Applied to a Job

A few months ago, I made the tough decision to quit my job as a Part Time Manager at Claire's. Initially, I enjoyed my role, despite the challenges of changing signs every night. However, after the company went through bankruptcy and was bought out, the work environment turned toxic. Management was poor, and many employees were leaving. I found out from friends that I was severely underpaid at $12/hour for my position, especially when I learned that others were making more for less work. Despite my store manager's encouragement to pursue a promotion to Store Manager, I was ultimately not hired after being led to believe I would be. This was the final straw for me, and I submitted my one-week notice. My boyfriend supported my decision to focus on my hobby instead, but since quitting, I've struggled with feelings of inadequacy and a lack of purpose. I've been trying to make money from my hobby, but it's been slow, and I've also started doing DoorDash to make ends meet. However, my phone service issues complicate things. I feel like I've lost my routine and am not accomplishing anything meaningful. Now, I'm looking for new jobs, but I feel stuck. I want to earn more than $14/hour, work part-time, and preferably find something remote or within a 30-minute drive. I don’t have a degree, and I’d love weekends off, but I’m starting to wonder if my expectations are too high. I feel like I might have to lower my standards and consider full-time work or even go back to the $12/hour range. I'm reaching out for advice on whether I'm being too picky or if I'm missing something in my job search.

I recently landed my second job using a data-backed approach to my job search, and I wanted to share my experience in hopes it helps others. I'm a data science graduate from the class of 2022. I was previously employed at a firm on the West Coast but was laid off in early 2024. After that, I spent nearly a year applying to jobs and faced a lot of rejections, which was pretty devastating. It wasn't until recently that I realized I had been applying blindly without leveraging my data science skills effectively. To improve my job application success, I developed a testing methodology that involved running a regression model to identify key factors influencing successful applications. I defined a successful job application as receiving a reply after submission. I hired two interns to help apply on platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed, and I also utilized four automatic application tools for sites like ZipRecruiter and Glassdoor. Each of us applied to about 40 to 50 jobs daily, tracking our progress with unique emails. I used the free version of Breezy HR ATS to analyze which resume formats were most effective. Through my research, I discovered that tailoring a resume to a specific job role significantly impacts ATS rankings. I used an NLP web scraper to identify popular resume formats in the industry and created three versions: UniTalent, LaTeX, and RenderCV. Over 120 days, we collectively submitted about 28,844 applications, categorized by posting time: jobs posted within 24 hours, those over a week old, and those over a month old. Our overall response rate was about 5.8%, with 1,670 positive responses. The results showed that tailored resumes with relevant keywords performed best, and timing was crucial—applications submitted within the first hour of posting had the highest response rates. Interestingly, I found that the format of the resume also played a significant role in the response rate. The UniTalent format yielded the highest number of positive responses, followed by LaTeX and RenderCV. This experience has taught me a lot about the job application process and the importance of using data to inform my approach.

I recently completed an assessment interview for a position that I thought I had messed up, but surprisingly, it went better than expected. The hiring manager even asked me to give him a call to discuss onboarding preparation, which we touched on briefly. The recruiter also reached out to me regarding the next steps. Now, I’m gearing up for the final round, which is an executive interview with a senior leader. I’m feeling really nervous about it. I’m trying to balance my hope for the position while also staying focused on preparation. I’m curious for insights from anyone who has been through similar high-level interviews. What do they typically assess? Is it more of a conversational style, or should I prepare for another in-depth interview? Any tips on how to get ready would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

I recently left my job because my manager wasn't treating me or my coworkers well, and I've been on the hunt for part-time positions for about a month now. So far, I've only heard back from Walmart, which is great news. However, my older brother, who works there full-time, is really against me taking the same role in online pickup and delivery. He gets visibly upset when I mention my interview with them, claiming that the manager is bad and that I wouldn't enjoy the job. This has left me puzzled because we generally have a good relationship at home. I decided to hold off on accepting the job offer because I don't want to cause tension between us, but I'm starting to wonder if I'm making the right choice. I could really use some advice on why he might be reacting this way and whether I should just go for the job regardless.

After three and a half months of applying for jobs with no responses, I am thrilled to share that I am finally employed! I applied for a position at a local hospital in early July, which stated that no experience was necessary. Almost two weeks later, I received a text and an email from their AI hiring assistant to schedule a phone interview. I picked the earliest slot available, which was a week later. The phone interview went well; the recruiter walked me through the job specifics to ensure I understood the role, including the location, hours, and pay. They also asked a few standard interview questions. At the end of the call, I was scheduled for an in-person interview and informed about the expected timeline for a decision. The in-person interview took place just two days after the phone interview, and it followed a similar format—confirming job details and discussing duties. The recruiter mentioned that they typically make hiring decisions within 48 hours. My in-person interview was on a Thursday, and by the following Monday, I received a call with a job offer! I connected with the recruiter on Wednesday, signed the offer letter, and now I have a start date. I feel a mix of nerves and excitement, but mostly gratitude. I won't have a car after this month, which adds some stress to my situation, so I'm currently searching for an apartment near my new job that will accept my offer letter as proof of income. Thank you to everyone who has supported me during this journey!

I have been working in IT Support in Saudi Arabia for about a year, but my contract was not renewed due to the downturn in the market caused by the war situation. My company gave me a few months to find another job, but despite applying to numerous positions on LinkedIn, Gulf Naukri, and other job portals, I didn't receive a single interview call. I tailored my CV for different roles and shared it with friends and relatives in Dammam, Jeddah, Mecca, and Riyadh, hoping for leads. I even joined WhatsApp groups for job seekers, but nothing seemed to work. After months of searching, I started to doubt my abilities. Eventually, I received a job offer through a reference, but the new company wanted me to work under my previous employer's sponsorship, which is not legal. They kept delaying the transfer of my sponsorship, while my previous employer pressured me for confirmation. The stress took a toll on my health, and when I informed the new company I couldn't start due to illness, they canceled my offer. I feel like I did everything possible, but nothing worked out.

I've been actively job searching since last November and finally made it to the final round of interviews for a position I've been really excited about. This week, I have my fifth and final interview, and the posted salary range for the role is between $90k and $110k. I'm feeling a bit anxious about the salary discussion that might come up. Should I aim for the lower end of the range just to secure the job, especially since I know there are other candidates in the running? I’ve read mixed advice online about salary negotiations, with some people saying they regretted lowballing themselves, while others mentioned offers being rescinded during negotiations. I want to be prepared, but I also don’t want to jeopardize my chances of getting the offer.

I recently applied for a tour guide/animal care position that I was really excited about. The application process moved quickly, and I was interviewed within two days. The recruiter mentioned that my application looked great and seemed optimistic about my interview. However, after two weeks, I received a rejection letter stating they were moving forward with other candidates who were a better fit. The recruiter did encourage me to apply for other openings in the future, but the email felt a bit generic, so I'm unsure how sincere that was. Now, I see that the same position has reopened on their website. I'm contemplating whether I should reapply so soon after being rejected. I'm also considering how to approach this—should I revamp my resume or keep it the same? Should I email the recruiter to inform her of my reapplication, or just submit another application quietly? I'm really eager to get this job and would appreciate any advice on how to increase my chances.

I was laid off from my graphic design job in December 2025 after over four years with the company. Since then, I've been struggling to find a new position. I've applied to countless jobs, including entry-level positions at local restaurants, but I haven't had any luck at all. It's frustrating to think that at 30 years old, I'm unable to secure even a barista job at Starbucks, despite having a degree, a portfolio, and four years of design experience. I've exhausted my unemployment benefits and I'm feeling lost about what to apply for next. I've considered toning down my resume for food service jobs, as some suggested, but I'm still not getting any callbacks. The job market feels incredibly tough right now, especially for graphic designers, and I'm starting to wonder if I should pivot to something else.

I've been on the job hunt for four long years now, and it's been incredibly frustrating. Despite sending out countless applications to places like McDonald's, Walmart, Target, and many others, I've received nothing in return. I'm not aiming for a high-paying job; I just want something minimum wage to get started. The only interview I ever had was at Chuck E Cheese, and I never heard back from them. I can't help but feel like I might be blacklisted, especially since my father has a history of being fired from jobs. I don't have any work experience to speak of, and I didn't participate in extracurricular activities in school due to financial and transportation issues. To improve my chances, I'm planning to enroll in a community college to learn welding later this month. I'm hoping that acquiring a skill will finally help me secure a job. If I could just get hired somewhere, it would be my very first job. I'm really just looking for someone to give me a chance.

Applied at Baptist Health South Florida for Scheduler

Applied at Costco for Unknown

Applied at Doxim for Unknown

Applied at Hire Talent for warehouse job

Applied at Apple for early career EPM role

I’ve been struggling to find a job in mechanical engineering for over 10 months now. Despite having a degree and more than 4 years of experience, I’ve sent out over 700 applications across 20 states and 10 countries without any success. The job gap is starting to weigh heavily on me, and I’m facing discrimination because of it. At this point, I’m seriously considering going back to grad school, hoping that a master’s degree will finally make me competitive in the job market. However, I have very little faith that I’ll find a job until at least 2031, even with a higher degree. It’s been a tough 15 years of trying to build a career, and I’m starting to wonder if it’s all worth it.

I graduated with a degree in 3D Modeling and Digital Animation during the pandemic, which made securing internships impossible. After college, I applied for numerous part-time and full-time internships, but I was consistently rejected because I had already graduated. Fast forward five years, and I've only managed to land two jobs: one in insurance and the other as a supervisor at Publix, where I've been for nearly three years. At 27, I feel like I'm falling behind my peers who are settling down and starting families. My current salary of $45k, while decent, isn't enough to provide the life I want. My dad, who has a long career in banking, has been trying to help me break into that field, but even with his connections, I can only get part-time positions that pay less than my current job and offer no benefits. I feel overwhelmed by the job market, where applying online pits me against thousands of candidates, and in-person visits lead to the same advice: apply online. I'm at a crossroads, wondering if I should pursue a second degree or consider trade school to improve my prospects. I want to work hard and build a stable future, but I'm lost on how to move forward. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I recently came across a Junior Software Engineer role for Mercado Libre on LinkedIn that caught my attention. The position is for a mobile app SWE, and it's an Easy Apply opportunity. However, I've noticed some unusual warnings from LinkedIn about this specific job posting potentially being a scam, which is something I haven't encountered with other applications. What raised my concern further is that this job doesn't appear in my job tracker, and LinkedIn mentioned that some postings might be hidden or flagged, leading to discrepancies in job counts. Additionally, I've been communicating with someone identified as the 'hiring manager,' and their replies come within five minutes or less every time I send a message. I'm wondering if these factors are red flags that I should be wary of regarding this application.

Today, I found myself in a bit of a pickle regarding my job search. I had applied for several part-time positions and recently interviewed for two roles: one with a hotel management company and another as a sales associate at America's Best. I received an offer from the hotel management company, which is great because it pays well, is conveniently located near my school, and fits my schedule perfectly as a student. However, after I got the hotel offer, I received a call from America's Best asking if I was still interested in the sales associate position. In a moment of confusion, I said yes, thinking it was just a casual conversation. I didn't realize that this meant I had accepted the job. Now, they are moving forward with the onboarding process and expect me to start on Monday. I’m feeling really stuck because while the America's Best offer isn't terrible, it's definitely not as good as the hotel job. I’m contemplating whether to call them and rescind my acceptance, but I feel awkward about having just said yes. I’m looking for advice on how to handle this situation without burning bridges.

I've been feeling really frustrated with job boards lately, especially LinkedIn and Indeed. I've applied to hundreds of roles over the past few months, and despite having my profile fully filled out and my target titles updated, I keep seeing the same few giant companies in my 'Recommended for You' feed. It's like I'm stuck in a loop. Most of the roles I see are either ones I've already applied to or 'Easy Apply' positions that have a ton of applicants, which feels pointless. What really drives me crazy is when I think I've exhausted all options and the market is just dead, only to stumble upon a dream role that was posted just a few days ago. I can't understand why it never showed up in my feed or alerts, even when I filter for the latest postings. It feels like the algorithms are actively hiding relevant roles from me, and it's making my job search even more stressful.