Feeling

I was fired six months ago from my role at a nonprofit organization during a family crisis. Recently, I received a message from a friend still working there, asking if I would consider returning. I initially laughed it off, thinking it was a joke, but it turns out that a director and a coordinator had discussed my potential return with her. The next day, I got multiple calls and texts from my old supervisor, who was also fired, but I chose to ignore them as I wasn't ready to respond. I'm apprehensive about going back to a place that treated me as disposable during such a vulnerable time. The way they reached out through my friend feels unprofessional, and I suspect there are underlying issues. I learned that my former supervisor has an active lawsuit against the organization for racial discrimination, which adds to my concerns about the workplace culture. After I was let go, I found out that the person promoted to my position was someone who had always made me uncomfortable with their behavior. They claimed to be intimidated by my skills, and I later discovered they were using my absence due to personal loss as an excuse to complain about their workload. While I miss the financial stability and benefits from that job, I can't justify returning to an environment that felt toxic and undermining. It's almost comical how the situation has unfolded, and I feel a sense of vindication knowing that my work was still being utilized despite their claims about my performance. I’m still navigating my next steps, but returning to that place doesn’t seem worth it.

I’ve been unemployed for about 10 months after being laid off from my previous job. Recently, I reached out to my former manager at a manufacturing company where I worked early in my career. She was very supportive and offered me a position right away, skipping the interview process due to my relevant R&D experience. However, the salary she offered is a 50% pay cut from what I was earning before, which is why I hesitated to contact her initially. Despite the pay cut, I know I need to take the job since it’s better than being unemployed. I’m set to meet her this Monday to sign the contract. Complicating things, I had a good interview last week for an R&D position with another company, and the salary could be significantly higher. I’m really torn because I don’t want to start the manufacturing job and then leave shortly after if I get the R&D offer. I feel like that would put my old manager in a tough spot, especially since she went out of her way to bring me back. I’m considering being honest with her on Monday and letting her know I’m interviewing elsewhere. I might ask if we could delay my start date by two weeks. That way, if I get the R&D offer, I can take it; if not, I’ll start the manufacturing job as planned. I’m really unsure about what to do in this situation.

I'm currently in a tough position at my job where I'm making around $90k, but I absolutely despise the management and team leaders. This toxic environment has been so mentally draining that I've been calling in sick frequently, and I've only worked 5 days this month. I went back to school to escape this situation, and I have a lot of vacation and time off left, which means I can work less than 50% of my scheduled shifts for the rest of the year. Now, I've been offered a management position in the same field that pays about $93k, with the potential to increase to $105k after 24 months. However, this job is a 2-hour drive away, requires me to be in-person, and would mean working five days a week plus being on call during weekends. I know I won't get a management role at my current employer, and I'm planning a significant career change that I hope to be ready for by early 2027. Moving isn't an option right now because I'm heavily invested in my training, having spent around $50k so far, with another $25-40k left to go. I'm torn between sticking it out at my current job until I can take long-term sick leave in January 2027 and negotiating severance later, or taking the management job as a backup in case my career change doesn't pan out. I just don't know if it's worth staying in a job I hate for a bit longer or if I should jump into this new opportunity. Any advice would be appreciated.

I recently faced an unexpected layoff from my job in Virginia, where I was working for a year before things took a turn after I requested disability accommodations for my mental health. My employer fired me over Zoom without providing a specific reason, and I didn't receive any formal warnings or a performance improvement plan prior to this. Now, I'm applying for unemployment benefits, but the application asks for the reason for my termination, and I'm unsure how to answer since my employer has refused to provide any information. In the past, I had a negative experience with the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) during COVID, where my case was dismissed due to my employer's claims that I had quit, which wasn't true. This led to my account being locked for months, and I struggled to get back-pay. Given this history, I'm anxious about my current situation and the potential for being disqualified from receiving benefits due to a lack of clarity around my termination. I've been trying to reach out to the VEC for guidance, but it's been frustratingly difficult to get through. I’m considering selecting 'Terminated - Other' on the application and explaining that I wasn't given a reason for my termination. However, I'm worried that this might lead to complications if my employer disputes my claim. I'm looking for advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation or has insights on how to navigate this process effectively.

I've been struggling to find real entry-level roles that offer decent wages. It seems like most job boards are filled with senior positions offering poverty-level pay for the amount of work expected. I have a background in liberal arts and sciences, with some graphic design electives under my belt. I've dedicated around 30,000 hours to self-study through biographical interviews and audiobooks, trying to build my skills. Recently, I converted an old Windows 8 eMachine into a media server, and I’ve also been working on a 2009 Mac Mini to set it up as a Pi-hole. I have experience in illustration and photography, including traditional and digital DSLR photography, and I used to take action shots at indie concerts. I even considered starting a pop-up dog and pet photo stand, but the upfront costs are daunting. I once dreamed of working in the film industry, but I quickly realized that entry-level wages are often as low as those in retail. I've done tech support in the past and have some experience modding game files to bypass grindy tasks. I created an animatic proof of concept for an IP I love and tried my hand at low-content notebooks and Redbubble, but I've only made about $20 overall. The challenge is that while I can develop functional skills, the lack of immediate return on investment or feedback makes it hard to build on my experiences. I'm feeling overwhelmed and just need a break to clear my head, as the endless cycle of labor and the constant struggle with poverty is exhausting, especially without stable employment.

I’ve been applying to a lot of entry-level jobs lately, as I really need to secure some income to cover my rent and basic needs. I don’t have a degree or any formal training, and I struggle with social skills due to my upbringing. It’s been quite challenging for me, but I’m trying to push through. I’m curious about how applying to more jobs might improve my chances of getting hired. I’ve heard that the chances increase non-linearly, but I’m not sure how that works in practice. Also, I wonder if there’s any possibility that a company that rejected me after an interview might reach out later for another position. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I recently attended an off-site hiring event for Nordstrom and was offered a Seasonal Selling Floor position on the spot. The interviewer provided me with the onboarding paperwork, including my job title, pay, and start date of October 9th. However, I'm currently seeing my status as "Under Consideration" in Workday, and I haven't received my offer letter or any background check tasks yet. I reached out to the local store, and they confirmed that my profile is active, but the offer letter hasn't been generated yet. It's been a few days now, and with my start date approaching, I'm feeling a bit anxious. I've heard that delays can happen, especially with off-site events, but I'm not sure if this is typical. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this process. Is a 3-5 day delay common for off-site event batches? Should I just keep checking my Candidate Home and following up with the store? Also, is there a specific contact I can reach out to for more information on my offer letter? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I'm feeling really stuck right now with my career path. I have a B.A. in Psychology and an Associate's in Library Technology, but my original goal of becoming a forensic psychologist fell through when I wasn't accepted into grad school. I tried to shift gears towards library science because I enjoy the idea of working in a library, but the job market in my area is dismal. I can't find a single job opening for a library tech or even a library page, and volunteer opportunities are non-existent since the only local library only accepts high school students. Currently, I'm stuck in a job as an accounts payable clerk, which I absolutely dislike. I also have some experience as a mental health crisis counselor, hospice volunteer, and administrative assistant, but I feel like my education and experience aren't leading me anywhere. Most positions I'm interested in require more experience or further education, which is frustrating. I'm really at a loss for what to do next.

Today was a turning point for me at my job as a Food Server Assistant (essentially a busser) at a local restaurant where I've been working for a year and a half. We were incredibly busy, and I noticed my partner was struggling to keep up. After waiting for about 5-10 minutes while he worked on one table, I approached him with what I thought was a straightforward request to speed up, given the line out the door. Unfortunately, he reacted defensively, claiming I was cursing him out, which I definitely wasn't. Things escalated when he confronted me aggressively, even grabbing my wrist to prevent me from backing away. I felt unsafe and yelled at him to stop touching me before I ran off to speak with management. When I finally got to talk to my manager, I was shocked to hear that I should have kept quiet instead of addressing the issue directly. This is frustrating because I've raised concerns about his pace multiple times, but nothing has changed. To make matters worse, my manager has been spreading the idea that I exaggerated the situation and even questioned my honesty about him grabbing me. This has left me feeling unsupported and uncertain about returning to work tomorrow, especially since I have to deal with the same manager who doubts me. I'm feeling drained and overwhelmed by this whole experience, and I'm starting to wonder if I should look for a new job. The thought of having to explain to a future employer that I need a month off next summer for my wedding adds another layer of stress. I'm really at a crossroads and would appreciate any advice on how to handle this situation moving forward.

I've been on quite a journey lately, having gone through around 5 interviews in the last 3 months, but unfortunately, I haven't been able to land a job yet. It's been frustrating, and I feel like my interview skills might be lacking. I'm really trying to figure out how to improve. I've been told that getting this many interviews means my CV is doing its job, which is a small comfort, but I still want to succeed. I've started to ask for feedback after each rejection to identify any patterns or areas I need to work on. I've also been preparing a few stories about my achievements in previous roles, focusing on the results, especially with numbers. I think I might start recording my interviews or jotting down my thoughts afterward to troubleshoot my performance. The job market feels tough right now; I've applied to over 100 jobs and only secured a handful of interviews. Honestly, I can't even keep track of all the applications anymore. I'm just eager to find something, anything, to get me out of the house.

I'm a 28-year-old recent college graduate trying to kickstart my career, but I'm facing a major hurdle with references. I previously worked part-time at a company where I was unhappy, and when I decided to leave for what I thought was a promising job at a non-profit, things went south. My boss reacted poorly to my two weeks' notice, leading to a lot of yelling and a toxic situation. Unfortunately, that non-profit turned out to be a scam, which was a painful lesson in job hunting. Now, whenever I apply for jobs that ask for three professional references, I'm at a loss. I only have one recent employer who remembers me positively, and while I could reach out to a couple of my college professors, my last two years were quite challenging, and I only feel comfortable asking one or two of them for a reference. Currently, I'm stuck in a contract job that I dislike, which only lasts until the end of the school year. I feel trapped in a cycle where I can't get a job without references, but I also can't build new relationships without being in a job. It's frustrating to have worked minimum-wage jobs for years and now, with a degree in hand, still struggle to find a career path.

I recently faced a significant change in my employment situation. After working for 20 years at a business in California, the owner sold the company, and we all received termination letters. The new owners promised to rehire everyone, but they drastically reduced our hours from five days a week to just two days. Now, I'm in a position where I need to apply for unemployment benefits. I'm unsure how my two weeks of work under the new owners will impact my application and how to best approach the situation. I’ve heard I might be eligible for a reduction in hours, but I’m concerned that if I quit due to the reduced hours, it could disqualify me. I plan to apply and see what happens, but I could really use some guidance.

I recently took a job out of necessity, but I'm finding that the role is not providing me with the field experience I actually need to advance my career. It's frustrating because I feel like I'm stuck in a position that doesn't align with my career goals. Has anyone else experienced this? How did you handle it?

I've been applying for jobs lately but haven't received any responses, which has me concerned that my resume might not be up to par. I'm currently looking for feedback on how to improve it. I feel like I meet the qualifications for the roles I'm applying for, but I'm not getting any traction. Any tips or resources would be greatly appreciated!

I just found out that I’m being laid off from my job in a tech company in Silicon Valley, where I’ve been for nearly four years. It’s been a rough ride, to say the least. I initially took on what I thought was a promotion to a hybrid role that would come with a pay increase. I was juggling my studies for my BA at the same time, and I felt like this was a smart move for my career. However, right after I accepted the new position, I was informed that the hybrid role was no longer available and I was reassigned to a different team. I had my suspicions about the company’s direction, especially when I noticed half of my team disappearing at odd times. It turned out they were training a team in the Philippines to take over our jobs. I felt completely blindsided, especially since I was locked out of important documents and my boss wouldn’t discuss the situation. Throughout my time there, I experienced significant burnout, had to take weeks off to recover, and dealt with some serious office politics and harassment issues. My health suffered too, with insomnia and weight gain due to the stress and long hours. Now, I’m facing a layoff on October 30th due to budget cuts, and while I’m not shocked, I am disappointed. I’ve got some savings and a month to prepare, but it’s hard to reflect on everything and feel like my efforts were undervalued. It’s frustrating to think that I’m being replaced by someone still in training, simply because they cost less. The tech industry feels like it’s losing its value, and I’m left to navigate what’s next.

I’ve officially finished submitting my job applications for the week. It’s been a long process, but I’ve targeted several positions that align with my skills and experience. I’m feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety as I wait for responses. Anyone else in the same boat? How are you handling the waiting game?

I've been working in a support role for the past three years at a company that deals with a legacy system, and it has been incredibly draining. I was recruited straight out of college, and the work has been monotonous and soul-sucking, with no room for creativity or innovation. To make matters worse, I've been stuck in a 24x7 on-call model, which includes night shifts that leave me exhausted. I often finish a night shift only to remain on-call for the rest of the week, and this pattern repeats multiple times each month. I've documented everything, including my work schedule and health issues, as this model violates labor laws in my state. Despite my efforts to escalate the situation and find a more suitable role, I've hit a wall. My manager was supportive and connected me with someone who promised to help me transition to a role that aligns with my skills and goals, but I've received no updates after multiple attempts to reach out. It feels like I'm trapped in this role, no matter how much I upskill or network. I’m frustrated by the lack of a clear path for transitioning within IT. It seems that companies are quick to hire fresh graduates and provide them with knowledge transfer, but when it comes to someone with experience wanting to switch domains, there’s no flexibility. I feel like candidates like me, who are genuinely passionate and have relevant skills, are being overlooked simply because of their current job title. I just want a normal 9-to-6 job at a multinational corporation, with no on-call duties or rotational shifts, working with a modern tech stack on meaningful projects. I’m exhausted and unsure of how to move forward. Has anyone else faced this kind of situation? How do you cope with it? Does it ever get better?

I recently signed a conditional offer with a local utilities board last Monday, and I've been going through the pre-employment process. On Wednesday, I had my physical exam, which I passed except for a color blindness test. They asked me to get a note from my eye doctor confirming I can perform my job safely, which I took care of right away. I also underwent a urine test that day. Now, it’s Saturday, and I’m feeling anxious because the background check started, and they contacted my current employer despite my request not to. While I’m leaving my current job, it still feels like a cliffhanger. The background check came back clean except for a minor issue regarding a three-month gap at an older job, which I explained was due to doing 1099 work for that same company earlier that year. I wasn't sure if they would pull 1099 dates or full-time dates, so I reached out to clarify. Additionally, I received a 613a notice regarding a speeding ticket from two years ago. It was a minor infraction—no reckless driving and zero points on my license. I also have a minor accident from three years ago that only reported property damage, and again, no points on my license. I was expecting a call yesterday to finalize everything and set a start date, but I didn’t hear anything, and now I’m in panic mode. I did email my recruiter about the background check report, which also had a caution regarding my technical school because they don’t verify those schools. I sent my certification along with the email, and she replied with a simple "thanks, Kevin!" I’m left to assume that if there was a problem, she would have informed me. However, the uncertainty is stressing me out, especially since my current job knows I’m transitioning. I feel like the speeding ticket and the no-fault accident shouldn’t prevent me from getting this job, but the color blindness test has made me realize how particular they are. Any advice on how to handle this situation would be greatly appreciated!

I've been working as a freelance web developer for the past couple of years, focusing on WordPress development, website coordination, and server management. While freelancing has provided some income, the lack of stability and clear career progression is starting to take a toll on me. Recently, I've been trying to shift towards more stable, full-time roles, applying for positions in web development, quality evaluation, and entry-level operations or analyst jobs. However, I've been facing significant challenges in my job search. I've experienced a lot of ghosting after going through various assessments and recruitment tests, which has been incredibly frustrating. I often receive either complete silence after submitting technical tasks or automated rejections weeks later. Another issue I’m encountering is that my practical freelance experience doesn’t seem to fit neatly into the traditional corporate mold. My background includes building functional client sites, managing servers, and troubleshooting plugins, but it feels like recruiters either see my experience as too focused on freelancing or overlook it due to the lack of years in a corporate environment. On top of this, I’m struggling to balance my current freelance work with upskilling and completing assessments for potential jobs, which is leading to burnout. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has successfully transitioned from freelance work to a stable full-time role in tech or operations. How did you present your freelance experience on your resume to make it appealing to corporate recruiters? Should I focus on niche portfolio projects, or would it be better to engage in cold outreach and network directly with hiring managers instead of relying solely on job portals? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm an 18-year-old girl from the UK trying to find a job. I've applied to numerous positions but unfortunately, I've faced rejections from all of them. I'm eager to start earning some money but I'm feeling a bit lost on how to improve my chances. Any advice or tips on how to secure a job would be greatly appreciated, as I'm quite new to the job market.