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I'm 25 and feeling a bit lost in my career after taking a nontraditional path. I graduated from Rutgers in 2024 with degrees in Economics and Communication, but instead of jumping into a corporate job, I spent the last few years modeling in NYC. I've been signed with a major agency and have worked on various commercial and e-commerce projects for well-known brands, along with freelancing in content creation and styling. While I've had some amazing experiences, the work has been inconsistent, which has made me realize I want more stability in my career. Recently, I accepted a part-time job near my parents' house, but it's only two days a week and doesn't provide enough income for independence. I'm now actively applying for full-time positions in creative production, project coordination, and marketing, and I'm starting to feel the pressure of wanting a stable salary, a routine, and my own place. I can't shake the feeling that I'm behind compared to others my age who have established careers and their own apartments. Living at home adds to that feeling, even though I'm grateful for the support. Rationally, I know I've gained valuable experience and skills, and I'm even getting interviews, but emotionally, I keep questioning why I didn't start this journey sooner. I'm reaching out to see if anyone else has felt this way after spending their early 20s freelancing or pursuing unconventional paths. How did you transition into a more traditional career, and how long did it take before you felt established? I'm struggling to differentiate between wanting to make changes now and feeling like I've completely messed up my early 20s. Any insights from those who rebuilt their careers in their mid-to-late 20s would be greatly appreciated.

I recently completed my third year at a music university, achieving a first-class degree, and I'm set to graduate this December. Over the past four months, I've applied to numerous jobs in both the creative industries and other sectors, but I've had little success. My CV highlights my work experience from university, and I’ve also created a portfolio showcasing three years of projects. I've even taken the initiative to visit various post-production studios in London in hopes of finding opportunities. Unfortunately, most of my applications have gone unanswered or resulted in rejections. With the rise of AI and the current job market struggles in the UK, I’m starting to feel like my degree might not lead to the career I envisioned. If anyone knows of any entry-level or graduate positions in the creative field in London, I would greatly appreciate the leads!

I’m currently 17 and living in Florida, desperately trying to find a job since I graduated high school. I’ve been applying everywhere—Starbucks, Walmart, various internships, and fast food places like McDonald's and Longhorn, but nothing seems to work out. My dad is pushing me to get a job because he plans to move out of state when I turn 18, and I feel immense pressure to support myself. I’m also stressed about a $120 medical bill that he wants me to pay, which feels like a lot for someone who is unemployed. I’m starting college soon and want to save up for a cheap car, but I feel stuck. I’m even considering technical jobs or nursing, but I can’t start working in those fields until I turn 18. I’m worried I’ll be unemployed for the next eight months and am feeling overwhelmed by the whole situation.

I recently applied for a position at a company and submitted my CV, but I haven't heard back yet. I'm considering reaching out to them again to follow up on my application. Is it appropriate to contact them after already submitting my CV? I want to make sure I'm not being too pushy, but I also want to express my continued interest in the role.

I’m currently helping my wife, who is 25 and an introvert, navigate her job search after feeling burnt out from her sales/account manager position at a local countertop company. The work environment has been really toxic, and she often comes home in a terrible mood. It's heartbreaking to see her cry about work multiple times a month. Unfortunately, her current job is crucial for us financially, as it covers our bills, so the pressure is on to find something new. I’ve been assisting her with applications, but the constant rejections are taking a toll on her mental health. To alleviate some of her stress, I’ve decided to take over her job search and act as a recruiter for her. We’re looking for roles that are in safe office settings, avoiding anything that could put her in a dangerous situation. Her resume highlights her skills, such as managing over 30 commercial client accounts and maintaining a CRM database to track client interactions. I’m hoping to find her a position in a less toxic environment, possibly in retail or commercial customer service, or even inventory management. Any advice on how to approach this or what types of roles might be a good fit would be greatly appreciated.

After applying for countless jobs and facing constant rejection, I hit a wall. I used to put so much effort into crafting tailored cover letters, but it felt pointless. Whether I sent a meticulously researched application or just a silly photo of my cat, the responses were the same—nonexistent. This experience has really taken a toll on my mental health, and I've found myself giving up on trying so hard. It’s frustrating to feel like no matter how much effort I put in, I’m not getting anywhere. I’m not sure what my next step should be.

I received a call today from a cleaning company I applied to a few days ago, and they asked if I was still interested in the position. I said yes, and I have a test cleaning scheduled for tomorrow to see if I'm a good fit for the job and if I still want it. However, I'm feeling really embarrassed about this situation. I have a bachelor's degree in social and political science and I'm almost finished with my master's degree—just need to wrap up my thesis. This cleaning job is not what I envisioned for myself, and I feel guilty about needing to take it. I've been applying for jobs for the past six months, and the job market here in Finland is tough, especially for my age group, with about a 10% unemployment rate. I know I'm not alone in this struggle, but it feels disheartening. I don't want to rely on my supportive family for financial help, and I feel like I've failed in some way. I know I need the job, but it's just not aligned with what I've worked so hard for over the past five years. I'm trying to figure out how to cope with these feelings.

I had a really tough experience recently after being laid off from my software engineering job back in April 2023. Since then, I've been actively applying for new positions but facing a lot of rejections. To improve my chances, I started reaching out to friends for referrals, hoping they could help me get past the initial screening process. Some of them were genuinely supportive, but others really surprised me with their responses. One friend, who used to rely on me for help during our college days, told me there were no openings at his company. The next day, I saw him liking a LinkedIn post about their job openings! Another friend, who works in a different field (Analytics/Data Science), suggested I consider government jobs instead and even mentioned bribing my way into one, which I found completely off-putting. He offered to refer me but then went silent after our conversation. This whole experience made me realize how some people can be toxic and unsupportive when you're down. It’s disheartening to see how jealousy and greed can overshadow genuine friendship. Thankfully, I do have a few true friends who have been there for me, and I feel grateful for their support.

I was laid off a month ago from my role as a Senior Product Manager in a fintech company, where I had spent 8 years contributing to major projects and driving results. I was blindsided by the layoff, especially since it happened during my annual leave and I had no backup plan in place. Since then, I've been on the hunt for a new PM position, but the job market feels incredibly unstable right now. I've applied to 65 jobs in the past month, but I've only managed to secure 3 interviews, with 2 of them reaching the final round. Unfortunately, both roles were put on hold, which has been disheartening. The competition is fierce, especially for remote positions, as there are hundreds of applicants for each role. I'm starting to lose my motivation, feeling like every day is just a repeat of the last. I wonder if this situation will improve anytime soon. Has anyone else experienced similar challenges in finding a job as an experienced PM? How are you coping with the current job market?

I am currently in the hiring process with a large company for a position I interviewed for. I've completed two rounds of interviews—one with a recruiter and the second with the team leader and two technical team members. Recently, I received an email asking me to provide personal information and several documents to complete a background check, but I haven’t received a formal job offer yet. When I followed up for an update two weeks later, I was informed that I am among the finalists and should expect an update this week. This is the first time I've encountered a background check being conducted for multiple candidates simultaneously. While I was feeling confident about my chances, I now realize that I need to temper my expectations as the outcome could go either way.

I had an interview for a position almost two weeks ago, and shortly after, I received an offer for a different role in the same division. We had a follow-up meeting to discuss the job responsibilities, pay, and timeline for hiring. During that meeting, I requested the maximum salary, which is still quite low at $20/hour. They mentioned they would consult with HR to see how high they could go with the offer. I followed up the following Monday to check in, and I was told that HR would be in touch soon. Now, it’s been another week since that last update, and I’m contemplating whether I should reach out again for an update. I’m eager to know about the pay and when I can expect a written offer, but I want to remain professional and not seem too pushy.

I've been working in the health care sector, and things have been getting progressively worse. We are seeing fewer patients, which I suspect is due to management cutting back on marketing because of low funds. Six months ago, I was earning a decent salary, and everything seemed fine. Now, my pay has dropped significantly, and I'm making much less than before. I've applied to dozens of jobs, but I haven't received any responses. I'm feeling stuck and unsure whether I should quit and stay home or try to tough it out. I'm also wondering if this situation is common across the industry or if it's just my workplace.

I recently applied for a few roles at Pareto and I've been doing some research on the company. I've come across a number of negative reviews online, which has made me a bit hesitant. I'm trying to figure out if these reviews reflect the actual work environment or if they are just outliers. I would love to hear from anyone who has worked there, especially regarding their graduate schemes. Are they worth pursuing or should I look elsewhere?

I recently applied for a part-time receptionist position at a local independent insurance agent's office, which is conveniently close to my home. When I arrived for the application process, I was surprised to find that they required me to take an aptitude test. I thought, okay, that’s reasonable. However, what I didn’t expect was the 86-question sales and leadership questionnaire that followed. The format was a series of statements where I had to rate my agreement from "I agree" to "I sort of agree" and so on. After reaching question 7, I felt overwhelmed and decided to withdraw my application. I sent them an email explaining my decision, stating that the sales and leadership test seemed excessive for a receptionist role. It was frustrating to encounter such an unexpected hurdle.

I have a chat scheduled with someone from the team I applied to, and I'm feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. I'm really interested in this position, and I hope this conversation can help me stand out as a candidate. I want to make sure I approach it the right way, especially since I'm hoping for a referral. I've been searching for advice on what to ask, but most suggestions seem too generic, like typical coffee chat questions about hobbies or career paths. This isn't just a casual chat for me; there's a specific job opening I'm aiming for, and I want to make the most of this opportunity. I want to ask questions that will give me insights into the team dynamics and the role itself, while also sharing my background in a way that feels natural and not overly self-promotional. I'm looking for guidance on how to frame my experience without it coming off as just a pitch. Additionally, I need advice on how to bring up the possibility of a referral at the end of our conversation without making it feel transactional. If anyone has been in a similar position, I’d love to hear what questions you found effective or how you navigated these conversations.

I just received a verbal offer today after a challenging job search, and I'm hopeful that a written offer will follow tomorrow. My journey started with a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) at my previous company, which was unexpected and vague in its feedback. Despite my efforts to improve, it became clear that I was unlikely to succeed, so I began applying for new jobs. I had my last working day confirmed about a month ago, and it felt like a layoff disguised as performance issues since the company handbook stated that severance is only provided for layoffs. During this time, I kept applying aggressively, using tools like ChatGPT to refine my resume to be ATS-friendly and creating multiple versions tailored for different roles. After submitting around 950-1000 applications over two months, I received callbacks from a few companies and went through several interviews. Ultimately, I got a verbal offer for a more senior position with a slight salary increase, but it comes with a 50-minute commute and is fully onsite, which is a big change from my previous remote setup. I know nothing is finalized until I sign the written offer, but I’m relieved that my unemployment may soon be over. This experience has been incredibly stressful, and it’s disheartening to see how many applications go unanswered. I learned that while some recommend a careful approach to job applications, sometimes a broader strategy is necessary, as many positions can disappear unexpectedly. I sincerely hope the job market improves soon.

I graduated this past spring with a B.S. in Business Administration, concentrating in Finance. Since then, I’ve been actively applying for entry-level finance, analyst, and administrative roles, but I haven’t had much luck securing a position. My long-term goal is to work in municipal finance or corporate finance, and I’ve recently been focusing more on local government positions as I seem to get more responses there, even if they are rejections. Over the past year, I've had about four interviews with various cities, but none have led to a job offer. One internship I applied for had around 200 applicants, and while I did get an interview, I wasn’t selected. I was even open to taking an unpaid finance internship with another city, but it ultimately came down to me and another candidate, and she got the role. This experience has led me to question whether I should continue pursuing entry-level roles or consider going back to school. I’ve noticed that many finance leadership positions in government highly value or prefer candidates with a CPA. In fact, I've interviewed with city managers who hold CPA licenses. I’m now contemplating applying to graduate programs for a Master’s in Accounting for Fall 2027, potentially at USC or similar schools. My goal would be to complete the necessary accounting coursework and sit for the CPA exam. I believe this could help me gain the credential, build a stronger foundation in accounting, and open doors to internships or opportunities that might be harder to access otherwise. So, I’m at a crossroads: should I keep pursuing entry-level roles to gain experience, or should I return to school for a MAcc and CPA?

Applied at Alliance Health for Executive Assistant

Applied at The Core Tech for Unknown

I’m currently in the job search phase and feeling pretty frustrated. I’m 17 and trying to find my first job, but it seems like everyone around me has already landed a position. I've sent out over 30 applications, but I've only managed to secure three interviews. Unfortunately, two of those ended in rejection, and the third one ghosted me completely. It was especially disheartening because the interviewer seemed to like me, and I followed up multiple times only to be told that my name would be passed to the hiring manager, but nothing came of it. I’m really feeling the pinch financially and just want to find something to get started.