Miscellaneous

After 11 long months of searching, I finally landed a job! I lost my previous position in September 2025 and started my new role in August 2026. During my job search, I sent out over 600 applications, but only went on less than 20 interviews. Most of the time, I felt like I was just tossing my applications into a black hole, as I was ghosted by many employers. My situation was particularly challenging because I have a disability that limits me to jobs where I can sit down. One day, I decided to visit my friend Michal at a craft fair, and while I was there, I met another friend, Jen. During our conversation, I mentioned my struggles with finding work for nearly ten months. Jen then told me that her job was hiring for a work-from-home medical scheduling position and offered to pass my resume along to her supervisor. I was skeptical but sent it over. A week later, I received an email from a supervisor I had never met, saying that someone had recommended me and offered me the job without an interview! It felt surreal, and I initially thought it might be a scam. Thankfully, Jen confirmed it was legitimate. The process wasn't without its stressors, though. I had to go through a background check and employment verification, which made me anxious. For the drug test, I had to sneak in my mom's urine since I use medical marijuana for my disability. In the meantime, my neighbor was kind enough to bring me meals to ensure I was eating during this stressful time. This entire job search experience has been incredibly taxing on my mental health. I truly believe that without Jen's referral, I would still be searching for work. It's disheartening to see how broken the job market is; it shouldn't be this difficult to find employment. If you're struggling to find a job, please know that it's not your fault—many of us are facing the same challenges.

I came across a project focused on the impact of AI on jobs and income, and it really resonated with me. I'm considering sharing my own experience, as I believe AI has significantly affected my role as a freelance graphic designer. Since the rise of AI tools, I've noticed a decline in client inquiries and projects, which I suspect is due to businesses opting for AI-generated designs over hiring human designers like myself. I'm intrigued by the opportunity to share my story on camera for a short documentary. The project aims to showcase real experiences of people affected by AI, and I think my situation could contribute to a broader understanding of this issue. I’m based in Southern California, so I might have a chance to participate in person. I appreciate that the initial conversation is casual and doesn’t commit me to anything right away. I’m hopeful that by sharing my story, I can help shed light on the challenges we face in adapting to these technological changes.

I’ve been on the job hunt lately and noticed something strange: there are no McDonald's hiring within 100 miles of me. It feels like a sign of the times when I remember a time when anyone could easily get a job there. Now, it seems like getting hired at a fast-food chain is a rare occurrence. I'm just looking for any job at this point, but it's disheartening to see such a staple of entry-level employment not hiring. It makes me wonder if people are moving away from fast food in favor of better options, or if McDonald’s has just lost its appeal. Either way, I’m feeling the frustration of this job search.

I recently graduated in May with a BA in history and a minor in global security, and I’m feeling lost about my career path. I had a part-time job at a tutoring company for 20 hours a week, but I left that in January after I thought I secured a meaningful position at a non-profit that supports foster kids. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a scam, and I missed the warning signs as a new graduate. Since then, I’ve been unemployed and struggling to find work. I've tried applying for retail jobs, but it feels like nothing is working out. I'm at a point where I don't even know what to look for anymore, especially with government jobs being out of reach and my degree not opening many doors. I'm reaching out for advice on how to break this cycle of dead-end jobs I’ve been stuck in since college. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

I recently relocated to New York for a new job, and just a month in, I was laid off. Now, I'm facing a tough situation as I have to pay rent without any income. I found a nice place in Queens with a rent under $800, which I thought was a great deal for the area. However, I'm now stuck with 11 months left on my lease and struggling to find someone to take it over since the house is older and not many people are interested. The job market is quite challenging right now, and I've had no luck even landing minimum wage positions. I can't move back to my home state because I'd still be responsible for rent here. I'm feeling overwhelmed and unsure about my next steps.

I can't believe what I just heard. I reached out to a friend for help with my job search, hoping he could network me into some opportunities since I'm struggling with that. We ended up catching up, and I asked him how his job at Starbucks was going. To my shock, he told me he’s had four different jobs since we last spoke! In this economy, I was stunned. He’s now making between $5,000 to $10,000 as a 19-year-old. Meanwhile, I'm still jobless and in the same field as him. I can't help but feel worthless and discouraged about my own job hunt. Does anyone else feel this way?

I've been on the job hunt for quite some time now, and I'm really curious about the effectiveness of AI automation bots for job applications. It's been about 1.5 years since I last looked into them, and back then, I wasn't convinced they were worth it. I see a lot of ads claiming these bots can apply for jobs while you sleep, but I'm skeptical about their actual performance. I'm wondering if anyone has had success with these tools recently or if I should stick to my current job search methods. With recruiters overwhelmed by resumes, I'm also interested in hearing from any recruiters, especially at larger companies, about how they sift through applications these days. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I was recently made redundant from a major corporate bank where I worked in real estate. At 32 years old, I started this role in July 2020 during the peak of COVID, transitioning from my previous career in recruitment for financial services. I’ve been in this position for about six years, and while the job market isn't great right now, I feel surprisingly okay about the situation. In my team of around 20 people, only one colleague reached out to express regret about my departure, which honestly doesn't bother me too much since I wasn't in the office often. We had some good times at client events, but I’ve always kept to myself and focused on my work. There’s an ongoing consultation period, and I know people have been advised not to discuss the layoffs, but it would have been nice to receive a few more messages from coworkers. I want to emphasize that this situation isn’t a reflection of my worth; I’ve always done my job and shown up when needed. This post is a message to anyone going through a similar experience: don’t let the workplace define you. Focus on your personal life and well-being. My job served me well financially and provided valuable experience for my next steps. I know how the job search process works, and I’m prepared to move on. Taking the redundancy package might just be a blessing in disguise, so embrace the change and look forward to new opportunities.

I recently interviewed for an Office Manager position at a company where I thought I had a solid chance. I arrived 15 minutes early after a full day of work, feeling confident about my performance. With my background working for Fortune 500 companies and a strong list of recommendations, I believed I presented myself well. However, after the interview, I was told I would hear back by last Friday. When I reached out for an update, I found that I had been blocked. This experience is really perplexing and feels unprofessional. The interviewer made a strange comment, saying I reminded him of his brother, which has me wondering if that played a role in their decision. It's a new and frustrating situation for me.

I recently left my position as a sales agent at Trade Show Planners, which has now rebranded as TSP Experts. I worked from an office outside the U.S., but we were instructed to use American names and give the address of the U.S. office when speaking with customers. This felt misleading, and I wanted to share my experience after seeing the company rebrand with a polished new image. During my time there, the work environment was extremely toxic. We were pressured to make calls for nearly nine hours a day, with our bathroom breaks monitored. It felt like we were treated as machines rather than people, with little regard for our well-being. Many of us earned around $200 a month while being expected to generate significant revenue in hotel bookings. The commission structure was frustrating as well; payments were often delayed, and some agents left without receiving what they were owed. One of the most uncomfortable aspects was the expectation to sound American during calls, which misled customers into thinking they were dealing with U.S.-based representatives. I also had concerns about the booking process, specifically the non-refundable terms that weren't always clearly stated. Now that the company has rebranded, I feel it's important for potential customers and employees to do their research. Just because the name and logo have changed doesn't mean the practices have. I hope sharing my story helps others make informed decisions.

I started receiving my unemployment benefits in mid-July after my claim was processed back in April 2026, but it took some time to get everything sorted out. Recently, I took a partial distribution from my 401k to help pay down some credit card debt. I’ve been confused about how to report this withdrawal. I read that since it was a one-time distribution and not a monthly payment, it shouldn’t affect my benefits. However, I still reported it when certifying my claim by answering "YES" to the pension question. They sent me a form to explain that it was a partial distribution and to provide proof of that. Now I’m stuck on a part of the form that asks if my employer contributed to the 401k and if I contributed. I answered yes to both since that was true when I was employed, but contributions stopped when I left the job. I’m worried that saying my employer contributed might affect my unemployment payments for that week. I’m not sure if I should have said no since I’m no longer employed and there are no contributions being made now. I initially thought about saying no, but the form required at least one yes. I really don’t understand the logic behind this. Can anyone clarify?

I had a scheduled Zoom interview with a hiring manager that I was really looking forward to, but unfortunately, I got stood up. I waited for about 30 minutes before I decided to reach out to the recruiter, who was my only point of contact. After messaging her, she said she would look into it, but I can't help but feel frustrated. Is it common for candidates to be ghosted like this during the interview process? I thought it was pretty disrespectful, but I’ve seen mixed opinions on whether it’s just part of the job search game nowadays.

I was laid off after just 90 days at a company I had previously worked for from 2019 to 2022. I returned in May for a different role, despite knowing they were undergoing significant layoffs. I thought the salary and opportunity outweighed the risks, so I took the leap and left a stable position at another company. When I rejoined, it felt familiar, though there had been some changes, including a new CEO. Then, out of the blue, I received a calendar invite for a meeting, which immediately set off alarm bells. My gut feeling was spot on; my entire department was being laid off. Now I have two months to find a new role within the company, but opportunities in my area are scarce, and financially, I can't afford to relocate. While the severance package is generous and gives me some breathing room, I feel overwhelmed by the situation. I haven't had the chance to make a significant impact in my short time here, and the job market seems bleak. After a tough couple of years, I thought I was finally getting back on track, but it feels like I've hit a wall instead.

I recently started a job at a local restaurant chain after leaving a toxic retail position, but my excitement quickly turned into frustration. The onboarding process was chaotic; I had issues with my paperwork that led the manager to think I ghosted them, despite us having scheduled an orientation. Once I finally started, I was thrown into a hectic environment with broken AC and constant station changes, which made it hard to keep up with orders. During my first few weeks, I completed my Food Handler's Permit, but the training and practices at the restaurant were alarming. I witnessed a manager instructing me to reuse uncooked chicken on a salad that had already been sent back, which is a clear case of cross-contamination. To make matters worse, none of the produce was washed before prep, and I even spotted a roach in the kitchen, which was a major red flag for me. My schedule has also been inconsistent; after a couple of weeks of decent hours, I was suddenly scheduled for only one day in my fifth week. The supervisor even suggested I take on more hours at a different location that I can't reach due to transportation issues, which felt completely unreasonable. To top it off, I found out they were asking other potential employees for jobs despite claiming they didn’t have enough hours to offer me. It's been a frustrating experience, and I’m seriously considering my options moving forward.

I recently wrapped up an intense six-month job search after being laid off, and I wanted to share my journey in hopes it might help others. From January to July 2026, I interviewed with 49 companies and completed 119 interviews, ultimately landing two job offers. I primarily targeted roles as a Customer Success Manager, Account Manager, and Technical Account Manager in the tech sector. Throughout this process, I utilized tools like ChatGPT and Claude extensively to refine my approach. I noticed many people struggling to get interviews, including a close friend who has been out of work for nine months, which motivated me to share my playbook. The key to my success was not just applying to hundreds of jobs blindly. Instead, I developed a systematic approach to identify the right roles, assess my fit, tailor my resume, and create warm connections with potential employers. I aimed for around five interviews per week, focusing on quality over quantity. To kick things off, I revamped my LinkedIn profile and resume to highlight measurable outcomes rather than just listing responsibilities. I emphasized key metrics relevant to Customer Success roles, such as ARR managed, renewal performance, and customer turnarounds. My resume was straightforward and easy to read, ensuring that recruiters could quickly grasp my qualifications. I found job opportunities primarily through LinkedIn, setting up alerts for specific roles I was interested in. Instead of applying to every listing, I filtered opportunities to ensure they aligned with my skills and experiences. I averaged about ten applications per week, carefully assessing each position before applying. Before submitting my applications, I would analyze the job descriptions using ChatGPT to understand what the company was truly looking for. This included identifying the core problems the role aimed to solve and the necessary competencies. I tailored my resume for each application, ensuring it highlighted the most relevant achievements and experiences. Additionally, I leveraged LinkedIn to create warm connections with recruiters and hiring managers. I reached out to individuals by crafting personalized messages based on their profiles, which helped me stand out and led to several interviews directly from my outreach efforts. Overall, this experience taught me the importance of a strategic approach in job searching. I hope my journey can inspire others to stay persistent and refine their methods in the face of challenges.

I was laid off last month from my job and I'm currently receiving severance pay until mid-September, which is a relief. However, I'm starting to think about the long term and what happens if I run out of money. I have a family of four, and my wife works part-time to take care of our kids. Unfortunately, both of my parents have passed away, and while my mother-in-law can help a bit financially, it's not a sustainable solution. I'm really worried that if I don't find a job by June next year, we could be in serious trouble. I believe we can stretch out the severance and unemployment benefits until then, but it’s a daunting thought. I just received my first rejection from an interview, and it hit me hard. I felt like I had a good shot at that position, and now I'm feeling defeated. I know the next rejections won't sting as much, but this first one really shook my confidence. I'm considering reaching out for help, maybe looking into local mutual aid groups, because going through this alone feels overwhelming.

I’m feeling a bit lost today and could use some perspective. I got laid off in April and found a part-time role in May, which I genuinely enjoy. I give my all to my job despite struggling with insomnia, but today’s news really hit hard. I recently informed my boss about my upcoming wedding and honeymoon in September, and he encouraged me to take time off. However, when I tried to apply for vacation, I encountered an error message. After reaching out to HR, I learned that as a part-time employee, I’m not eligible for vacation benefits, even though my offer letter states that I should accumulate vacation time. This has left me feeling undervalued and frustrated, especially since I’m underpaid and struggling to make ends meet. I know I should be grateful to have a job in this market, but with my experience in pharmacy audit, clinical pharmacy, and data analysis, it’s disheartening to only find part-time work. Am I being ungrateful or just reacting to the situation? I’m really questioning if this job is worth it.

Tomorrow marks my last day at the company where I've worked for just under two years. I gave my two weeks' notice and had a positive conversation with my boss, so everything ended on good terms. However, I’m surprised that it seems like no one at the office is aware that I’m leaving. Is this a common occurrence? I thought there would be some announcement or at least a few conversations about my departure, but it feels like I'm just slipping away unnoticed. I've seen others send out goodbye emails or mention their last day to colleagues, but I didn’t do that. I’m wondering if I should have made more of an effort to inform my coworkers, especially those I might want to stay in touch with or use as references in the future. It’s a bit odd to think that I could just disappear without anyone acknowledging it.

I got laid off last week, and it was quite a shock. I'm a Java Full Stack developer with 2 years of experience, and last Thursday, I received a message on Teams asking me to meet in person. When I got there, HR informed me that due to some organizational restructuring, my role was no longer required. They asked me to resign and submit my laptop right then and there, without providing any further explanations. It all felt very abrupt and confusing. If anyone knows of any job openings, please reach out to me.

I lost my job about 8 months ago and have been actively searching ever since. I've interviewed with three different firms located in various cities, all thanks to internal references. Unfortunately, two of those firms rejected me due to the distance, even after I assured them that I was willing to relocate if I received an offer. I did receive one offer, but it was far below what I needed to live comfortably in that city. I looked into affordable apartments, but the only options within my budget would have meant a commute of over two hours, which was not ideal. I thought I could secure a better offer later on, and now I kind of regret that decision. Interestingly, during my time at my previous job, I was involved in the hiring process and once recommended a strong candidate who was also rejected solely because he was based in a different city, despite him stating he would be moving to our city in just two weeks for family reasons. I've also heard that landlords often won't rent to you if you haven't been employed in the city for at least a year, or they require you to pay six months' rent upfront, but I haven't verified this myself. It makes me wonder how others manage to move for work without having a significant amount of savings.