Miscellaneous

I was recently laid off from my tech job and I'm looking to connect with others who have experienced similar situations, especially those affected by AI advancements. I'm based in California and would love to find a community where we can share resources, news, and information about training opportunities. It would be great to find support and connect with people who understand what we're going through.

I recently had a rather strange experience with a trial job I applied for at a local restaurant. About a week and a half ago, I received a text from someone claiming to be the boss, asking if I could come in for a trial shift. I was taken aback since I hadn't even had an interview yet, but I agreed to come in for a shift as a dishwasher. The initial communication was odd; the boss changed the time on me last minute, but I managed to rearrange my schedule for the new time. When I arrived, the place seemed legit, but there were immediate red flags. The boss didn't even acknowledge me when I walked in and quickly sent me off to my trainer. The trainer was friendly but it quickly became apparent that the expectations were overwhelming. I was expected to learn a ton of tasks right away, and while he was supportive, I felt lost trying to keep up with the pace of work. The dishwashing process was complicated, and I had to remember where everything went in a huge kitchen filled with unique dishes. On my second shift, the trainer mentioned the high turnover rate, which made me realize I wasn't the only one struggling with the workload. By the end of my shift, I was exhausted and felt like I couldn't keep up with the demands. I started contemplating quitting, even though I felt bad about it given the trainer's insights into the job. During my third shift, I noticed the boss was still distant and seemed uninterested in my presence. It was disheartening, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this job might not be for me. I was already thinking about how to communicate my decision to leave, as the pressure and expectations were simply too much for me to handle.

I've been living in Boston for the past year, tirelessly applying for jobs in case management and care coordination, but I'm still unemployed. I've sent out hundreds of applications, tailored my resume multiple times, and written countless cover letters, yet only about 3% have led to interviews, and none to job offers. It's disheartening, especially since I'm about to start my master’s in public health in a few months without securing a position in my field. To make ends meet, I've been working labor jobs. I can't shake the feeling that bias might be playing a role in my job search. As a 33-year-old Middle Eastern man, I've started to notice patterns that make me question whether my background is affecting my opportunities. Every interview I've had has been with women, from talent acquisition to hiring managers, and during one interview, a director made an odd comment about men wanting to listen to women because of their mothers. I found it inappropriate and responded, but the interview ended abruptly after that. After a year of hard work and minimal results, it's hard not to wonder if being a Middle Eastern man in a predominantly female field is creating unseen barriers. I’m seeking guidance on how to navigate this situation and improve my chances.

I've been feeling really frustrated with my job search lately. I've had four interviews in the past month where everything seemed to go well, but then I was completely ghosted afterward. Companies act like they’re really interested in me during the interview, even promising to call me on a specific date, but then they just disappear. One company even told me they were definitely hiring me and just needed to sort out some logistics before calling me the next day to get started the following week. But that call never came, and when I followed up, they ignored my message. It's really disheartening and has made me feel discouraged about finding a job. Am I the only one experiencing this?

I applied for a phlebotomy position at a local hospital and had my interview two weeks ago. They offered me a different schedule than what I initially applied for, and I've been anxiously waiting for a response since then. The online application still says "under consideration," and I'm starting to feel overwhelmed by the wait. I did receive a job offer from an independent clinic, but I decided to ghost them because their schedule was inflexible, and I want to continue my education. I also interviewed at Costco, but they rejected me in less than 24 hours. I'm starting to wonder if I’m not performing well in interviews or if my English skills are lacking. Any advice on what I should do next?

I recently applied for a server position at a local restaurant and had what I thought was a promising interaction with the manager. After dropping off my resume, he quickly invited me for an interview, followed by a trial shift just a few days later. We had a lengthy and seemingly genuine conversation after the shift, where I inquired about my hiring status. He mentioned he was still interviewing other candidates and promised to get back to me by Wednesday or Thursday. Fast forward to Thursday night, and I hadn’t heard anything. I even sent a follow-up email, but no response came my way. It’s frustrating to feel like I wasted my time and effort, especially after driving to the restaurant and working a trial shift, only to be ghosted. To make matters worse, the trial shift was supposed to be paid, but the payment ended up being reversed by my bank. When I reached out to the manager about that, he responded by forwarding my issue to his accounting team, but he completely ignored my question about my hiring status. It feels really disappointing and unprofessional. Is this kind of ghosting common in the job search process? I've never done a trial shift before, and now I'm left wondering if it was worth it.

Today, I lost my job just two weeks after starting as a new employee. My manager told me I wasn't a good fit, and I can't help but feel devastated. It's hard to believe that someone can make such a judgment in such a short time. This was my first job, and I was really hoping to make a good impression. Now, I feel embarrassed and confused about what went wrong. I was dealing with a personal crisis already, and this just adds to the stress. I wish I could wake up and find out this was all just a bad dream.

I manage a tasting room for a major spirit brand owned by a multinational company, but I technically work for a third-party company that handles event-based brand activations. Recently, I've been facing significant challenges with my site director, who is supposed to oversee my work. I was thrown into this role after the sudden departure of both my GM and AGM, and I took on the responsibility without any support or training. This lack of guidance led me to spend a lot of time figuring out logins for vendors and accounts, as there were no standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place. Initially, my site director told me to 'just figure it out,' which felt empowering at first, but it quickly became clear that the communication regarding private events was severely lacking. The site director sells events without providing clear details to the staff executing them, leading to confusion and miscommunication. Despite this, I've managed to keep customer satisfaction high and save the company money through improved operations. I created a comprehensive SOP to address these issues, but when I presented it, my site director suddenly claimed there was existing documentation that I had previously been told didn’t exist. This feels like gaslighting and is creating a hostile work environment where I feel set up to fail. I'm unsure about how to report this situation since he works for a different company, and I can't afford to resign. I've requested a one-on-one with HR to discuss my performance and the ongoing issues. The site director has also hinted at potential layoffs, which adds to the stress. I'm looking for advice on how to protect my sanity and ensure my staff is treated respectfully without jeopardizing my position. Should I document everything and keep quiet until the new fiscal year, hoping for a new boss? Or is there a clear grievance process I can follow?

I am currently a Master's student seeking an internship and had an interview scheduled with a company that expressed strong interest in my profile. On May 29th, I traveled for about two hours to attend a video call interview, but they preferred to meet in person. When I arrived at the parking lot with an hour and a half to spare, I received a call saying the manager was sick and they needed to reschedule. Today, on June 5th, I made the trip again, only to have them cancel the interview just moments before I arrived, citing the same issue. I'm left wondering if this kind of treatment is typical in the professional world, as I don't have much experience with interviews.

I’m Ruchika, and I’m currently seeking a job switch in performance marketing. I’m not posting this on LinkedIn because I don’t have a strong network to leverage for referrals, so I’m turning to this community for help. I would greatly appreciate any references or connections you might have in your companies. I have over 6 years of experience in performance marketing, and I’m looking for a managerial role. I’m also open to positions in account management or customer success management (CSM) if they align with my skills. If you can assist in any way, please reach out or comment. Thank you!

As a recruiter for several years, I've always viewed the job search process from the employer's perspective. I thought I understood what candidates went through, but I recently had my eyes opened while helping a close friend navigate their job search. This experience really changed my perspective on the emotional toll that the process can take. My friend is intelligent, experienced, and a great communicator—someone I would gladly consider for a position. However, every day began with the same routine: checking emails, LinkedIn, and application statuses, only to find silence. They applied repeatedly, but after weeks, it became clear that the lack of responses was more damaging than the rejections themselves. What struck me was how my friend began to doubt their own abilities after facing so many unanswered applications. They would tailor resumes, write cover letters, and prepare for interviews, only to receive generic rejection emails or, worse, nothing at all. At one point, they said, "Maybe I'm not as good as I thought I was," and that hit me hard because I knew their value. This experience made me realize that the job search isn't just a process; it's a test of confidence for many. While we, as recruiters, see one application or one rejection, candidates see the accumulation of their efforts—twenty, thirty, or even fifty rejections. Over time, it can feel less like a rejection from a company and more like a personal rejection, which is a dangerous mindset. Watching my friend go through this has opened my eyes to the emotional side of job searching, and I now understand that even the most capable individuals can come out of it questioning their self-worth.

I am a 23-year-old female and have been working at my current company for about 10 months now, which is my first job after graduating. Initially, I had little understanding of how things operated, but after nearly a year, I've come to realize that there isn't much room for growth in my role. The promotion cycles have been frozen this year, and even colleagues who have been here for over two years haven't been promoted due to this. The cycle for the next designation is set at 18 months. I'm contemplating a job switch, but I'm feeling quite hopeless about it. The job market appears to be extremely tough, and finding my current position took me two months filled with endless applications, rejections, and a lot of mental stress. The only significant advantage of my current job is that it's fully remote, allowing me to save most of my salary. While the pay is decent, I'm torn between staying for another 1-2 years to gain more experience or actively searching for new opportunities right away. At this point, I don't have any plans for further studies. I'm seeking advice on effective job searching. Is LinkedIn the most reliable platform? Are job postings on Glassdoor legitimate? What other platforms or strategies have worked for others? The uncertainty surrounding my situation is really affecting my mental well-being, and I would appreciate any guidance from those who have faced similar challenges.

Today, I learned that Team17 has confirmed layoffs affecting their marketing and communications team. As someone who has been closely following the company's developments, I feel concerned for my colleagues and the direction the company is taking. It’s disheartening to see job losses in an industry that should be thriving. I hope those affected find new opportunities soon.

I just learned that Skai has laid off 20% of its staff as part of an AI-driven transformation initiative. This news is quite unsettling, and I'm trying to process what it means for my role and the company moving forward. It's a challenging time, and I'm hoping to connect with others who might be in a similar situation.

I have been unemployed for over 6 months now, and I feel like my chances are dwindling since I no longer have the "fresher" tag. I graduated with a BTech in IT from a private college in Greater Noida in 2025. After finishing my degree, I applied to numerous companies but faced a lot of ghosting after submitting applications. In January 2025, I was selected for a non-tech role at a major smartphone brand. I had also interviewed with Wipro and was waiting for their letter of intent. Since the smartphone company didn’t have a bond and only required a 1-month notice period, I decided to join them as I had no better options at that time. I worked there for 11 months. The work culture was draining, but I earned a decent salary of around 30k, which was manageable since I live with my parents. I was a valuable employee and even received two promotions, which I declined because the new position required a minimum of 6 months for an experience letter, and I didn’t plan to stay that long. About four months into my job, I finally received my letter of intent from Wipro. In September, I attended a pre-orientation session where they informed us that anyone with a PF account needed a relieving letter from their previous employer to join Wipro. They also stated that training would start soon after receiving the mail, and they wouldn’t wait for anyone’s notice period to end. The trainer advised us to resign immediately if we were currently employed. I explained my situation to my employer, and they were understanding. I was allowed to resign and extend my notice period. I ended up extending it for over three months. In December, I received a form from Wipro asking when I could join, and I selected the one-month option. I completed my notice period and left my job. However, just 15 days after leaving, I received a rejection email from Wipro that didn’t clarify anything, just stating they wouldn’t be moving forward with my application due to the form I filled out. Now, I’m struggling to find a tech job. Since I’m not a fresher anymore, it’s tough, and my college isn’t helping either, saying it’s up to Wipro if they want to consider my application. Out of 250+ students placed, only about 50 have joined Wipro, while the rest are either waiting for training emails or have been rejected without explanation.

I recently moved back to Spain at 39 after living in the UK for about 12 years. I had planned to keep my UK job or at least continue with my company, but just before the move, they decided not to proceed with that, leaving me jobless upon my return. I relocated to a rural area for affordability and managed to buy a house, which I couldn't do in the UK, thinking I would work remotely. However, the job market here is quite limited, and finding a remote position has proven to be more challenging than I anticipated. I'm at a crossroads, contemplating whether to keep applying for jobs or to invest my time in building a specific skill that could enhance my employability. I'm considering options like learning GDS/Amadeus for roles in travel support, diving into Java/programming due to my interest in tech, or refining my approach to finding remote customer support or admin roles. I realize that programming isn't a quick fix, especially starting from scratch at my age, and a short course in GDS won't replace real experience. I'm looking for practical advice from anyone who has faced a similar situation of starting over in a new country or changing career paths later in life.

I am currently on the hunt for a full remote job that I can take with me if I decide to move. My background is in IT support, project management, and I have some experience in real estate. However, I've been struggling to find legitimate remote job listings. It feels like there are so many scams out there that it's hard to differentiate between real opportunities and fake ones. I've heard from others that the best approach might be to secure a hybrid position first, work there for a couple of years, and then negotiate for a fully remote role. This seems to be a common theme, as many companies are leaning towards hybrid models rather than fully remote options. I've also noticed that job boards like Indeed haven't been very helpful for finding 100% remote positions. Given that my current employer is going through a restructuring phase and layoffs are looming, I need to be proactive in my job search. It’s frustrating because even when a job is advertised as remote, the details often reveal that it might not be as flexible as it seems. I wonder if companies are hesitant to hire fully remote workers because they could potentially outsource the work for cheaper. Overall, I’m just trying to navigate this challenging job market and find a position that truly offers the flexibility I need.

I was laid off from my job this week after 11 years with the company, and surprisingly, I feel relieved. This was my first layoff experience, and while I used to love my job, the company changed significantly over the past couple of years. My new manager, who started in 2024, created a toxic environment that made my work life miserable. Despite my hard work during a chaotic year, I received an unfair performance review that left me feeling unappreciated and burnt out. When the company announced layoffs would occur, I thought I was safe, but when I got the news that I was affected, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. The severance package is 16 weeks, and I'm looking to negotiate for more. I’ve filed for unemployment and have savings, so I should be okay for a while. Although the job market is intimidating, I see this as a blessing in disguise. I've been sleeping better and feel energized for the first time in ages. I’m excited to update my resume and start my job search, something I couldn't do while juggling my demanding role. I feel like this is a chance to recalibrate and escape the toxicity of my previous workplace. Has anyone else felt this way after a layoff?

I’ve been struggling to find work for over a year now since being laid off from my software engineering role. The tech job market in the UK feels completely dead, and despite having 20 years of experience, I’m barely getting any interviews. It’s been incredibly frustrating. I even started a Buy Me a Coffee campaign to help keep my spirits up and manage my expenses, but the bills are piling up fast. I’ve never had this much trouble finding work in both the US and UK markets until last year, and it feels like call-backs have just dried up since then. I’m starting to feel the weight of financial stress, and it’s tough to see a way forward.

Since leaving my job as a software engineer at a tech startup, my mornings have taken on a completely new rhythm. It's been a bit of an adjustment after spending two decades in a structured work environment. I used to wake up to a flurry of emails and meetings, but now I find myself enjoying the freedom of my mornings. I typically wake up around 8 AM, brew a fresh cup of coffee, and take some time to relax while playing games. This little ritual helps me ease into the day. After my coffee kicks in, I dedicate a few hours to studying for the CKAD certification, which has been a goal of mine for a while. By noon, I switch gears and run an AI workflow I developed to help with my job search. This tool scrapes job listings from about 820 different companies, which saves me a lot of time. I’ve also started taking my dog for longer walks, about three miles, which has been a great way to clear my head and enjoy the outdoors without the constant distraction of my phone. It's a strange but refreshing change not to be tied to my devices all the time.