Miscellaneous

I heard some chatter about potential layoffs at Capital One this week. It seems like they have a pattern of doing layoffs annually, often tied to their performance review process where they rank employees and decide who stays and who goes. I'm feeling a bit anxious about the uncertainty and wanted to see if anyone else has more information.

I’m feeling quite overwhelmed right now as my partner recently lost his job for the third time in five years. He was laid off in January 2026 during a large tech downsizing, and despite applying to hundreds of positions and going through numerous interviews, he hasn't managed to land a new role yet. Just when we thought he had a great opportunity lined up, the company rescinded the offer due to financial issues after losing key clients. It’s been a tough six months, and we’re back at square one. This situation feels different from his previous layoffs in 2022, where he quickly found new work within a couple of months. The current tech market is brutal, and the emotional toll from this cycle of hope and disappointment is weighing heavily on both of us. Thankfully, we don’t have children, which gives us some financial flexibility, and I have a stable corporate job that covers our expenses for now. However, I can’t shake the worry about the future. If this continues, I might have to take on the role of primary breadwinner longer than I anticipated, which would mean putting my own savings and retirement plans on hold. My partner is putting in a lot of effort into his job search, treating it like a full-time job—networking, preparing for interviews, and doing everything he can. I want to support him without adding to his stress, but I’m also struggling with my own anxiety about our situation. Even with therapy, I find myself worrying about worst-case scenarios. I’m reaching out to those who have been in similar situations. How did you manage your anxiety while supporting your partner through a long job search? Did things eventually work out for you? I’ve heard that unemployment can strain relationships, so I’d love to hear from those who made it through the other side. We’re based in Toronto, Canada, and the job market here, especially in tech, has been incredibly challenging.

I'm reaching the six-month mark of unemployment, and honestly, I feel hopeless. I attended a mandatory presentation to keep collecting unemployment where they said, "Don't worry, this is only temporary." But six months feels anything but temporary. 2026 is shaping up to be the worst year of my life. I've been a professional software engineer for sixteen years, and this is the longest I've ever been without a job. I chose this field for its stability, but that feels like a joke now. I’ve made a previous post warning others to reconsider this career unless they truly love coding. Now, I’m competing against thousands of others who are also laid off, and I can’t help but feel selfish for thinking this way. I wonder if other laid-off developers, especially those credited in games or movies, are facing the same absurd hoops in the job market. The interview process is frustrating. It feels like my degree and experience mean nothing; I have to jump through so many rounds, often with people who have thick accents, making communication difficult. Getting an interview is a challenge in itself, and when I do, I often get rejected despite feeling like a good fit. I had a particularly frustrating experience with Capital One, where I applied, completed a technical assessment, and didn’t hear back for four months. When I finally got an interview, I had to scramble to relearn concepts I hadn’t used since college. Some technical assessments are intrusive, requiring me to install browser add-ons and phone apps to prevent cheating. I’ve also encountered unscrupulous people on LinkedIn trying to sell dubious career services to those of us "Open to Work." I even paid for a resume rewrite on Fiverr, which helped a bit, but I’m still facing countless rejections. Every day feels like a battle to apply for jobs, and even during my one vacation this year, I felt the need to keep applying. When I finally do get an interview, I often feel like I bombed it, even though I was hired for my last role at Home Depot despite thinking I did poorly. Job hunting is a job in itself. On top of that, I need to keep my skills sharp for technical interviews. I was offended when a friend suggested I should play long RPGs while unemployed; they just don’t understand how much harder it is for software engineers. I’m also juggling my acting career, where I have better luck landing auditions, but none of them pay enough to sustain a living. I just needed a space to vent. I live alone, and I don’t have a spouse or parents to lean on for support. My friends offer generic sympathy but don’t engage in deeper conversations. It feels like I’m ranting into the void, and it’s ironic that I’m in this situation due to the A.I. boom. I know it could be worse—like being homeless—but the psychological and financial toll is still heavy. The only thing keeping me grounded is my love for the arts; without that, my mental state would be much worse during this prolonged unemployment.

I recently turned 20 and have been working as a school custodian for nearly two years, with my anniversary coming up in November. While the job isn't terrible, I'm really feeling the strain of my hours, which are from 3 PM to 11 PM. The pay is decent at just over $17.60 an hour, and I do get most holidays off, but I find it hard to spend time with my girlfriend and friends during the school year, as my schedule limits my availability to weekends and days off. I'm looking to transition to a job with morning hours, ideally starting between 7 AM and 9 AM, and I want to work a standard 8-hour shift with the option for overtime if I choose. I'm aiming for a salary of over $20 an hour. Unfortunately, I don't have any education beyond high school and my skills are mainly in custodial work. I did take woodshop in high school, but I feel stuck and unsure about what other opportunities to pursue. I've been actively searching for a new job for about six months, but I haven't found anything that feels right or suits my skills. I'm reaching out for suggestions and advice on where to look or what steps to take next. Thank you for taking the time to read this!

I need to vent about my job search frustrations. Lately, I've been hitting a wall with the feedback that I'm "overqualified" for the positions I apply for. It's disheartening to hear this, especially when I genuinely believe that these roles are the right fit for me. I have years of experience, and I thought that would be an asset, but it seems like companies are more worried that I won't stick around long-term. Honestly, when I was earlier in my career, I was always on the lookout for the next big opportunity, but now I’m seeking stability and a place where I can grow and contribute for the long haul. It's baffling to me that they think I would leave faster than someone just starting out. I get that they might think I'll get bored, but if I took the time to apply, it's because I know what I'm looking for. I can't help but wonder if "overqualified" is just a euphemism for something else. I’d love to hear from recruiters about this.

I've had a frustrating experience with managers ghosting me after job interviews. There were a few roles I interviewed for where I felt confident, but after the interviews, I reached out via email and even tried calling, only to hear nothing back. It’s disheartening, especially after investing time and effort into preparing and interviewing. I know I'm not alone in this; it seems to happen to many people. I've seen others share similar stories, where they went through multiple rounds of interviews and then just got left hanging. It's definitely a common issue in the job search process, and while I understand that hiring can be hectic, I wish there was more professionalism in communication.

I recently completed interviews for my first remote position and received a job offer letter that has left me feeling uncertain about its legitimacy. The company is relatively unknown, and my attempts to research it online yielded minimal information. The interview itself felt off, almost staged, which has only added to my doubts. I'm reaching out for insights from anyone who has experience with job offer letters or this particular company. I want to ensure I'm not falling for a scam, especially since the offer includes a pay rate of $30/hr, which seems unusually high for such an easy application process. I've seen comments warning about the typical signs of scams, like poor grammar and formatting issues in the letter, and I'm starting to notice those red flags myself. If anyone has advice or can share their experiences, I would greatly appreciate it.

I recently experienced a frustrating termination from a consulting firm in Houston where I worked remotely. During my 60-day review, which actually took place at 75 days, I was told I was doing great but expressed my concerns about constantly having to ask for work. They assured me they would figure out where to place me, and agreed to let me attend some meetings, although I wasn't the project manager, just a support role. The termination came as a shock. Just the Friday before, we had an in-person brunch where they praised my contributions and expressed how much I was valued. Then, on a Monday around 11 am, only 90 days into my role, I was informed via a Teams meeting that they wouldn't be extending my position due to performance issues. Honestly, I wasn't too attached to the job or the management style, so I accepted it. However, the real nightmare began after my termination. The letter I received cited my absence from optional meetings and my remote work arrangement—both of which had been approved. They said they would send my belongings and asked me to return my equipment the same day. I told them I couldn't return it that day but would do so the next. Three weeks passed without any communication about my items. When I finally reached out, I was told my belongings had been boxed and mailed. To my dismay, when the package arrived, it only contained my blazer and a pencil holder. My personal items, including photo frames and a water bottle from Mexico, were missing. After inquiring, I was informed that someone had thrown my belongings away. I can't believe it took them four weeks to tell me that. I'm absolutely livid about the whole situation.

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’m currently on the hunt for early morning jobs that don’t involve customer interaction due to my stutter, which makes those situations quite challenging for me. I’m 21 and looking for entry-level positions with shifts starting between 4 AM and 8 AM. So far, I’ve applied to FedEx and UPS, but they informed me they aren’t hiring for those early shifts. I’ve been exploring options in warehouse jobs but haven’t had much luck finding specific roles. I’ve received some suggestions from others, like grocery stocking, which seems promising since those shifts are often very early. I also learned about management roles in restaurants that might have early morning hours but still keep you away from direct customer interaction. I’m considering checking out local grocery stores for any job postings and even looking for those free advertising magazines that get delivered early in the morning. I appreciate any advice or leads on where to search for these types of positions!

I haven't been employed for twelve years due to being a family caregiver, and it's really taking a toll on me. Recently, I applied for a couple of blue-collar jobs in retail and warehouse settings. One employer asked about my work history during the interview process, and I had to admit that I didn't have any due to my caregiving responsibilities. Another application resulted in a rejection email that simply stated 'not selected by employer.' I completely understand why employers might hesitate to hire someone who has been out of the workforce for so long, but it feels like I'm stuck in a never-ending cycle of rejection. I've even struggled with temp agencies, which adds to my frustration. I'm starting to feel like I'm permanently out of the job market, and the typical advice to 'fudge the details' doesn't really apply when there's such a long gap in my employment history. Each rejection hits hard, and I'm feeling pretty lost about what to do next.

I recently came across a court filing from Meta that detailed how they approached their layoffs. It was interesting to see how the process was structured. According to the filing, business leaders first pinpointed which parts of the organization would be impacted. They then categorized employees into specific groups based on their job levels and roles. After that, they established objective selection criteria that were tied to business needs. I found it surprising that some people were shocked by this method. To me, it seems like a standard practice in layoffs, especially in large companies. As someone who has spent years in HR, I know that we often provide decision-makers with spreadsheets containing various data points about employees, such as their job titles, levels, and performance over the last few years. It makes me wonder if using AI to make these decisions would be any better than the current methods. It feels like there’s a lot of debate around the ethics of how layoffs are conducted, but ultimately, companies need to make tough choices based on business needs.

I’ve been waiting for over six weeks for an offer after my final interview with a company I really liked. The interview process was thorough, involving multiple rounds, a practical assignment, and meetings with various team members and leadership. Throughout the process, I received positive feedback, which made me hopeful. After the final round, the recruiter reached out to inform me of some internal delays unrelated to my candidacy and assured me they would be in touch once things were resolved. They’ve been friendly and responsive when I’ve checked in, but there hasn’t been any concrete update or timeline in all this time. I’ve noticed that the company still appears to be hiring based on their job board activity, which adds to my confusion. I’m currently employed and don’t have immediate financial pressure, but the uncertainty is mentally draining. I’m reaching out to see if anyone has experienced a similar situation. 1. Has anyone waited this long after a final round and still received an offer? 2. At what point did you decide to fully move on and stop waiting? 3. How did you cope with the mental side of the uncertainty while still employed? I appreciate any honest input.

I received a callback from a retail company after a month of applying for a position. During the call, they asked me if I had checked their website or social media, which caught me off guard. I explained that I know the area where the company is located and that the company name made it clear what they do. However, they seemed unimpressed with my response. To be honest, I hadn't looked at their social media or website because I assumed they weren't interested in my application since it took them so long to reach out. I was unsure of what they expected me to say, so I admitted that I hadn't checked. They then asked about my resume as an afterthought, which made it clear they weren't very invested in my application anymore. After the call, I checked their website and social media, and found that they offered even less information than what was included in the job description.

I've been following the recent layoffs at Oracle, and it's been tough to see so many talented individuals affected. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been actively helping some of my former colleagues from Oracle connect with new job opportunities, and I'm happy to report that several of them have already secured new roles. If you're still on the job hunt, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I would be glad to assist you in finding a position that aligns with your skills and experience. Let's support each other during this challenging time, and I hope everyone finds a great new opportunity soon.

I just quit my new job after only three days, and I can't shake the feeling that I've made a huge mistake regarding my reputation. After being unemployed for about 9-10 months due to an unexpected layoff, I finally landed a management-level role at a company that seemed promising. I was excited to start, but I had also been interviewing with another company for months—the one I truly wanted to work for. Just three days into my new job, I received an offer from them that was significantly better in almost every aspect: 2-3 times the salary, remote work options, and a better fit for my career goals. They even sent me a signed contract and were shipping my work laptop. After a weekend of contemplation, I decided it was better to leave now, before I got too entrenched in the new role and they invested more time in training me. I hadn’t even taken ownership of any processes yet or received my countersigned employment contract. This morning, I went to the General Manager, apologized, and explained my situation honestly. I told him about the other offer and how the financial aspect was crucial for me at this point in my life. He did not take it well, calling me immature and suggesting that I was making a mistake by prioritizing salary over career growth. He even warned me that in our small city, everyone knows each other in the industry, and this could harm my reputation. While part of me believes I made the rational choice, I can’t help but wonder if I’ve jeopardized my career over this decision. Will hiring managers really remember this down the line, or was he just venting out of frustration? I feel guilty for inconveniencing them, but I also know I had to consider an opportunity that could drastically improve my financial situation. I’m looking for honest opinions on whether this is something that will haunt me in the future.

I was laid off last Thursday after nearly two years at my job due to a company buyout that eliminated my department. I'm 28 years old, living in Arizona, and while I don't have kids or a spouse, my supportive girlfriend has been a great help during this tough time. I took the weekend to process everything, as this is my first experience with being laid off, and it's been an emotional roller coaster. I have a degree in computer and information science from the University of Arizona, and although I wasn't particularly fond of my job, I had planned to start job hunting eventually. Now, I find myself needing to focus on finding a new position quickly since applying while unemployed feels daunting. I received about a month and a half of severance pay, which is helpful but not enough to last long. I also work part-time as a process server, but that income has been slow lately, so I'm hoping to take on more gigs there. Tomorrow, I plan to kick off my job search by applying for unemployment, updating my resume, and reaching out to my network for leads. I'm feeling a mix of calm and anxiety as I prepare for what feels like a race against time to secure a job that can cover my bills. I've seen many people struggle with rejections and long hiring processes, which adds to my worries. I'm looking for any tips on how to stay composed during this challenging period.

I recently submitted my unemployment request in Minnesota and I'm trying to figure out the timing for direct deposits to my Varo account. I usually submit my requests on Sundays, and I'm curious if others typically receive their payments the day after submitting. Any insights would be really helpful!

I recently received a message from my former marketing manager at the graphic design internship I left two months ago. I had a great experience during my six-month tenure there, but I declined their offer for a full-time position because the salary of ₹15,000/month was too low for me. I had communicated my intention to pursue further studies in MSc Chemistry since I was struggling to find a job in the chemistry field. Now, out of the blue, the marketing manager reached out asking for a 'quick call' but didn't specify the reason. I'm curious about what this could be. Has anyone else experienced a former employer reaching out like this? I'm wondering if it might be about a potential job offer or perhaps just to catch up. If it turns out to be a job offer, I need to think about how to negotiate salary and possibly a shorter notice period. I’m considering replying to ask if there’s a specific topic she wants to discuss before agreeing to the call.

I'm a 28-year-old software engineer with over six years of experience, currently in my second job. Lately, I've been feeling completely burnt out and unmotivated. I dread going to work every day, and the excitement I once had for learning new things has faded. My current role lacks new projects, and I'm constantly pressured to come up with new features or address business requirements. Promotions seem to depend more on visibility than actual contributions, which is frustrating. I have to submit requests for work-from-home days, and attendance is a key performance indicator, which adds to the stress. With the recent AI boom, I'm questioning whether it's worth investing time in learning new skills. The job market is tough, and with a 90-day notice period, switching jobs feels impossible. Honestly, I'm just holding on for the paycheck, but I'm feeling lost and depressed about my future. I'm wondering if anyone else is experiencing similar feelings and if there are any suggestions to help improve my situation.