Feeling

I am a recent graduate, just 21 years old, and I’m currently in the job search phase as I prepare to graduate in 2026. I've been actively looking for jobs for a while now, utilizing platforms like LinkedIn, Naukri, and JobHai, along with checking various company career pages. Despite my efforts, I haven't been able to secure a position. I've received a few interview calls, but when I follow up, I often get left hanging with no response. It’s frustrating to see that the only calls I’ve been getting are for BPO or banking sales roles, which don’t align with my career aspirations. I’m reaching out to see if anyone with more experience could offer advice on how to navigate this challenging job market. How can recent graduates like myself land interviews or even jobs? Any tips or insights would be greatly appreciated!

I just found out that Oracle is going through another round of layoffs this September. It's become a regular occurrence, happening every other quarter now instead of just once a year. I was looking forward to a nice summer, but it feels like the joy is overshadowed by the anxiety of job security. Instead of the usual 1:1 meetings with my manager to discuss performance, we now just receive a cold email notification at 6am announcing our termination. It’s disheartening to think that this could happen right before the holiday season. I’m feeling a mix of frustration and uncertainty as I brace myself for what’s next.

I received a job offer this morning for a Development Associate position in Higher Ed Advancement, with a salary of $64K. The posted salary range was between $50K and $84K. As an alumnus of the institution, this would be my first job after college. Although I lack direct fundraising experience, I believe my data analysis and management skills from my Economics degree, along with my years of customer-facing experience, add value. I live in a high-cost city and was hoping for a salary closer to $70K. During the first interview, I mentioned a salary range of $59K to $67K based on a similar position at another university. However, as I progressed through the interviews, I recognized that the role has more scope than I initially thought. I've been actively working on gaining Excel certifications, learning SQL, and I plan to start a master's in Business Analytics in Spring 2027. Now, I'm contemplating whether it's reasonable to negotiate for a higher base salary closer to $70K, or if that would be unwise. Regardless of their response, I genuinely want the job, but I can't overlook the high cost of living and the student loans I have to start repaying this November.

I recently accepted a new position at a larger corporation, which unfortunately came with a noticeable salary cut. I'm 24 years old and hold a Bachelor's degree in a broad field. I was feeling stuck in my previous role, as there was no room for advancement, and I knew I needed to make a change. My hope is that this new role will help me advance my career and enhance my resume for future opportunities, or even allow me to climb the ladder at this new company. It's starting to hit me that I was quite comfortable in my last job, and the salary was nice. However, I realized that waiting until I was in a desperate situation to find a new job would have been a mistake. I'm trying to reassure myself that I made the right choice, but only time will tell if this was the right move. I'm telling myself to trust the process because there's no turning back now. Has anyone else experienced a similar career shift with the same motivations?

I recently left my job as an Application Developer at an MNC in November 2023 to focus on preparing for the UPSC exams. I graduated in 2022 with a B.Tech in Computer Science, but my journey has been challenging. After resigning, I fell ill and underwent surgery for gallstones, which set me back significantly. I attempted the UPSC prelims in 2024 but didn't perform as well as I hoped, scoring 54 in General Studies and around 88 in CSAT. Despite my health issues, I continued to prepare for the next attempt in 2025, but family responsibilities took a toll on me. I lost my father to COVID in 2021, and since then, I've been the primary caretaker for my mother and have had to manage family disputes and my grandmother's illness. In November 2024, I had to deal with a family crisis that further distracted me from my studies. I finally took the 2025 UPSC exam and improved my scores to 86 in GS and over 92 in CSAT. However, tragedy struck again when I lost my grandfather, who had been a significant support for my mother. I was overwhelmed with grief and financial demands from relatives for the funeral, which drained my limited resources. Now, I'm in Noida, desperately searching for IT jobs since February 2026, but I haven't had much luck. I received a few interview calls in March and April, but nothing has materialized since then. I'm feeling lost and frustrated, unsure of how to move forward. I just want to provide a better life for my mother, but I'm struggling to even secure basic employment. I'm reaching out for any advice or suggestions on how to get back on track. Thank you for your support.

I have a round of interviews lined up with a company I used to work for, and I'm feeling a bit conflicted about it. I applied impulsively for a position that seemed to fit my background perfectly, and after completing the hiring manager interview, they've scheduled four rounds of technical interviews. While it's exciting to get this far, I'm starting to doubt whether they can offer a competitive compensation package. The recruiter seems optimistic, but I still enjoy my current job and don't really want to leave. Finding four hours for interviews is also a challenge, especially since I’ll need to take time off work to do it. I'm considering whether I should continue with the interviews next week or withdraw now, knowing that the chances of me actually taking the job if offered are low. I want to maintain a good relationship with this company since I have a history there, but I'm torn on what to do.

I recently interviewed for a photo editing position at a local company, and I felt it went better than I anticipated. A friend who works there referred me, which I think helped me feel more comfortable. After the interview, they gave me a tour of the office, which was nice. They mentioned that I should expect to hear back within a week since they were reviewing other applications too. They said they would email me to confirm if I was still interested and then send over a contract. However, I found their wording a bit confusing because they didn’t explicitly say, "If you're hired." I'm wondering if it would be inappropriate to ask them directly if I got the position after the week has passed. I really want to make sure I'm following up in the right way.

I've been feeling really lost in my job search lately. I see so many people posting about landing new positions, and I can't help but wonder what their secret is. Are they using specific strategies or resources that I'm missing? I've been applying to countless jobs but haven't had much luck. I would love to hear how others are navigating this process and any tips they might have to share.

I'm currently working at a job that pays $19/hr, but the environment is incredibly toxic. My boss and management have been verbally bullying me to the point where it's affecting my mental and physical health. I know I need to leave this job, so I've been applying to positions like crazy, but the job market is tough right now, and I haven't had much luck. I do have an interview lined up for a position at a school, but I found out they are offering $13/hr for the role. I'm really torn about whether to take a significant pay cut for my mental health. On one hand, moving to this new position could improve my well-being and give me more time off, but on the other hand, going from $19 to $13 feels like a major step back, especially since I've spent 13 years working my way up to this pay rate. I don't have any student loans anymore, and my monthly expenses are manageable since I live at home, but I still worry about saving for a house, marriage, and kids in the future. I’m in my early 30s, and it feels like this would be a huge setback in my career. I'm considering going to the interview and seeing what happens. Maybe I can negotiate a higher salary if they make an offer. I just want to make the right choice for my health and future.

I am feeling really discouraged about my job search and am starting to believe I might be unhireable. My only relevant work experience comes from student co-operatives where I learned to use specialized systems and software, as well as about government classification standards. I gained knowledge in IT, warehouse management, and logistics, but since I was a student, I haven’t been able to secure a full-time position. For instance, I worked in IT for a year, but when management changed, I was reassigned to menial tasks like labeling boxes and sweeping floors. I offered to continue my previous work, but the new manager just ignored my request. I was told that as a student, I was only suited for the tedious tasks that no one else wanted to do. This has happened multiple times. At a military clothing warehouse, after years of trying to get approval to learn the stock taking system, I was replaced by someone I had trained, who was given immediate access. Again, the only reason given was that I was a student, despite having worked there for five years. Now, I feel like my skills are not marketable because I lack references that validate my experience. I hold a combined Honours degree in Contemporary Studies and English, which isn’t the most marketable degree, and it took me six years to complete. This has made it difficult to apply for communications, journalism, or teaching jobs that require 5-7 years of experience. I’ve applied to numerous positions in data entry, data analysis, communications, logistics, and teaching, but I haven’t received any positive responses. At this point, my options seem limited to joining the military, which I really don’t want to do, or settling for a minimum wage job. I’ve thought about going to grad school, but I can’t afford it and I’m already $5,000 in debt. I’m trying to separate my self-worth from this situation, but I can’t help but feel like a failure. Am I truly unhireable? Is there something I’m missing in my approach?

I've been navigating the job market for the past couple of months and, while it's disheartening, I can't help but find some humor in the situation. I'm currently in the running for two positions—one internal and one external. The internal interview seemed to go well, but the hiring manager later expressed doubts about whether I would be satisfied with the role, claiming it might not be as analytics-focused as my current job, even though it was advertised as such. Her response was a mix of confusion and frustration, which left me scratching my head. On the other hand, the external role felt much more promising. It was a stretch position that would allow me to grow professionally. I made it through a panel interview, a technical interview, and provided references that were checked and would give positive feedback. However, it's been a week since then, and I've heard nothing back—just silence. In the meantime, I've been applying to other jobs, but it's been a string of rejections or complete radio silence. To add to the absurdity, I wanted to give back to my community by volunteering with a nonprofit. I was connected to them through a state agency and they seemed eager at first, but now my application is stuck in limbo, and I can't get any responses to my follow-ups. I even tried calling them, only to find the line disconnected. It's like I'm trying to give my time away for free, and nobody wants it. This whole experience feels like a dark comedy.

I'm currently facing a tough job search as a CDL B driver with a passenger and school bus endorsement. I drove a school bus for 7 months, but due to some personal family issues and a CPS case that didn't favor me, I lost my job for this year. I've been applying to various Class B driving positions, but most companies require at least 3 years of experience on the road, which I don't have. I've gone through numerous interviews but have received almost as many rejections. I'm feeling stuck and unsure of where to turn next. I really want to continue driving, but the experience barrier is making it difficult. I'm considering branching out from school bus applications to explore opportunities with paratransit, private shuttles, or tour companies, as I've heard their hiring criteria might be more flexible.

I qualified for unemployment benefits in DC last summer, starting in late July, after working at Company A. I received payments based on my earnings from July to September 2024, October to December 2024, and January to March 2025. Unfortunately, I ran out of benefits by March. In early April, I was contacted by some AI companies on LinkedIn and did some freelance work, earning a few thousand dollars. The payments were wired directly to my bank, but I did not receive a W-2 for this work. Since then, I've been out of work and refiled my unemployment claim in the first week of August. Initially, I was deemed eligible based on my wages from April to June 2025 and July to September 2025, all from Company A. However, DC is now saying I'm ineligible because I didn't report my freelance work from April. I forgot to account for it when I was filing. I called the employment office, and they advised me to request a review of my wages, which will lead to an interview to discuss my eligibility, including the freelance work. I'm wondering if my freelance income, combined with my sufficient wages from Company A, will qualify me for another claim. I only need a couple more months of unemployment benefits to get by, as I'm very close to landing another job, especially with the seasonal hiring in my field.

I'm currently in my mid-30s and actively job searching to leave my current role due to a toxic company culture that's really affecting my sleep and overall well-being. I'm considering expanding my job search to include rotational and night shifts, even though this isn't my first choice. My main goal is to get my foot in the door at a company or in an industry I want to work in, with the hope of transitioning or transferring to a more desirable position later on. I've noticed a lot of job postings for 40-hour schedules that alternate between two weeks of daytime and two weeks of nighttime shifts, as well as some positions with rotating 12-hour shifts. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has experience with this kind of employment arrangement. I have a few questions: - What was your experience like when you started working these shifts? Did you have a plan to leave, and how did that work out for you? - How did your sleep pattern change, and were you able to adjust over time? - If you lived with roommates, did they have issues with your nighttime schedule? - On your days off, did you find yourself feeling tired, especially after 12-hour shifts? Did you spend most of your time catching up on sleep? - How long did you work these shifts, and was it tough to transition back to a regular 9-5 afterward? - Looking back, do you have any regrets? What advice would you give to your younger self starting a job with these hours? - Lastly, can you maintain a relatively normal life while working these shifts? How important is scheduling? I've read comments about losing track of what day it is—does that improve? I plan to take public transit, so I'm also curious about how the commute differs between night and day shifts. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I was recently laid off from my first job as a fresher, which was a Data and Automation Engineer role that I enjoyed. I graduated in Computer Science from a tier 2 university in October 2025 and landed this remote position right before graduating. Unfortunately, I was let go due to what they described as a "lack of proper communication." As a newcomer, I find this reasoning puzzling; I think communication skills can be developed over time rather than being a reason for termination. Since my layoff, I have sent out over 700 applications through platforms like LinkedIn, Naukri, and Instahyre, but I’ve only landed one interview. The silence from most applications is disheartening, and the rejections I do receive rarely provide feedback, leaving me unsure of what I need to improve. Currently, my job search strategy includes tailoring my resume for each role instead of sending out mass applications, reaching out to founders and HR via direct messages on LinkedIn, and applying daily on major job portals. I have about six months of experience in data engineering and web scraping, along with a backend project and a mobile app that I've launched, so I feel I have relevant skills to offer. Despite my efforts, the high number of applications with minimal responses is mentally taxing. I’m committed to staying positive and treating my job search like a full-time job, but I could really use some advice: 1. What changes would you suggest for my workflow? 2. Is it worth the effort to cold DM founders and HR, or should I focus my energy elsewhere? 3. Where should I concentrate my efforts as a fresher? 4. If anyone knows of teams hiring freshers or has referrals, I would greatly appreciate it. For context, my tech stack includes Python, Dart, Java, SQL, FastAPI, Flutter, and more. Thanks for taking the time to read this; any guidance would mean a lot to me right now.

Today, I find myself reflecting on the current state of the tech industry and the wave of layoffs that seems to be sweeping through it. It used to feel like a stable career choice, but now it feels like uncertainty is the norm. I see colleagues and friends, all highly skilled professionals, facing job losses and instability, and it raises the question: what’s happening to the services industry? In my experience, if a client pulls out or a project isn’t renewed, companies are quick to let go of the engineers who were dedicated to that work. This model doesn’t seem sustainable to me. What happens to the engineers who have families to support and bills to pay? Their responsibilities don’t vanish just because a project ends. With hiring freezes becoming common, I wonder how anyone is supposed to navigate these gaps. I get that businesses need to manage costs, but the human aspect seems to be overlooked. When I chose to pursue a career in computer science, I was led to believe that technology was the future. I worked hard, adapted, and built my career around it. Yet now, even those of us with experience are left questioning the stability of our jobs in just a few months. It feels like the old notion of job security in tech is fading away. If that’s the case, we need to have more honest conversations about what a sustainable career in tech really looks like. The comments from others resonate with me; it feels like we’re becoming gig workers in a way, and many who entered the field may not have the same passion or skills. The uncertainty is palpable, and it’s a tough time for all of us in this industry.

I've been reflecting on the ongoing tech layoffs that seem to have no end in sight. For the past four years, it feels like the industry has been in a constant state of flux, with companies cutting jobs left and right. I'm really starting to wonder if the market will ever stabilize enough for someone like me, who is pursuing a career in tech, to find a stable and decent-paying job without an overwhelming amount of effort and time. I’ve seen various opinions on this. Some believe that the tech industry needs to shift its focus to truly benefiting humanity rather than just chasing profits. Others suggest that this is the new normal and that we should brace ourselves for it to get worse before it gets better. It's disheartening to think that in the next couple of years, the situation might deteriorate further. The consensus seems to be that companies overhired during the post-COVID boom when ad spending was high and borrowing was cheap, only to realize they had too many employees and started laying off in droves. This cycle of layoffs has become normalized, and it’s hard to see a way back to a healthier job market. I can't help but feel anxious about the future. Will there ever be a time when tech companies start hiring again, or are we stuck in this cycle of layoffs for the foreseeable future?

As a recent college graduate with an international business degree, I've been on the job hunt since May and it's been incredibly frustrating. I've applied to countless positions but have only landed three interviews. Out of those, only one company followed up to let me know they chose another candidate. The rest just ghosted me after I submitted my applications. I'm left wondering if my resume is even being seen by a real person or if it’s getting filtered out by some AI due to a lack of relevant keywords. I've noticed that while big cities have a lot of job openings, the competition is fierce and the cost of living is so high that even if I secured a job there, I would barely scrape by. In smaller towns, the cost of living is lower, but the job opportunities are scarce and often require 1-2 years of experience for entry-level roles, which is frustrating since I'm applying for basic positions like administrative assistant and office coordinator. I’ve had my resume reviewed and it seems fine, and I have some internship experience. My interview skills are decent too. I know I can do these jobs, yet I find myself reaching out to hiring managers on LinkedIn, practically begging for a chance. I’m not aiming for anything extravagant; I just want a job that pays enough to cover rent. Living with my parents has become unbearable due to a toxic family situation, and I really need to find a job and my own place soon. What am I doing wrong?

I applied for a Data Entry position at a company that specializes in language courses. Today, I received an email outlining the next step in the application process, which involves recording a 5-minute intro video where I explain why I want to work there. This is supposed to happen before the actual Zoom interview. The job description emphasized the need for high attention to detail and the ability to follow instructions, which is reflected in the steps provided for the video. However, I find it a bit strange that a Data Entry role would require a video presentation. Given the current concerns around AI, I'm also feeling uneasy about this requirement. I'm curious to hear what others think about this process.

I'm currently working as a Sales Admin at an automotive company that manages three brands. Recently, due to some management conflicts between the OEM and our CEO, two of our brands have been acquired by another automotive company. This has left me feeling quite anxious about my job security. We've been informed that by September, there might be layoffs or salary cuts, and I'm really worried about what that could mean for my position. I'm seeking advice on how to prepare for this potential situation and what steps I should take moving forward.