, someone took a chance on me! I still have a few things to sort out before I start, like completing my TB test, getting a police record check, and securing a bus pass for commuting. I also need to grab some business casual clothes and stock up on groceries to get me through until my first paycheck. I previously set up a GoFundMe because I was falling behind on bills and rent, and I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who contributed. It helped me catch up and get back on my feet. I’m leaving the GoFundMe up for now as I could still use some assistance with these last expenses before I start working. I just wanted to share this update because my last post was during a really tough time for me. While I’m not completely out of the woods yet, I finally feel like I’m on the right path. ❤️

I was fired from my job about three months ago due to performance issues, which I found out was labeled as "conscious failure to perform duties" on my denial notice. This led to my unemployment claim being denied on July 15th. I immediately submitted an appeal, but I haven't received a scheduled date for the hearing yet. I called the appeal line, and the representative informed me that it could take up to 90 days, while the website mentions a range of 45 to 150 days. I signed a severance agreement after HR submitted the paperwork to the unemployment office, which should help my case once they receive the appeal paperwork. I was offered a new job last week, but it's lower paying, so I plan to keep looking while I wait for the unemployment payout.

Applied at Google for Unknown

I'm feeling really stuck in my job search right now. I've been applying to various positions but haven't been able to land a single interview. I have relevant experience in my field, but I suspect my resume might not be showcasing it effectively. I'm reaching out for some pointers on how to improve it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Today, I’m preparing for a big step in my job search. I applied for a mid-career engineering role and went through a phone screen followed by an initial Teams interview with the direct manager. They’ve now invited me for the final round of interviews on-site, which is quite intense. I’ll be facing 5 back-to-back interviews with different individuals from the team. I’ve heard mixed opinions about this format. Some say it’s better than having multiple separate rounds, but it still feels like a gauntlet to me. I’m trying to gauge if this is a common practice in the industry. I’m a bit anxious about the possibility of repeating myself and how to tailor my responses to each interviewer’s focus. I’ve read that pacing myself will be crucial and that I should prepare for some repetition in questions. Some past interviewees shared their experiences, noting that it can be exhausting but manageable. I’m hoping to make a good impression and show that I’m a fit for the role. Any tips or insights from those who have gone through similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.