Applied to a Job

Today, I spent two frustrating hours tailoring my resume for a senior manager role that I know I'm perfectly qualified for. After hitting apply, I was redirected to one of those awful proprietary application portals. They required me to upload my well-formatted PDF resume, but then the next screen asked me to manually re-enter the exact same work history I just uploaded. It made no sense to have a resume parser if the software just scrambles everything anyway. For instance, it mistakenly listed my college degree as my current job title and decided my legal first name was just 'Ms' due to a mandatory dropdown menu. I felt like I was being transformed into a nameless Victorian governess instead of showcasing my experience as a senior manager. I had to spend extra time deleting all the garbage formatting box by box. My husband even popped his head into the office to ask why I was sighing so aggressively at my screen. I couldn't help but wonder what the actual point of submitting a PDF was. Are hiring managers just collecting them for fun? Do they print them out to make origami swans in the HR department? To top it all off, they had the audacity to ask for a cover letter at the end of the process. At this point, I’m just copy-pasting the same text everywhere because I’m completely drained before even receiving an automated rejection email. There’s nothing worse than spending 40 minutes retyping my own life history for a company that will just auto-reject me at 3 AM on a Sunday. I really should have just stayed at my old job. Why is this even a thing?

I recently accepted a job offer after four years at my previous company, where I was quite happy. I went through three rounds of interviews over five weeks and received an offer letter that was significantly better, about $25k more than my previous salary. After signing the offer, I put in my two weeks' notice and my old company was supportive, even throwing me a little goodbye lunch. However, just three days before my start date, I received an email from the new company's HR department stating that the position had been eliminated due to restructuring, and they were rescinding the offer. This left me in a tough spot, as I had already quit my job and now found myself unemployed with rent due in just three weeks. I immediately reached out to my old manager to see if there was any chance I could return, but he mentioned that they had already begun the process to backfill my role and would need approval from his director. There are no guarantees, and I feel completely at a loss. I'm also wondering if there are any legal options available to me since I relied on their written promise of employment to my detriment. It feels incredibly unfair, and I'm left feeling angry and anxious about my financial situation.

I’m feeling really overwhelmed right now. I’m a 25-year-old female who has been working as a tour guide for the past two and a half years in a growing city. Initially, I loved my job, especially since I have a degree in history and a passion for wildlife. The tips were great, and I enjoyed sharing my knowledge with visitors. However, I recently left my first tour guide position because the management only hired people they knew personally, which was frustrating. I moved to a new company where the pay is significantly better, but I’m finding myself very unhappy. The tourism numbers have dropped back to levels similar to during COVID, and my tips have decreased dramatically. I was hired as a full-time employee, but last week I only got 20 hours of work, which is really concerning since I’m starting grad school in a few weeks and need the income. When I informed my boss about starting grad school, she seemed upset that it would affect her scheduling, which made me feel undervalued. I’ve been applying to jobs non-stop but haven’t received any callbacks. It’s tough to see my boyfriend and friends thriving in their careers while I feel stuck and craving stability.

I recently landed a pre-screening interview with Oracle for a Sales Development Representative position in Dubai, specifically for their NetSuite team. As a recent graduate from a well-known university in the UK, I have about three months of internship experience in sales with a large multinational engineering company. My academic background is in business studies and operations management. I have a couple of concerns that I hope to get some advice on. Firstly, the job listing mentions a minimum of 12 months of previous sales experience, while I only have around 7 months in total, with 3 months specifically in sales. I'm worried that this might lead to a rejection. Secondly, I would greatly appreciate any tips or strategies to help me succeed in this interview and potentially in subsequent rounds as well. I'm eager to make a strong impression and would love to hear any insights from those who have been through similar experiences.

I'm currently a college freshman and I've been struggling to find a job. I've applied to several places like a local cafe, McDonald's, and Alorica, but unfortunately, I haven't been hired yet. With the rising transportation costs, I really want to contribute to my family's expenses, even if it's just for transport. If anyone has recommendations for jobs suitable for students, I would really appreciate it.

I'm currently 19 years old and have been struggling to find a job for a while now, which has led me to accumulate about $10,000 in debt. I worked at McDonald's from the age of 16 to 18 but quit because I felt burnt out. After that, I tried working at Sonic for a month but ended up quitting again. I've applied to various jobs that interest me, like a desk receptionist at a health clinic, positions at Walmart, FedEx, and even a mechanic role, but I've only applied online. I'm wondering what jobs I could potentially get by going in person that would allow me to start within a week or two, as I need full-time work. I live in Yuma, Arizona, and I've heard it's tough to find jobs here. I have hands-on experience fixing cars and houses, so I believe I could earn a bit more than minimum wage. I'm also enrolled in online nursing classes, which gives me a flexible schedule. I'm really trying to figure out what career I could love and stick with long-term.

I graduated two months ago and have been on the job hunt ever since. I've applied to over 100 positions through various platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed, focusing on tailoring my CV to match job descriptions. Despite feeling confident in my applications—having received feedback from HR acquaintances—I’ve only landed two interviews. One of those resulted in a job offer, but I had to decline it because the salary wouldn’t even cover a third of my rent in the city. Currently, I'm living back at my parents' house, which feels pretty disheartening. My field of study is quite international, so there aren't many local opportunities, but I'm open to relocating for the right job. I’m feeling exhausted by the application process, especially since many companies require extensive written responses. I’m also running low on savings and relying on my parents, which adds to my stress. I’m looking for any tips or advice on how to improve my job search.

Feeling really hopeless right now in my job search. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in a relevant field three months ago and have been applying to entry-level positions in the pharmaceutical industry for the past 6-7 months. Despite my efforts, I've only landed four interviews, making it to the technical interview stage twice, but I was ghosted both times. I'm starting to wonder if I'm overqualified for these roles, as I keep getting rejected or not hearing back even for positions I meet the qualifications for. I don't require visa sponsorship since I'm a citizen, so I'm unsure where I'm going wrong.

Today was my last day at my job in tech/cybersecurity. I'm a 50-year-old male with no degree and have been in the industry for a long time. I never expected to find myself unemployed at this age, especially as the sole breadwinner for my family, which includes my disabled wife. Since learning about the impending layoff, I've been actively applying for jobs, but so far, I've received zero responses. It feels daunting, and I'm starting to worry about how bad this situation will get.

I'm currently working a custodial job at my local college, and to be honest, it's been pretty boring lately. With the school year on pause, I'm stuck cleaning the same 4 bathrooms, 4 offices, 1 break room, and 11 classrooms, and there's hardly anything to do since there are no students around. I could ask my manager for more tasks, but at $12/hr, I'm not inclined to overextend myself for such low pay. Instead, I've been passing the time scrolling through social media, applying for jobs, and updating my resume. I've even saved a few job listings but I'm hesitant to apply. I'm looking for ways to fill the time and maybe even find a random certification that could help me land a better job. If anyone has tips on how to make this time more productive or suggestions for certifications, I would really appreciate it!

I recently found myself in a bit of a dilemma after applying for two similar positions at different companies. I had an interview with Company 1, and they sent me an offer letter shortly after, which I need to respond to by Friday. However, that same afternoon, Company 2 reached out to schedule a phone interview. During the call with HR at Company 2, they indicated that everything looked promising, but I would need to meet with local management, who is currently on vacation this week. I was transparent with them about the offer from Company 1, and the HR representative appreciated my honesty, promising to expedite their decision process as best as possible. While I recognize this is a fortunate situation to be in, I'm feeling quite torn. The compensation package at Company 2 is significantly better—double the pay, double the retirement match, and double the bonus. I’m hesitant to ask Company 1 for an extension on their offer, as I fear that could jeopardize my chances. At the same time, I don’t want to accept the position at Company 1 only to potentially leave before even starting if Company 2 comes through. I'm weighing my options carefully and trying to figure out the best course of action.

I recently received an invitation to complete the first-round video interview for a Case Manager position with Helen’s Project. I'm feeling excited about this opportunity but also a bit nervous, especially since I tend to overthink recorded interviews. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has gone through this process before. I'd love to hear about your overall experience, how long the interview took, and what types of questions were asked—were they mostly behavioral, situational, or focused on your background? Any tips or insights you could share would be greatly appreciated, as I want to make sure I put my best foot forward. Thanks in advance for any help!

I recently received an interview offer for a role I applied for at a company I found online. They instructed me to create an account with Microsoft Teams so they could send me the interview link and details. However, the initial email went to my spam folder because of its wording, and it felt quite automated, which raised some red flags for me. I'm concerned that this could be a scam since I haven't encountered a situation where a company asks you to set up an account on a platform before scheduling an interview. To be cautious, I'm considering creating a new email address specifically for this purpose. I want to ensure my personal information is protected while still being able to participate in the interview if it is legitimate.

Applied at Lidl for Cleaning Position

Applied at Chase Bank for Associate Banker

Applied at Amazon for Unknown

Applied at Southern California Edison for Distribution Planning Specialist

I was laid off from my job at a startup where I had worked for 10 years in April 2025, along with 45 of my coworkers. The situation was devastating, especially after private investors had promised that there would be no layoffs. Just a month later, most of the company was gone, leaving us all in shock. Since then, I've submitted 277 job applications and had about 10 interviews, but I've faced countless rejections and have been ghosted after interviews. I'm feeling completely lost and desperate. I've even applied for entry-level positions but still haven't received any responses. I'm not being picky; I just need any job at this point. With no family support and my savings nearly depleted, I'm in a constant state of panic. If things don't turn around in the next two months, I fear I could end up homeless. I'm reaching out for any advice or support.

I recently found myself in a tough situation at my job, where I've been working for the last three years. Back in May, we were informed that our company would be closing in six months due to a larger manufacturing firm acquiring us. Since then, I've been actively applying for new positions and managed to land one interview, but unfortunately, I didn't perform well and missed the mark on salary discussions. Recently, I had a promising onsite interview with an aerospace manufacturing contractor, which led to a verbal offer. However, there are a few complications. I also applied for a tech position that had a higher pay range, but since I haven't completed my associates degree in chemical engineering and only have three years of experience, they downgraded me to a junior tech position, resulting in a lower paygrade. Their initial offer was only $2,000 more than my current salary. When I asked about negotiating the salary, HR informed me that it wasn’t possible due to my qualifications not meeting the higher tier requirements, although they assured me it was still above what they pay their juniors. I haven't signed anything yet, as they said they would send the written offer in a day or two. Adding to my dilemma, I have another interview scheduled for next Tuesday with a different company that manufactures electrical devices for the government, and they have a much higher pay range. With the verbal offer on the table, I'm torn between accepting a lateral move with minimal salary increase or holding out for a potentially better opportunity at the upcoming interview. The retention bonus from my current job is quite low, barely covering a month’s expenses, which adds to my urgency. I'm seeking advice on whether I should take the verbal offer and continue interviewing or wait for the next opportunity. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I've been working at my current company for the last three years, but in May, we were informed that we would be closing in six months due to a larger manufacturing firm acquiring us. Since then, I've been actively applying for jobs and only managed to secure one interview, which I didn't do well in because I asked about salary too early. Recently, I had a promising onsite interview with an aerospace manufacturing contractor that led to a verbal offer. However, I've hit a couple of snags. First, I applied for a tech position that offered a higher salary, but they downgraded me from intermediate to junior tech because I haven't completed my associate's degree in chemical engineering yet (I have two semesters left) and I only have three years of experience. The lower pay grade they offered was still within my desired range, but when I received the verbal offer, they only increased my salary by $2,000 annually compared to my current pay. When I inquired about negotiating the salary, HR informed me that it wasn't possible since I didn't meet the requirements for the higher tier, although they assured me I'd be earning more than their junior employees. I haven't signed anything yet; it was just a verbal agreement, and they mentioned sending the written offer in a couple of days. To complicate matters, I have another interview lined up for next Tuesday with a different firm that manufactures electrical devices for the government, and they typically offer a higher pay range than what I'm currently making. I'm in a tough spot because the verbal offer I received requires me to sign by Friday, but I'm hesitant to accept a lateral move with minimal pay increase when I have another opportunity on the horizon. Additionally, the retention bonus from my current job is quite low, barely covering one month's expenses, which is why I'm not inclined to wait for the layoff. I'm trying to figure out the best course of action here.