Feeling

I’ve been struggling to find a job for a long time now, and I’m feeling really lost. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for several years, which has left me without any references to use for my job applications. I recently tried to update my resume and, I admit, I lied about the dates of my previous jobs to fill the gap, but the jobs themselves were real. I’ve been applying and finally got a couple of interviews, but I keep hitting a wall when it comes to providing references. I don’t have close connections anymore since I moved away from most of my friends and family, and I’m feeling really desperate. I’ve been crying all morning because I just want to work again and I know I’m a hard worker. I don’t want to put my stay-at-home status on my resume because I’ve tried that for over a year and it didn’t lead to anything. I’m just looking for advice on how to get past this reference issue. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I am currently living in Munich, where I am completing my master’s degree and expect to graduate in October. Originally from mainland China, I have also lived in Japan for several years. I have been actively searching for a job in the USA, specifically in Los Angeles or nearby, but I am facing significant challenges with visa sponsorship. Most companies I’ve come across do not sponsor work visas, which has been quite discouraging. I am fluent in Mandarin, Japanese, English, German, and Korean, and I would really appreciate any advice on options available for someone in my situation. Are there specific companies, industries, or job-search websites that I should focus on? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I recently got promoted at my job in a large insurance company where I work in pricing for home insurance. I started my graduate role in 2024 and transitioned into pricing in May 2025. I applied for this promotion mainly to gain interview experience, never expecting to actually get it, especially since I was up against more experienced colleagues, including my best friend. To my surprise, I was offered the role, but now I’m feeling overwhelmed and doubting my capabilities. It's been a month since I took on this new position, and the pressure has been intense with tight deadlines and a lot of responsibility. My manager has reduced hours, which adds to the stress because I feel like he doesn't fully understand my skill set. I constantly worry that I’m not good enough and that I might get fired for not meeting the high expectations. I remember struggling with imposter syndrome throughout my academic journey due to a late ADHD diagnosis and poor GCSEs. Although I’ve had good reviews in my previous roles, the short time I’ve spent in this company makes me feel like I still have so much to learn. I’m terrified of being found out and regret taking this role, thinking I might have taken an opportunity away from my friend. I’m reaching out for advice, but I know deep down that this feeling of inadequacy is something I need to work through myself.

I was recently laid off at the beginning of this month, and it really hit me hard. I had just completed a year in my IT role and was feeling like I was finally hitting my stride. The layoff was unexpected, and now I'm grappling with a mix of anxiety and self-doubt. It feels like I've lost my drive and social connections, and I can't shake the feeling that my career is in ruins. I've had a rocky path in my career, having jumped from my first job after a year to a startup that eventually succeeded, then trying my hand at raising funds for my own startup, which ultimately failed. My latest position was meant to be a fresh start, where I hoped to stay for at least 2.5 to 3 years. But now, with four jobs in four years and only two years of verifiable work, I worry about how recruiters will view my resume. The current state of the IT job market makes it even more daunting to find a new role. I used to excel in interviews, but I’m not sure I can replicate that success now. I’m also pursuing a master's degree part-time, which I hope will help me reset my career after I graduate in a year. Mentally, this situation is weighing heavily on me. I’ve faced tough times before with less financial security, but this feels different. I see my peers living stable lives, and I can’t help but feel inadequate. I’m even considering a drastic career change, like going to flight school, just to find some stability. I’m feeling like a failure and would appreciate any advice from those who have been in similar situations.

I handed in my resignation on August 18 with a 3-month notice period, making my last day November 18. However, my new employer wants me to start on November 16. I reached out to my current manager, who confirmed he had no issue shortening my notice. Despite this, my current company has been slow in finding my replacement, and they haven't conducted any interviews yet. My new manager has been checking in on my negotiation progress, and while they are flexible, I have a pressing reason to start earlier. The person who took the Lead position I originally interviewed for has sadly passed away, and my new manager wants me to join ASAP to evaluate my performance for that role. I have 8.5 days of annual leave left, which I plan to use to potentially move my last working day to November 6. HR mentioned they could require me to work until November 18 and pay out my holiday, but I pushed for an earlier termination date. I suggested October 30, and my manager said he would discuss it with HR, but I haven't heard back yet. I want to avoid burning bridges since I'm moving to another contractor on the same site, and my current employer needs to process my departure for the onboarding with the new company. Ideally, I want to secure an October 30 release, but if that doesn't happen, I'll stick with the previously agreed November 13 date. I'm looking for advice on how to navigate this situation without damaging my relationship with my current employer.

I just started my first job at a liquor store, and honestly, I'm feeling pretty miserable. I'm 19, almost 20, and after finishing a three-day unpaid training, I'm about to dive into my first 9-hour shift tomorrow, followed by two more 8-hour shifts. The schedule is packed with 5-6 hour shifts for the rest of the week, and I only have Friday off. I got this job through a family friend, and I was initially grateful, but now I'm feeling overwhelmed and depressed. Before this, I had a few short gigs in fast food and retail, but nothing lasted long. Now, I feel suffocated by the responsibilities that come with this job. I used to live a carefree life, but now I’m struggling with anxiety and unhappiness. I have hobbies I love, and the thought of not having time for them is really dragging me down. I can't ask for shorter hours since I haven't even started yet, and I fear that if I do, I might lose the job. My parents are supportive and optimistic that I'll feel better soon, but it feels like an eternity to me. I have one co-worker who's nice, but I don't know if we’ll become friends. The pressure to not disappoint my parents and the family friend who helped me get this job is weighing heavily on me. I'm considering asking my employer for part-time hours once I start school in winter, but I plan to wait a couple of months before bringing that up. I really want to gain experience, but I can't shake off this feeling of depression. I've talked to friends who work hard, and while I want to contribute too, I just feel stuck. Any advice on how to cope with this would be greatly appreciated.

I recently interviewed for a remote position with Senture and went through several steps, including a phone interview, filling out a questionnaire, and completing fingerprinting. I also received the necessary equipment for the job. They mentioned I should expect an email within two days with my login information for the eApp from either Okta or NBIS, but I haven't received that yet. Instead, I've gotten a few emails from different people, which has left me confused about whether I've officially been hired. Training is set to start this coming Monday, and I'm currently employed, so I'm trying to juggle both schedules without any clear confirmation of my new role. I've reached out to the contacts I've received emails from, but so far, no one has responded.

I was laid off two months ago and am currently facing a tough decision. I have an offer from an established enterprise software company, but the situation is complicated. I received the offer letter on Friday, and the start date is set for this Tuesday, which gives me only one business day to respond. I had previously indicated a later start date, and now I’m worried because one of my reference checks isn’t even complete yet. Additionally, the role is for their Mumbai office, but after looking into the costs of moving there, it’s just not feasible for me. I’m already settled in Bangalore, where I have my network and living arrangements. I plan to call HR on Monday to ask for a two-week extension on the start date and to see if I can shift the location to Bangalore, but I’m terrified that they might see me as a flight risk and rescind the offer altogether. To make matters worse, my top-choice company, a high-growth SaaS firm, just reached out to me after my technical assignment interview earlier this week, which I felt went poorly. They’ve invited me to a final culture round on Tuesday afternoon, right when I would be expected to start at the enterprise company. I’m feeling completely stuck. If I decline the enterprise offer, I’m risking everything on the final round with my top choice, but if the enterprise company won’t budge on the start date, I’d have to choose between the two. I’m looking for advice on how to navigate this situation. Should I ask the enterprise HR for both a start date extension and a location change? Should I address the start date first or lay everything out at once? And during my call with the SaaS recruiter, should I mention that I have another offer to potentially speed up their feedback, or would that pressure backfire since my previous interview wasn’t great? Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

I was informed this past Friday that I would be laid off in a solo layoff scheduled for October 2nd, under the guise of a restructuring that involves hiring an outside firm. Since receiving this news, I've been sleepless and feeling depressed as I process everything. Earlier this year, I made a formal complaint about a colleague who had been sexually harassing female interns and making racist and transphobic remarks. Despite my complaints, the individual and their associates faced no consequences and remain employed. Shortly after I reported this, I noticed a significant decrease in the projects I was assigned, particularly those related to this colleague and their friends. This summer, the company was acquired by a new ownership group, and my relationship with them quickly soured. My supervisor instructed me to ask for additional compensation for my work while misrepresenting my availability. Soon after, I was removed from key projects that were then handed over to others, resulting in subpar outcomes. I even had the new ownership reach out to me for a project, only for my supervisor to intervene and retract the offer in favor of AI-generated work that was riddled with errors. Despite my consistent performance, I've never received any formal feedback from HR, which is handled by my supervisor since the company lacks dedicated HR staff. I was told that the company does not produce performance reports at all. The outside firm replacing my role does not align with my job responsibilities, yet a close friend of my supervisor, whose job directly relates to the firm's duties, remains unaffected. I suspect my role is being replaced with cheaper part-time positions. I'm being pressured to accept a 4-week severance package within a week, which would waive my rights to any legal action. I’m uncomfortable with this, especially considering the potential for legal action from the women who were harassed, where I could serve as a witness. I'm concerned about how specialized my job is in this market, as opportunities are scarce and often require relocation, which is difficult for me as a homeowner. My parents are helping me for now, but the severance is less than $4,000. My loved ones have advised me to consult a lawyer first thing Monday. I've backed up files to document the situation, but I’m unsure if pursuing legal action is worth the potential entanglements.

I'm currently working as a Patient Scheduling Representative in healthcare, but I'm feeling completely burnt out from the job search. I've been in call centers and customer service roles since COVID, and the low pay isn't helping either. I'm eager to pivot into something more technical, like healthcare IT, Epic, data analytics, or business analysis. I hold a BS in IT Management and have some previous engineering and technical experience, which I enjoyed, especially my time at a nonprofit. The challenge I'm facing is that most jobs require 3-5 years of specific experience, which makes it tough to break out of the customer service cycle. On top of that, my wife is currently laid off, adding more uncertainty to our situation, and we’re considering relocating, possibly back to her home country. Job searching feels exhausting; I find myself scrolling through LinkedIn, Indeed, and other platforms, seeing the same listings over and over again. It's frustrating to be looking for jobs while already working. I have a passion for reading, writing, and music, and my dream is to write full-time someday, but I know I need to find something stable that pays well and offers growth. Ironically, I just received a text about a Border Patrol position, which I never thought I'd consider, but I'm exploring every option at this point. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has successfully transitioned from customer service to IT or analytics—what worked for you? Did you get certifications, network, take a lower-paying role, build a portfolio, or just keep applying? I’m looking for some perspective on how to keep moving forward when the process feels so draining.

I currently work at a tech company that is set to be acquired by a larger tech firm, with the acquisition expected to be finalized by mid-next year. This announcement has left me feeling anxious about my job security. I'm in a mid-career role, and while I believe my position is valuable, I'm aware that during acquisitions, companies often streamline operations and eliminate redundancies. Given the current job market, I'm torn between staying put and starting my job search. I've been advised to maximize my options and begin applying for new roles while I still have a steady income. It seems like a tough situation, and I'm not sure what the best course of action is.

I was laid off from my position at a small company due to a "reduction in workforce" about two months ago. The owners assured me it wasn't due to my performance but rather a lack of workload in my specific group, which I know was true since we had discussed it in meetings. It's been a tough seven weeks since then, and I still haven't found a new job. I'm hesitant to return to a private company, and the public sector jobs nearby haven't been hiring. To add to my frustration, I just discovered that my former job has been reposted at a lower level and with a salary about $15,000 less than what I was making. I'm feeling really frustrated and I'm left wondering if this is even legal.

I recently found myself feeling lost in my job search after taking a break to raise my kids. My experience feels outdated, and I'm struggling to find a part-time job close to home since my husband travels frequently. I applied to McDonald's, but the application process was disheartening. Instead of submitting a resume, I had to complete a 30-minute AI questionnaire that felt more like a personality test than a job application. I never got to showcase my management experience or skills. I also tried applying to TJ Maxx, where I used to manage, but it seems they have also shifted to an AI-driven process. I’m open to both part-time and full-time opportunities, but the reliance on AI in hiring has really dampened my hope. I just want to find a job where I can contribute and feel valued.

I’ve been working from home for 15 years at a government contracting company, and I’ve recently come into a significant financial windfall that means I never have to work again. While my job is fairly easy and I only have to interact with my manager twice a year, I find it quite lonely sitting at home all day. I’m ready to travel for a few years while I’m still young enough to enjoy it. I’m considering how to get laid off, as I think it might be a challenge given my long tenure. My company requires 40 hours of training each year, and I’m wondering if I could cut back on that without them noticing. However, I’m not sure if they would care about my training since it wouldn’t cost them anything if I don’t complete it. I’ve received some advice from others suggesting that if I have enough money, I should just quit and enjoy life instead of trying to navigate a layoff. It’s a tempting thought, but I’m still weighing my options.

I've experienced several layoffs throughout my career, and I thought it might be helpful to share my journey: 1. My first job was at a fast food restaurant during high school, where I worked my way up to manager over 9 years. I dedicated myself to the job, often putting in 60 hours a week. Eventually, the franchise owners sold the store back to the company, and I was laid off. They paid me until the end of the week and kept my insurance until the end of the month. While I was a bit disappointed with the lack of recognition for my hard work, I was also relieved to have some time off. 2. After that, I decided to pursue a career in IT. I landed an entry-level position at a large retailer, but it was a cheap company. After 4 years, they were acquired, and on the day of the layoffs, we were all taken to a hotel and informed we were let go. I received a week’s pay for every year I worked there, which was a small consolation. 3. I didn’t apply for unemployment and instead started hunting for jobs, but only found temporary work. I worked for a company for six weeks, but once the regular employees returned from vacation, I was let go. I went on another interview for a position that had no advancement opportunities, and I was relieved when I didn’t get that job. 4. Eventually, a temp agency sent me to interview with an oil company. I was thrilled when I got the job, which was the best I had at that point. However, after almost 7 years, they decided to change their accounting software and laid off many employees, including me. I was surprised when I received the call from the director's office. I had thought I was safe, but the company ended up getting bought out twice afterward. 5. After meeting someone in a different state, I moved and found a new job after a couple of months. It wasn’t the highest-paying job, but I worked three 12-hour shifts, giving me plenty of time off. When my manager discovered I was looking for other jobs, I received a 21% raise. Unfortunately, after almost 7 years, the company merged, and my position was eliminated. I stayed until the end to receive a retention bonus and got 1.5 weeks of pay for every year I worked. 6. It took a couple of months to find my next job, but it turned out to be the right fit. I was still receiving severance when I started, and I ended up working there for 22 years before retiring two years ago. I survived a major layoff in 2008 but managed to advance afterward. I had great managers and felt my work was valued. The last decade of my career really set me up for retirement. Looking back, I realize that even though layoffs can be tough, I was fortunate to have some savings to help me through the rough patches.

I'm currently navigating a chaotic job situation after owning my own business in Central Florida for 13 years. My operation was thriving until late 2024-2025 when I got shorted $400k by two contractors—one went bankrupt and the other essentially robbed me. This led to a drastic downsizing from 25 employees to just myself and one other person, and I'm now facing foreclosure on my home. The last 18 months have been incredibly tough, and I've exhausted all my savings and retirement funds trying to recover. I'll be turning 41 soon, which adds to the stress. I started applying for jobs about six weeks ago and quickly realized how dire the job market has become. Although I've received offers, the wages are shockingly low. However, I finally got an acceptable offer for a project management position at $120k with a schedule of 26 weeks on and 26 weeks off, starting on October 5th. In the meantime, a contractor I used to work with reached out and offered me a project that also starts on October 5th, which will pay around $40k for a two-week turnaround. Another contractor accepted my bid for a project worth $211k, estimated to take about 90 days. Both contractors are reliable payers, which is crucial in this industry. Additionally, I’m waiting to hear back from an engineering/design firm about a full remote position that pays $140k. I really want this job as it would allow me to finish my degree and gain valuable experience, but I don’t have it yet. On top of all this, there’s a possibility of receiving a settlement from the contractor that wronged me, which could be around $180k. My financial situation is precarious—my power was almost shut off last month—but both contractors are willing to front materials and expenses for the projects if I can sign contracts. I'm feeling overwhelmed with all these opportunities happening at once and need to make decisions quickly, as everyone wants answers by Monday. If anyone has advice or suggestions, I'm all ears!

I’m currently in a tough spot as a college student in my third year of game design. I’m desperately looking for a part-time job, ideally one that allows me to work 8-hour shifts. However, I’m concerned about how to balance this with my massive college assignments, especially since I have a major project due soon. I’ve been thinking about negotiating for night shifts or scheduling around my classes. My main worry is what happens if I get hired and then find myself overwhelmed with assignments, unable to pick up shifts. Would that be seen as unprofessional? I know I need to pay my college fees, and I might not have another job opportunity after graduation. I’m trying to figure out how to manage my time effectively and ensure that my education remains a priority while still being able to support myself financially.

I recently discovered that Dell EMC has been conducting silent layoffs without any mention in the Washington WARN report. It seems like a lot of employees are being let go without any formal announcement or notification. This has raised concerns among the staff about job security and the company’s transparency. I'm trying to understand how they can manage to do this without it being officially reported.

Today I took a big step and resigned from my job. I've been feeling pretty unhappy at my current position for a while now, and despite sending out numerous applications, I haven't received any responses. After much consideration, I decided it was time to take the plunge. I submitted my two weeks' notice and I can't express how relieved I feel. In just two weeks, I'll be moving across the country to start a new chapter in my life. I'm filled with happiness and excitement about what lies ahead. Wish me luck on this journey!

I had a phone screen with a recruiter two days ago for a position I was really excited about. I felt like the conversation went well, and at the end, the recruiter mentioned she needed to discuss things with the hiring manager on Friday and would update me on next steps afterward. Now that Friday has passed and I haven't heard back, I'm starting to worry that I might be rejected. I did send a thank you note the day after the interview, and the recruiter responded positively, saying she enjoyed our conversation and would reach out soon. I'm wondering if the lack of follow-up means bad news. Based on others' experiences, should I send a follow-up email on Monday to check in?