Feeling

I had a phone interview scheduled for a job opportunity today at 1 PM, but this morning at around 6 AM, I received an email from the interviewer saying he had a conflict and couldn't make the call. He mentioned he would reach out to me later. I'm left wondering if this is a legitimate reason or if they've decided to move forward with another candidate. It's frustrating not knowing what to think, and I hope he follows up as promised.

I am currently pursuing my studies at a German university, and as part of my program, I am required to complete a 6-month internship related to my field. I wanted to share my experience with the application process so far. I started by researching companies that align with my career goals and submitted my applications a few weeks ago. I tailored my resume and cover letter for each position, highlighting relevant coursework and skills. After a few applications, I received some positive responses and scheduled interviews. The interview process has been a mix of video calls and in-person meetings, which has been both exciting and nerve-wracking. I'm hopeful that I'll secure a position soon, as this internship is crucial for my academic and professional development.

I checked my debit card for my unemployment benefits today, but it still shows a zero balance. Everything looks fine on the unemployment website, and I usually receive my payment by now every Tuesday. I'm starting to get worried since I've seen others in Pennsylvania and New Jersey experiencing the same issue. It seems like the app is down too. Has anyone else had this problem?

I recently got laid off from a SaaS startup where I was working as a software engineer in the software testing space. The experience has left me feeling lost and hopeless. I thought I was in a stable environment with a talented team and interesting engineering challenges, and I genuinely believed I could see myself staying there for years. However, as the funding market slowed down, we kept pushing forward, focused on building and shipping our product, unaware of the looming issues. In the end, our runway just wasn't long enough, and despite our hard work, we were caught in a situation beyond our control. It's hard to accept that no matter how dedicated we were, external factors can derail even the best teams. I don't feel angry about the layoff; instead, I'm filled with disappointment that months of effort ended so abruptly. It’s disheartening to see talented individuals having to start over while management prioritized rebranding over investing in the people who contributed to the company's growth. This experience has fundamentally changed my perspective on job security.

I am a 23-year-old graduate in Information Science Engineering from India, and I have been trying to break into the software engineering field for the past 1.5 years without success. Despite applying to hundreds of companies and going through interviews with major firms like Microsoft and SAP Labs, I have faced numerous rejections and ghosting. I even had a short-term data-related contract role but it wasn't enough to secure a full-time position in IT. Recently, I received an offer for an Amazon Transportation Specialist role that involves supporting North America and Canada. This role is primarily operations-focused with evening shifts, and I’m concerned about how this might affect my long-term goal of becoming a software engineer. The interviewers have questioned my shift from IT to a non-IT role, which has left me feeling uncertain. My main worries are whether taking this position will distance me from software engineering and if recruiters will view me as an operations candidate instead of an IT candidate after a couple of years. I also wonder about the chances of transferring to a technical role within Amazon. I’m torn between accepting this opportunity for the sake of gaining industry experience and continuing my search for an IT role. I’ve been unemployed for a while now, and I’m not sure how much longer I can wait. I would really appreciate advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation or has insights into working at Amazon.

I have been unemployed for 14 months now, and I could really use some help. With 16 years of experience and a clean record of never being fired, I have submitted around 3,000 applications and gone through 27 interviews. Despite all the effort, including countless hours spent on tests, assessments, and even doing free work, I find myself out of money and ideas. I've tried various job platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, InfoJobs, RocketHire, Handshake, and FlexJobs, and I’ve even hand-delivered my CV to businesses and directly emailed it to potential employers. I also have a professional website and platforms for freelance work, though I’m not including them here to avoid any issues with self-promotion. Recently, I revised my 'general use' CV, and I have been using eight different targeted versions, optimized for ATS and designed for in-person use, available in both English and Spanish. I just added a "current" employer to my resume since I’ve been told that not being currently employed could be hurting my chances. The work is real, though it’s not traditional employment. In my desperation, I’ve been considering some unconventional methods to get my CV in front of hiring managers, such as targeted digital ads aimed at employees of specific companies, Google AdWords targeting executives, or even creative ideas like using donut packaging that doubles as my CV for deliveries. If anyone has employed any creative methods that worked for them, I would love to hear about them!

I recently found myself in a tough situation after being on workers' comp for a spine injury that kept me out of work since last June. I reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) two months ago, and while I was released by the workers' comp doctor, my employer informed me that they can't accommodate my permanent restrictions. As a result, they told me to wait for the insurance to sort things out, leaving me without any income for a month now. My job can't fire me due to our union contract, but they also refuse to take me back. I applied for unemployment benefits last Sunday, but today I received a message stating that I'm ineligible for payments. I'm confused about the reasons for this denial since I have permanent restrictions but am still able to seek employment. I'm hoping to get some clarity on this situation.

I came across a job posting recently while job hunting that really made me question the pay scale. The position had a long list of responsibilities, including managing government contracts, but the pay was listed as $12 to $20 an hour. I can't wrap my head around how $12 could be considered a competitive wage. In my area, even grocery stores are offering around $18 an hour just for picking online orders. It feels like there's a huge disconnect between the expectations for the role and the compensation being offered.

I've been actively job searching for the past few months and have applied to over 50 positions in my field, but I've only received responses from about 5% of them. It's been really discouraging to put in so much effort and not see much return. I'm trying to refine my resume and cover letter, but I'm not sure what else to do to improve my chances. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

I had a job interview about 10 days ago for a position in Finance and Accounting. The head of the department, who is the Controller, conducted the interview. I felt really positive about how it went; he even showed me around the company and mentioned that I was energetic and a great fit for a corporate role. He also said he would be the one training me, which made me feel even more optimistic. However, it's been almost two weeks since the interview, and I haven't received any updates. I followed up this week but haven't heard back yet. After our interview, he mentioned he had a few more candidates to interview and would let me know afterward. I just want to know if I should be concerned or if this is a normal part of the hiring process. I reached out via Indeed DM last Wednesday since that's where we initially scheduled the interviews. I'm trying to stay hopeful!

I recently discovered that I've been underpaid at my job for the past six months. I work at a startup and my contract states that I should be working a full 9-hour day, but I've only been paid for 8 hours. This discrepancy has been frustrating, especially since I've also been underpaid by £1.50-£2 per hour since I started in January 2026. When I confronted my bosses about this, they seemed confused about the terms of my contract and even claimed that my lunch hour wasn't paid, despite the contract stating otherwise. Their response to my concerns was to suggest that I should have brought it up privately, which I found ridiculous since it’s my salary and I have every right to discuss it openly. After talking to my colleagues, I learned that many of us have ambiguous contracts regarding our lunch breaks and working hours. In light of this, I informed them that I would only be working 8 hours and taking a shorter lunch break. I also resigned from my position, which shocked them. I submitted a formal grievance email over a week ago and still haven't received a response, so I'm planning to follow up today. It's been a tough realization to come to, especially since I've been so busy and overworked that I didn't notice the discrepancies sooner. Now that I have more time on my hands before moving cities, I'm finally addressing these issues.

I just had my first job interview for a dishwashing position at an elderly home. At 15, this is my first job, and I was absolutely terrified going into it. I feel a bit awkward about wanting a job since I can only work full-time in August, and then once school starts in September, I can only work on weekends and during breaks. I’ve been getting advice to just be honest about my availability and to show that I'm eager to learn and ready for the repetitive tasks that come with the job. It’s a bit daunting, but I’m trying to stay positive!

I recently ended my employment after receiving a Final Written Warning and being placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). The company offered me 4 weeks of severance, totaling $10.3k, but I decided to counter and ask for 4 months instead. I feel justified in my request because I was the top contributor on the main codebase, with 960 commits and over 222k lines added, while the next highest contributor had only about 393 commits. I also completed a significant refactoring project that reduced an 8k line class by 71%. During my time there, I consistently worked long hours, often exceeding 14 hours a day, including providing offshore support in the evenings. I managed to keep up with my responsibilities even while dealing with a serious family medical situation, attending calls from the hospital and rarely taking leave. Additionally, I had raised concerns about the complexity of the codebase well before my PIP. I worked remotely from Texas for a California-based company, and I already have another full-time job lined up. I'm wondering how realistic it is to negotiate the severance from 4 weeks to 2-3 months or even higher. Do my significant contributions and the concerns I raised give me leverage in this situation? Should I consider bringing in an employment lawyer at this stage, or is it better to negotiate on my own? I'm also curious if anyone has tactics that worked for them in similar performance-based exits.

I recently started applying for jobs after many years in my current role. I had a rather strange experience with a large American company based in Europe. Their job advertisement mentioned that basic language skills were required, but during the first screening, I was surprised to find it was a fluent-level interview. While I handled it well, it felt misleading. After a few days, I received a standard rejection email. Then, a month later, they reached out again, saying new positions had opened and asked if I wanted to continue with the selection process. I agreed, and we moved forward with a 1.5-hour interview with the managers. At the end of the interview, they inquired about my notice period. I mentioned it was 90 days since I hold a senior position at my current job, which I had already stated in my application. The team lead seemed taken aback and became quite rude after I answered. After that interview, they went silent. I followed up with an inquiry email 2-3 weeks later and received an automated rejection. They contacted me again, but it was just another automated message. Is this how companies typically treat applicants these days?

I'm a 23-year-old QA professional with 2 years of experience, currently feeling quite desperate for a job change. I'm working overtime and earning around 20k, but the situation is tough due to a toxic manager, even though my team is decent. I'm urgently seeking a new opportunity and would greatly appreciate any referrals or tips to help me secure a better package. I'm not even receiving calls from job portals, which is really disheartening. Any assistance would mean a lot!

I was recently let go from my job after 8.5 years of service, and I'm feeling a mix of emotions as I navigate this transition. I worked in a mid-level management role at a tech company, and the decision to part ways came as a surprise to me. Now, I'm trying to figure out what my next steps should be. I'm considering updating my resume, reaching out to my network, and possibly exploring new industries. I want to ensure that I take the right approach to my job search and make the most of this opportunity to start fresh.

I recently started a new role as an HR assistant in my city after a long job search that left me feeling desperate and emotional. I was thrilled to land this position because it seemed perfect: morning hours, a chance to learn new skills, no gaps in my resume, and decent pay, all while working for the city through a staffing agency. The team is supportive, and I genuinely appreciate the opportunity, but I feel guilty admitting that I don't enjoy the job at all. The transition has been tough. After being unemployed for a while, my anxiety and perfectionism have spiked, making me feel like I'm underperforming despite receiving praise. The steep learning curve is overwhelming, and I often feel exhausted. My daily routine has become a grind: I wake up early, commute for about 20 minutes, work, and then crash into bed. Transportation has also been a significant issue. I don’t have a car, so getting to work has been costly. My parents help with rides and expenses, but I feel bad relying on them for Ubers. I've been dipping into my savings from my last job, which adds to my stress. My previous job was remote, which spoiled me in terms of convenience, even though I didn't enjoy customer service. Now, I find myself longing for that flexibility again. I've had a history of jobs that didn't quite fit; I left my first job due to health issues related to my art, and my second job was customer service, which I excelled at but wanted to escape. Now, I finally have a job again, and yet I feel like something is still off. It’s frustrating because I want to be happy and productive, but I’m battling with my own mental and physical limitations. Despite all this, I’m grateful for the support around me and just need to figure things out.

I've been working as a mechanical engineer for about a year now, but things have taken a downturn in my current team. We've been losing projects, and several team members have already left or moved to different teams. With the lack of projects, I feel like my technical growth is stagnating, which is why I started applying for new jobs. I recently received an offer for a new position, but I'm torn about whether to accept it or stay where I am. The new job is located in the suburbs of New Jersey, while I'm currently based in NYC. The thought of leaving the city and my vibrant social life is daunting, especially since I'm in my early 20s and love the energy of the city. However, my current role feels unstable, and I'm not learning anything new. The new position offers much better growth opportunities and is in an industry I'm eager to explore, plus the team seems really nice. I'm also considering the option of transferring to another team within my current company, but I doubt it would provide the same level of growth as the new job. I'm really struggling with the decision of whether to take the risk and move for the sake of my career or stay in my comfort zone. It's a tough choice.

I was laid off from my corporate IT job last week without any advance notice. They let me go on the same day, citing that there was no open job role for me, and it wasn't due to poor performance or any misconduct. I had been with the company for nearly five years, and in the severance package, I was only offered two weeks of salary. There was no assistance for health insurance or any additional payouts. This is my first experience with being laid off, and I'm unsure how to handle this severance package. I've heard that typically, employees receive 1-2 weeks of pay for each year of service, but I know that federal law doesn’t require employers to provide severance at all. Two weeks of pay won't sustain me while I search for a new job, especially since I have to cover a significant health insurance premium until I find employment. I feel like after working hard for the company for so long, I deserve more than just two weeks of pay. They didn’t provide me with the company’s severance policy; they only mentioned the two weeks in a letter. I'm considering emailing HR to ask for a better severance package. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I’m in my early 40s, have a family with kids, and my spouse has a low-income freelancing job without health insurance.

I recently applied to over 100 tech jobs in the last few months, but I've only received a handful of interview requests. I'm starting to wonder what I'm doing wrong in my applications. I know that the average interview rate is around 2-5%, so maybe I'm just on the lower end of that spectrum. Still, it feels discouraging to put in so much effort and not see more results. I'm trying to focus on improving my chances with the interviews I do get, but I could really use some advice on how to enhance my application strategy.