Got a Job

I recently received a job offer, which is exciting, but I'm facing a challenge with the references required. The employer needs references for the past three years, and I was NEET (not in education, employment, or training) for the last year. They specifically don't accept character or personal references, which makes it tricky since I don't have a professional referee from that time. I'm reaching out to see if anyone else has been in a similar situation or has any advice on how to handle this. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I recently received a job offer after searching for a new position for the past couple of years. I currently work at a large company that has been going through multiple layoffs and has been cutting back on merit increases and promotions, which has made many of us consider leaving. The new offer seemed promising at first, but after reviewing the benefits, I'm starting to have doubts. The recruiter rushed our initial call, so I didn't get a chance to ask about important details like the 401k plan and equity options. Once I received the offer, I noticed there was no 401k match, no equity, and very limited PTO. Additionally, sick days can't be used for the first six months, and I'm already taking a pay cut to accept this position. The recruiter has been excessively persistent, checking in every hour to urge me to sign the offer, which has made me uneasy. Now, I'm questioning whether these feelings are just cold feet or if there are legitimate red flags with this offer. I’ve received advice from others suggesting I trust my instincts and reconsider accepting the offer, especially given the poor benefits and the rushed nature of the process. I'm feeling torn between wanting to leave my current job and the potential pitfalls of this new opportunity.

I recently received a job offer and I'm currently in the process of completing the background check. The form is asking if they can contact one of my previous employers and also inquiring about the reason for my departure. I was terminated from one of my roles, and I'm feeling anxious that disclosing this might lead to the revocation of my job offer. I'm considering saying that I was laid off instead and allowing them to contact my former employer. I'm really unsure about the best approach to take in this situation.

Today, I reached a breaking point at my current job as a customer service representative at a retail company. After my wonderful manager resigned due to personal reasons, things went downhill fast. For a few weeks, I was left to manage the office with a colleague who was later fired for their lack of effort. Finally, a new manager was hired, but they turned out to be a nightmare. They constantly change my work after I complete tasks, making it feel pointless. This situation has pushed me to start job hunting, and I’m excited to say I’ve accepted a new position that starts after my one-year mark. However, I’m stuck in a dilemma because of my relocation bonus contract; if I leave voluntarily before a year, I’ll have to pay it back. I didn’t submit a two-week notice because I feared it would trigger that repayment. To make matters worse, my new manager has issued a bizarre disciplinary action against me, giving me 30 days to correct it or face termination. I’ve been considering whether I should just let them fire me or leave without notice. Either way, I know I won’t be eligible for rehire, which is disheartening because I’ve consistently received praise for my performance and improved the location significantly. I’m torn between sticking it out for 30 days or taking the leap and leaving. I’m confident in my abilities and know I’ll find a new opportunity quickly, especially with the current job market. I just wish I could navigate this transition without the added stress of potential financial penalties.

I recently quit my job after being offered a new role as a civil servant at a local council, which I secured through a recruitment agency after being referred by the Job Centre. I went through the onboarding process and signed several documents, but never received an actual employment contract. Since then, my start date has been pushed back multiple times due to supposed IT issues. Now, the recruitment agency has gone completely silent, and I can't get any responses. I even reached out directly to the council, but all I get are automated replies saying they'll respond within 72 hours, which never happens. I've followed up numerous times with both the agency and the council, but I'm met with silence and no explanations. This situation has put me in a tough position since I left my previous job based on their assurances, and now I’m without steady income. To make matters worse, I need to move out of my sister's place by September. I'm feeling really lost and unsure of what to do next.

I got laid off after just one week in my new job as a Data Analyst at a big tech company, and I'm still in disbelief. Here's a rough timeline of my recruitment process: I applied for the role in mid-April, received an offer at the end of June, and started on July 20th. Just two days later, the entire team except for me was laid off, and by July 27th, I was let go too. I had to relocate to a new city for this position, and it’s incredibly frustrating to think that after going through two months and six interview rounds, they would do this to me so soon. I'm feeling really mad and sad about how they handle their hiring processes.

I started a new job two months ago, but I quickly realized it's not the right fit for me. This Friday, I have two interviews lined up, and I sent my resume with my previous job listed as my last position. I'm unsure about how to approach this in the interviews. Should I mention that I've been at my current job for just two months and that I'm looking for something more aligned with my expectations? I want to avoid coming off as negative, but I also want to be honest. If I decide to share this, how much detail should I go into? Any advice would be appreciated!

I entered the workforce in 2000 after completing my undergrad and post-grad degrees, right at the peak of the dot com bubble. Unfortunately, by the end of 2002, I found myself laid off from my first job after 2.5 years of working there. During my time at that company, there was constant intrigue, political games, and rolling layoffs every 6-9 months. Despite the company's financial success and being a leader in its industry, I never received a raise or bonus, and I even faced temporary pay cuts twice. We were forced to take vacation during mandatory shutdowns, which created a toxic environment. Eventually, I was laid off in the fourth round of cuts, but I did receive a 60-day notice and a severance package. This experience taught me that a company's success doesn’t necessarily align with the well-being of its employees. It left me feeling scarred and distrustful of corporate America. I attempted to return to academic research for 1.5 years, but when that didn't pan out, I reluctantly accepted a position in 2004 at another company. This second company had a fantastic culture, and I felt a sense of belonging. I even bought my first house there. However, the Great Recession in 2009 hit, and after my employer declared bankruptcy, I managed to secure a role at an early-stage startup just days before the shutdown. After 2 years there, I transitioned to a larger startup where I've now survived 8 rounds of layoffs over almost 16 years. While I appreciate my current company and coworkers, I remain aware that I could be let go at any time, which prevents me from feeling like an 'owner' despite my long tenure. I've learned the importance of saving and investing, and over the past 26 years, my household net worth has grown significantly. I now have a liquidity runway that allows me to feel less stressed about potential layoffs and even consider early retirement in the next 5 years if the market continues to rise. My advice? Be cautious, save, and invest wisely to avoid being at the mercy of corporate decisions.

I started a job in May 2026 at an industry company, but now, just two months in, I'm considering leaving for a public accounting firm. Back in October 2025, I received a job offer from an accounting firm for Fall 2026, but they postponed it to Fall 2027, which was too long for me to wait. So, I took the industry position instead. Now, I've got an interview lined up with the public firm, and if I get the job, it would be a significant step for my career and help me gain the experience needed to become a CPA. I feel guilty about leaving my current job so soon, especially since my boss is incredibly supportive and I've been able to help him a lot. I know I don’t owe anything to companies, but I still feel bad about the timing. I’m looking for any advice on how to navigate this situation.

I recently received a job offer that is significantly better than my current position. The new role offers only $5,000 more than my current salary, but it guarantees a 15% raise for the first three years, which means I would be making well over six figures after that time. Additionally, the benefits are much better, including a 10% match on the 401k and student loan repayment assistance, while my current employer offers no match and no support for student loans. When I shared the offer with my manager, he initially mentioned wanting to make a counter offer. However, he later questioned whether it was even worth it. I considered letting him make a counter offer just to see what I could negotiate, but ultimately decided against it. I felt that asking for a counter offer might just be a tactic to negotiate a higher salary at my new job. I want to leave my current job on good terms since I genuinely like my colleagues and the environment here. I do have a number in mind that I would accept, but it’s a 40% increase over my current salary, which I doubt they would match. I still haven't accepted the new offer yet, so part of me thinks about negotiating with my current employer, but it feels wrong to play with their time when they have treated me well. My primary motivation for leaving is simply to seek better benefits and higher pay.

I find myself at a crossroads between jobs, and I wanted to share my journey. I have a background in machine shop work, having attended both high school and trade school where I really developed a passion for what I do. My first job was in a small machine shop, which started off great. I learned a lot and moved up quickly, but over time, the environment soured. I was treated poorly, and I began to lose my enthusiasm for my work. Eventually, business declined, and I was laid off when my boss couldn't hand over the reins to anyone else. Three months ago, I began job searching and ended up at a company where many of my relatives and former classmates work. Initially, I hesitated to apply there because I wanted to forge my own path, but I took the leap and got hired. This job has been a breath of fresh air; I've reconnected with old friends and even picked up hobbies I had abandoned. Then, last week, I received a call from my former tech teacher about a teaching position in an adjacent program to machining. The job sounds incredible, and it's practically mine if I want it. I've made a pros and cons list, but I'm still torn. The teaching schedule would be more favorable, with hours from 7:45 to 2:45, Monday to Friday, and summers off. However, I'm hesitant to leave a job that has brought me so much joy.

I finally landed a job after a long and challenging search! For months, I faced countless rejections, primarily applying to positions in animal shelters and other related roles, as my resume is heavily focused on animal-related jobs. The process was incredibly frustrating and felt like torture at times. However, today I received an offer for a position in an after-school program where I'll be working with kids. It's not my dream job, but it's a paycheck, and I'm genuinely excited about it. I feel like a new person! On top of that, I'm about to start university again to study marine biology, and I hope to eventually transition into a role in that field. To anyone out there struggling with job applications, don't give up! I was tempted to throw in the towel many times, but I knew I couldn't afford to.

Today was a whirlwind of emotions as I got hired and fired within the span of an hour. After seven months of struggling with seasonal gigs and part-time jobs, I finally landed a position in my field that offered decent pay. I went through three rounds of interviews and was thrilled when I received the job offer. I was in the process of finalizing my schedule when I received an email from the hiring manager saying they had decided to go in a different direction and wouldn't be needing me after all. Honestly, I’m not even mad anymore; I’m just utterly exhausted and defeated. I’ve been juggling three minimum wage jobs just to scrape by and pay my rent. It feels like I'm putting in so much effort for so little reward. This job market is incredibly frustrating, and I hate how tough things are right now.

I’ve officially been on the job hunt for 7 months, and today was my breaking point. After applying to what feels like hundreds of jobs, rewriting my résumé, practicing interviews, and staying positive, I thought I finally caught a break. A few days ago, I interviewed for a scheduling coordinator position at a mental health company and received an offer. I was thrilled because the schedule fit my life perfectly, and I even turned down another job offer because I felt secure in this new role. Today was supposed to be my first day of training, but instead of being welcomed, I was thrown into creating a schedule from scratch with virtually no training. I struggled to meet expectations, and after my second attempt, I was told they would review my work to decide if I was a good fit. I thought I was already hired, but it turned out my employment was still contingent on this evaluation. A few hours later, I received a call saying they weren’t moving forward with me. They didn’t even provide a reason, leaving me feeling completely blindsided. I’m 30 years old with a son, and the only reason I’m not homeless is that my parents are letting us stay with them while I search for work. I’m pursuing my master’s degree to become a Licensed Professional Counselor, trying to build a stable future for my family. This experience has taken a toll on my mental health. I’m becoming depressed and losing confidence in myself. I keep questioning what I’m doing wrong and what employers want from candidates. I don’t want sympathy; I genuinely want advice because I feel lost. Has anyone else gone through something similar? Does it get better? Today has really broken me, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m losing hope.

I recently applied for a position at a DSHS office and received a call last Friday confirming that I got the job! However, they mentioned that I need to wait for a background check to be completed before I can start. I've never had any issues with background checks in the past, so I'm feeling pretty confident about it. I'm just curious about how long these checks typically take, as I want to plan when to give my two weeks' notice at my current job. I really dislike my current position, but I don't want to leave them in a bind since I'm one of three managers running the entire operation. Any insights on the usual time frame for background checks in government roles would be appreciated!

I was laid off in September 2025 from a part-time IT Support role that was severely underpaid and offered no benefits, just a month after I graduated college. Instead of aggressively applying for jobs, I decided to wait for recruiters to reach out to me, and surprisingly, this strategy paid off. I almost landed my dream job managing IT projects in a hybrid environment, but unfortunately, they chose another candidate. In the end, I received two offers: one for $55k at a charter school and another for $60k at a large public university nearby. I opted for the $60k position since it paid more and was non-exempt, meaning I would be capped at 40 hours a week. While I feel overqualified for this role, the state benefits and job stability are comforting after my previous experience. It's been four years in IT support, and even with my BS in computer information systems, I worry about my career progression. I know a coworker with over 10 advanced certifications who is struggling to find a new job, which adds to my anxiety. A few years ago, I could have found a job in just a few weeks, but now it took me six months, and I have a lot of therapy ahead to process the stress from this experience. On the bright side, I now have excellent dental and medical insurance, and I've tripled my salary while doing the same job.

I recently landed a one-hour interview with the hiring manager at Leidos for the position of Junior Geographic Information Systems Analyst. I'm feeling quite unconfident about this opportunity, as I have experience with government interviews but not with defense or corporate settings like this one. I'm reaching out for any advice or tips that could help me prepare. To give you a better idea of my work, I've also shared my portfolio.

I recently got a temporary job that I absolutely love, but I'm facing a tough situation. I started this job over the summer and have been really enjoying it, but it’s set to end next month when I head off to university. I had hoped to speak with my area manager about the possibility of keeping the position when I return from school. However, I've run into a conflict. I've been scheduled for three short shifts during a week when I planned to travel to Cardiff with my boyfriend to meet his extended family and visit my mom and little brothers, whom I haven't seen in five years due to my parents' divorce. I only found out about this trip yesterday, so I haven't booked anything yet, but it's really important to me. Unfortunately, my employer won’t allow me to take those shifts off, and I’m torn because I value my family time much more than this temporary job that I won’t have for long. I also have another casual job as a bartender that I plan to keep while I’m at university, but I really love this temp job. I'm seriously considering whether I should just quit and prioritize my family over a job that won’t last much longer.

I recently received a job offer that raised some red flags for me. After applying to numerous IT and Software Development positions over the past two months while unemployed, I got an email from a recruiter at RJ Lee Group for a remote Frontend Developer role. I verified that the company was legitimate and sent my availability for a technical assessment, which I completed on Thursday evening. I didn’t hear anything over the weekend, but then I woke up to an employment offer on Monday morning. What made me suspicious was that I hadn’t spoken to anyone on the phone or had a virtual interview. The offer email requested my full name, address, and phone number, which felt odd since I hadn’t interacted with a real person yet. I’ve attached screenshots of our correspondence and the assessment, and I’m trying to figure out if I should pursue this job or brace myself for disappointment. I’ve heard that scams often involve requests for personal information and reimbursement checks, so I’m feeling uncertain about this offer.

Today I found out about the Voluntary Separation Program (VSP) at Centene where I've worked for over 15 years. I was a bit nervous but also excited as I awaited the approval of my application. Fortunately, my offer was generous, and I have a solid plan moving forward. I'm planning to take a couple of weeks off to recharge and spend some quality time with my wife on a much-deserved vacation. I sincerely hope that everyone else who applied for the VSP also gets approved and can find their footing in this transition. Good luck to all!