Applied to a Job

I recently received a referral for a position at a tech company where I applied for a software engineering role. It's been a couple of weeks since my application was submitted, and despite the referral, I haven't heard anything back about an interview. I'm feeling a bit anxious about the situation, as I thought having a referral would increase my chances of getting an interview. I'm considering following up with the person who referred me to see if they have any insights or if I should reach out to the hiring manager directly.

I wanted to take a moment to vent about my job search struggles. I've been looking for a job for almost two years now, and it's really wearing me down. Despite having years of professional experience and applying for various positions at different levels, I just can't seem to land anything. At this point, I'm not even looking for my dream job; I just want to work. One of the most frustrating parts has been dealing with recruiters, especially those who reach out to me through Dice. They often act like a position is urgent and expect me to drop everything to talk to them. I do my best to accommodate, sending them whatever they ask for and having conversations, but then I hear nothing back. No updates, no rejections—just silence. This cycle has become exhausting and disheartening. With each passing day, I find myself feeling more discouraged and even depressed. I've spent so much time applying, interviewing, rewriting my resume, and tweaking cover letters, all while wondering what I'm doing wrong. I know the job market is tough right now, and I'm not alone in this struggle, but that knowledge doesn't make it any easier to cope with. If anyone here has been in a similar situation and eventually found a way out, I would love to hear your stories. Did you change industries, take a lower-level job, stop using recruiters, or try a different approach? I'm open to any practical advice, and honestly, I could use some support from others who understand how demoralizing this process can be.

Today, I reflected on my job search journey as a 27-year-old with a bachelor's degree in library science but very little work experience. Growing up with ADHD and autism, I wasn't encouraged to seek employment, which has left me feeling lost now that I want to start my career. My work history includes just a week at a kindergarten, a month as a library intern, another month at a clothing store, and nearly three months at a cafe. I've been applying to jobs, but it seems like I'm either overqualified or not qualified enough. Libraries and bookstores often overlook my applications due to my lack of specific experience in the field, and it's disheartening. I feel like I've failed at life and I'm unsure how to move forward. I've received some advice from others, like removing my degree from my resume for jobs that don't require it, or considering volunteering at a library to gain relevant experience. Networking seems to be a crucial part of this process, and I plan to engage with professionals in my field on LinkedIn and explore community groups. I never anticipated how challenging this would be, and I’m contemplating temp jobs or even going back to school for a secondary degree in document management to enhance my prospects. It’s frustrating, but I’m determined to find a way to build my resume and get my foot in the door.

I was recently laid off and have been searching for a new job since June. My goal is to apply to 10 jobs each week, but despite my efforts to network on LinkedIn and attend job fairs, I haven't received any responses. I'm currently targeting director roles, but I'm starting to feel the pressure of financial hardship and the reality of the job market. I've heard from others who have been in similar situations, and many suggest that I need to increase my applications and consider lower-level positions if I want to see any progress. It's discouraging to think that being out of work for a few months might affect my chances, but I’m trying to stay positive and keep pushing forward.

A month ago, a former associate contacted me about a position at their new company that seemed to align well with my background. I decided to go through the interview process, which involved three rounds, culminating in a meeting with a C-level executive. During that final interview, I got a strange vibe, almost like I was at a used car dealership, as the executive was pushing for me to accept a consultant role, even though the job was advertised as a full-time position. I respectfully declined, emphasizing that I was looking for a long-term opportunity and was approached for this role, not the other way around. After that, my interest in the position waned. A few days later, I noticed the company had reposted the job, which made me feel like the C-level executive doubted my qualifications. Almost a month later, my former associate emailed me, including the C-level executive, stating that I was still being considered but they wanted to start me as a consultant with the possibility of transitioning to full-time later. This made me feel like they don't see me as the ideal candidate. Am I overreacting? What would others do in my situation?

Today, I had a final round interview for a senior analyst position that I was really looking forward to. The first two technical rounds went well, but things took a strange turn during the final interview with the department head and a senior HR representative. About ten minutes in, the department head unexpectedly asked me if I was planning to have kids in the next two years or if I had any significant family plans. I was caught off guard because this type of question is not only inappropriate but also illegal in my area. I tried to maintain my professionalism and responded that I preferred to focus on my professional qualifications and how they aligned with the role. The manager just stared at me for a moment, then abruptly closed his laptop with a loud click, stood up, and left the room without saying a word. The HR representative looked visibly uncomfortable, mumbled something about following up via email, and quickly followed him out. I sat there in silence for a couple of minutes before gathering my things and leaving. I was shocked by the lack of professionalism and the blatant disregard for legal interview practices. It seems clear that this is not a company I would want to work for.

I completed my final round of interviews for a position on September 10th. During that interview, HR discussed salary verbally and mentioned that I would need to have a final discussion with the CPO to finalize things. It took a week to schedule that call, and then they suggested that I might fit better into another opening on the same team, so they wanted me to interview with another manager. The day after that, they reached out for my documents and said there would be a call for salary discussion. However, it has now been a week since I submitted my documents, and I haven't received any response. I've been following up every two days, but still no word from them. I'm feeling anxious since I'm currently unemployed and really hoping for this job. Is it normal to experience such a long wait? Should I still expect an offer or should I start looking elsewhere?

I’m currently seeking my first job opportunity in the tech/business sector after completing my Master’s degree nearly two years ago. Originally from India, I moved to the USA and have been actively applying for entry-level positions since then. Despite having relevant skills and continuously improving myself, I’ve faced significant challenges in my job search, including a lot of ghosting after interviews where I felt confident about my performance. It’s been exhausting and discouraging, but I’m determined to keep going. I’m reaching out to the community for help with a few things: - Referrals or leads for entry-level roles - Feedback on my resume or LinkedIn profile - Advice on how to enhance my job search strategy - Connections with recruiters or hiring managers - Any other insights based on your experiences would be greatly appreciated. I’m ready to put in the effort to learn and grow; I just need a chance to prove myself. If anyone knows of openings or can connect me with someone in the industry, I would be incredibly grateful.

I recently applied for a coffee job at a small brand that is opening a new location. The original store is 28 miles away from where I live, and I was invited for an interview at that location. The interview is set to last for two hours, which they described as a vibe check involving activities and games to get to know each other, but it’s still just part of the interview process. This feels quite unusual to me. The commute takes about an hour each way, so I'm looking at a total of four hours out of my day for an unpaid interview. On top of that, I'm concerned about the gas costs, as filling up my tank is around $80. I understand the job market is tough right now, but this situation seems quite extreme. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing.

I was laid off in March 2026 and I'm urgently searching for a job. I have an MBA and over 8 years of experience in B2B sales. Since my layoff, I've applied to more than 550 jobs and have gone through 20+ interviews, but unfortunately, I haven't had any luck yet. This has been a really tough time for me, and I'm reaching out for support. If anyone has openings or can provide referrals, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!

I received a call today asking me to come in tomorrow at a specific time, but the person on the other end didn't clarify if it was for an interview or something else. I agreed to show up, but now I'm second-guessing what I should wear since I didn't think to ask. I'm 17 and have been applying to over 40 jobs, so this is the first response I've gotten back. I have a pair of nice fitting black/grey jeans, several plain t-shirts, a few dress shirts in black and maroon, and some black slacks. I'm torn between going casual or formal. Also, I have some face piercings and I'm wondering if I should hide them or just let them be and address it when I get there. I'm feeling a bit anxious about the whole situation and could use some advice on how to present myself.

I have an interview tomorrow morning for a position at a company where the format is quite unusual. It's scheduled for an hour and a half, and the first hour is dedicated to creating a PowerPoint presentation based on a prompt they provide. After that, I will present my slides and answer questions for the remainder of the time. This is my second interview with them; the first one involved taking a personality test on their computer. I find the whole process a bit bizarre since I haven't had a real conversation with anyone from the company yet. However, I'm eager to leave my current job, so I'm willing to tackle this challenge head-on.

Applied at NewYork-Presbyterian for Day Flex HR Connects Advisor

Applied at Progress Delivery for Quality Inspector

Applied at Smoothie King for smoothie maker

I applied for the HR Assistant position at William Osler Health System in Toronto and my application is still under review. I'm curious if anyone else has heard back from them regarding this role. Just trying to gauge the timeline for responses.

I was laid off from my job at Company A at the end of April after nearly four years. I received severance pay until mid-June, which helped me get by. Once that ended, I started a part-time position at Company B, where I initially had enough hours due to covering for others on leave. However, by the end of July, the hours dwindled, and I couldn’t make ends meet. To fill the gap, I took another part-time job at Company C. Unfortunately, just two months later, I was laid off from Company C. Now, I'm back to just my part-time job at Company B, which isn't enough to sustain my budget. I was told I could file for unemployment after being laid off from Companies A and C, and I’m hoping to file for partial unemployment to supplement my income from Company B. My concern is that since I haven’t been laid off from Company B, they might dispute my claim, especially since I haven’t been officially notified of a reduction in hours. I’m looking for advice on whether I can still get partial unemployment in this situation.

I've been searching for part-time job opportunities as a college student and applying to every listing I come across, but unfortunately, I haven't received any responses yet. I suspect that my limited availability might be a deterrent for employers. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has recommendations for jobs that are more accommodating to students like me.

Today, I had an interview during my lunch break for a new role while working at my current company, which requires me to be fully in-person. Finding a private space to conduct interviews has been challenging due to my managers frequently rescheduling meetings or stopping by my desk unexpectedly. So, I ended up taking the interview from my parked car. I made sure to dress professionally and blurred my background to maintain a good impression. The conversation felt positive, and I was excited to hear that they want to schedule a second interview. However, during the follow-up, the HR representative mentioned that the hiring manager noticed I was in my car. I explained my situation and that my car was the quietest option available. Thankfully, she understood and offered to set up the next interview before my workday, which I appreciated. Now, I'm a bit worried that taking the call from my car might have left a negative impression. I’m curious if HR’s comment was a concern or just an attempt to accommodate my schedule. I do have an in-person interview later on, and I hope that goes well. I’d love to hear thoughts on whether this might affect my chances.

I just got laid off today from my role as a remote contract worker. The company said they needed to downsize, which I can believe since we hadn't been getting many clients over the past three months. Ironically, just last week my manager scheduled me for more projects and reassured me that things were turning around. I'm 26 years old and the sole breadwinner for my family, taking care of my mum and little sister. To make matters worse, our house is half destroyed because we were in the middle of a renovation. I have about $14,000 in savings, but since I'm a contractor, I didn't receive any severance. I'm feeling really anxious and worried about the future. I immediately started shortlisting companies in my field to apply for, but most of them don't hire where I live. Surprisingly, I managed to get an interview just hours after being let go, but I'm not too optimistic about the pay. I'm confused about whether I should jump at the first opportunity that comes my way or wait for something better. Can I even afford to wait?