Miscellaneous

I've been on the job hunt for the past two months and have gone through interviews with eight different companies. It's been quite a mixed experience, especially when it comes to communication after the interviews. Out of the eight, I had three companies that went through multiple interview rounds and actually got back to me with responses. However, I faced ghosting from two companies after just one round of interviews and, shockingly, three others that had multiple rounds left me hanging completely without any feedback, even after I followed up with emails. This has made me feel quite devalued, as if they viewed me as sub-human for not even acknowledging my efforts. I'm really curious to hear how others are faring with this issue of ghosting in the job market.

I recently started working with a recruiter for a position that I’m really excited about. However, today I faced a dilemma when she mentioned that if I receive an offer, they would want to contact my current manager for a reference. While I know I'm not a bad employee, I haven’t informed my boss that I’m looking for a new job, and I’m concerned about the implications of this. I wonder if others have been in a similar situation and how they handled it.

I recently graduated with a degree in Computer Science and landed my first job at a small tech firm with around 10 employees. I’m set to start this coming Monday, but I’m feeling a bit anxious. Two days ago, I reached out to my manager to confirm if the onboarding documents I prepared were sufficient, as he had previously mentioned he would guide me on what to prepare. However, I haven’t received any response, and now that it’s the weekend, I’m starting to feel ignored. I know it’s a holiday weekend, and the manager might just be busy or out of the office, but the silence is making me worried. Is this kind of communication normal for smaller companies? Should I just show up on Monday with my documents regardless?

I've been searching for a job for the past two months, and the manual application process has been really time-consuming. Recently, I saw an ad for JobAssist on Instagram and I'm curious if anyone has tried it. I'm looking for feedback on whether it's worth the investment or if people have had good or bad experiences with it.

I recently received information regarding my severance pay from Centene, where I worked as a claims analyst. The severance package details were communicated to us, and I noted that the pay dates are set for September 4th. I'm currently navigating the transition and trying to plan my next steps.

I recently interviewed for a transfer position within my company, feeling confident after what I thought was a strong interview. The hiring manager even complimented my communication skills, which gave me hope for advancing to the next round. However, I was blindsided when I received a call from the hiring manager who informed me that despite being the best candidate, I was not selected due to negative feedback from a previous six-month stint I had two years ago. This feedback came from a manager and the CEO who were not directly involved with my work but had their opinions influence the hiring decision. During the call, the hiring manager was kind enough to let me explain my side of the story. I took responsibility for my actions during that time, which were justified given the circumstances, and clarified that the negative feedback was not a true reflection of my work ethic. He was surprised to hear that my leadership had never addressed these issues with me. He reassured me that if I applied for a position in the future, this incident would not impact his decision. It’s frustrating to think that a couple of individuals could derail a significant career opportunity for me, prioritizing revenue over patient safety and my professional integrity. Looking back, I wouldn't change my decision to uphold my morals, even if it meant facing challenges in my career.

I am currently preparing for a phone hearing regarding my unemployment benefits in Ohio. My former employer has been appealing my claim and has lost at every stage so far. Their written appeal was vague, simply stating that I "wasn't performing" without any evidence to back it up. The termination letter I received didn't specify a reason for my dismissal either; I was only told that "it's just not working out," which left me confused about the actual reason for my termination. I have submitted a request to obtain any information they may have provided for the hearing, but I don't expect much since I was never formally warned about any performance issues. I've noticed that they are using a third-party business service firm to handle their unemployment claims, and I'm unsure if this is a bad sign or if it's a common practice. I have to admit, I'm feeling quite nervous about the hearing as I've never been involved in anything like this before. I don't have any documentation since they were quick to let me go after informing me of my termination. I'm wondering if I need a lawyer for this process or if I can manage it on my own. Additionally, I'm considering whether I should gather any emails, texts, or witnesses that might support my case.

I was recently laid off after spending 8 years at a mid-size global company in a communications/PR role. I started as a marketing coordinator and ended up taking over the entire PR function almost by accident. I was promoted quickly, relocated abroad, and had a good rapport with leadership, including the CEO. However, things took a turn when new management came in about two years ago. I didn't connect with my new boss and began to disengage from my work, which led to a lot of resentment on my part. I let a junior hire take over my responsibilities while I checked out, and I wasn't the easiest person to work with during this time. Now, I'm grappling with feelings of inadequacy. I can't tell if the first six years of my career were indicative of my true abilities or if I was just lucky. I’ve always been the 'nice' and agreeable one, but when the new management didn't immediately like me, I felt incomplete. I also have a tendency to agree to things I don't want, which has caused resentment in both my work and personal life. When I heard I was likely to be let go, I confronted the situation directly, which expedited my departure. Now, I’m left questioning my worth and whether I should aim for entry-level positions due to my lack of confidence after two years of being disengaged. I'm 33 and feeling lost, wondering if I ever deserved the senior salary I had or if I just got lucky. Any advice on how to move forward would be greatly appreciated.

I had a really strange interview experience today for a position I applied for online. When I arrived, I was surprised to find out that I had to re-fill out my entire application, which was quite annoying. After submitting it to the only contact I had, a woman I had been communicating with, the interview began. Midway through, a man unexpectedly joined us. He surprised both me and the original interviewer, and when I asked who he was, he seemed thrilled that I was caught off guard. It turned out he was her boss. The atmosphere became quite awkward, with nervous laughter all around. Instead of focusing on the job, he dominated the conversation, talking extensively about a drink he had just tried. The original interviewer appeared uncomfortable and barely spoke. Although he occasionally touched on the job details, he quickly returned to his own stories, which made the whole experience feel off-putting. Ultimately, I decided to rescind my application. It just felt wrong, and I can only imagine how difficult it would be to work under someone like that.

I recently learned that Ion Group has been conducting stealth layoffs since July, resulting in approximately a 30% reduction in their ion platform division. I'm concerned about the impact this has had on my colleagues and myself. Has anyone else been affected by these layoffs? I'm also curious about the severance packages being offered at different locations and what criteria are being used to determine who gets laid off. It seems like there's a lot of uncertainty surrounding this situation.

I was laid off two weeks ago from my position as a Business Development Manager in tech, where I was earning around $275K. Since then, I've been actively applying for jobs, networking, and reaching out to founders and hiring managers, but the uncertainty of my situation looms over me. I might get lucky and find a similar role soon, or I could be unemployed for six months. Recently, three startups from my home country contacted me. I know the founders personally, and they want me to help them expand into the US market as their go-to-market and business development person. However, they can't offer me a salary that matches the NYC tech standards. The proposed arrangement is intriguing but risky: I wouldn't have a base salary, but I would earn about 30% of the revenue I generate. Since none of these companies require a full-time commitment, I could potentially work with all three on a fractional basis. I'm grappling with the idea that commission-only work might be a huge red flag, making it feel like I'm agreeing to work for free. Yet, I wonder about the potential upside. I'm currently unemployed, so I could dedicate 30-40% of my time to these startups while continuing my job search. If I manage to close deals, I could earn some income, and if one of these ventures gains traction, it could lead to something more significant. If it doesn't work out, I can always walk away when I find another job. I'm curious if anyone has experience with this kind of commission-only work between jobs. Am I overlooking any major pitfalls?

I recently left my job after two years to join a new company, but I'm already feeling overwhelmed just a couple of months in. The stress from my previous role was affecting my health, so I thought a change would be good. However, every Friday at 4pm, without fail, my trainer throws a major issue my way or asks for an urgent call, adding more work to my plate right before the weekend. The first week it happened, I was annoyed but managed to communicate that my work would be completed by Monday morning. Yet, it keeps happening, and I’ve started blocking my calendar to protect my time. Despite my efforts, the urgency of these requests escalates each week, and the vibe has shifted from casual to frantic. I feel like I’m constantly on the brink of trouble, and it’s draining me. This week was particularly bad; I even had to take sick leave because the stress was so high. I reached out to a recruiter for new opportunities, but the job market seems bleak right now. I’m looking for advice on how to handle this situation, as it’s ruining my weekends and leaving me burnt out.

I recently started a new job as a remote employee at a company that assured me during the interview process that the position was fully remote. I made it very clear that I needed it to be 100% remote due to my 85-mile commute to the office. The recruiter and hiring manager both confirmed this, even in writing, stating that the position was designated as fully remote. I signed the offer, left my previous job, and everything seemed fine for the first month. However, last week, we had an all-hands meeting where the CEO announced a sudden mandatory return to the office policy, requiring everyone to come in four days a week starting immediately. I was shocked and immediately reached out to my boss, reminding him of our original agreement. Unfortunately, he dismissed my concerns, claiming that the 'needs of the business have changed' and insisting that I should find a way to make the long commute work, even suggesting I consider moving closer to the city. This has been incredibly frustrating and exhausting. I've been driving two hours each way, leaving my house at 6 AM and not getting home until nearly 7:30 PM. I barely see my kids before they go to bed, and I'm so drained that I can hardly focus on my work. It feels like I've been misled, and I'm stuck in a situation where the job market is tough. I'm contemplating my options, including whether I have any leverage with my offer letter stating the role was remote. Has anyone else faced a similar situation? I'm feeling completely overwhelmed and angry.

My son-in-law has been out of work for 9 months after being laid off from his Product Manager role due to downsizing. With the holiday season approaching, he urgently needs to find a job in the SF Bay Area. He’s actively networking with past colleagues and has a solid background, including AI coursework from Stanford and experience with vibe coding. He even had his resume reviewed by a professional career coach. Despite being a finalist for several positions, he keeps losing out to internal candidates or those with more experience, which is understandably frustrating for him. I’m looking for effective strategies to help him secure interviews quickly. Some suggestions I’ve received include broadening his job search beyond just product management and considering roles in financial institutions or the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. It seems that being open to in-office positions could also increase his chances, as the tech market in the Bay Area is reportedly picking up again for those willing to work on-site. I've learned that applying to jobs is now a numbers game, especially with the influx of resumes enhanced by AI. He needs to make applying a regular part of his day. However, I’m concerned that the real issue might be converting interviews into job offers, as he may not be showcasing the strategic thinking that employers are looking for. Overall, it’s a tough market for tech roles, especially in product management, and I’m eager to hear any additional advice or strategies that could help him land a job soon.

I currently work at a non-profit in a technical role, earning $90K while living in a very high cost of living area. My commute is an hour each way, and I have a hybrid schedule of two days in the office and two remote, working a four-day week. As I prepare for the arrival of my first child in December, I'm feeling the pressure to advance my career. My wife earns $150K, but her field is at risk of being heavily impacted by AI, so we are focused on paying off our mortgage and aiming for financial independence. With my boss retiring in March, I see an opportunity to transition from my technical role to a more hybrid position that combines technical and people management as a director of operations, targeting a salary of $115K with a three-day in-office and two-day remote schedule. I plan to spend the time before his departure transferring knowledge to ensure a smooth transition. However, I've been looking for director roles externally and have faced rejections after interviews. I hold an MBA and an MPA, which I obtained for free, and I feel like I need to make a move soon. Staying in my current role means I would have to dedicate almost all my free time to studying for the LSAT, which isn't ideal as I want to be present for my family. I'm worried about a few things: 1. If I express to my boss that I can take on more responsibilities, he might either offer it without a pay increase or reduce my hours to part-time. He's difficult to read, and while I don't think he would do that, I've seen nicer people make unexpected decisions. 2. If I stay stagnant in my current role, I could be unprepared if layoffs occur due to a worsening economy. 3. I want to support my wife fully, especially with the added daycare costs of around $30K once we start that phase. We don't have family nearby who can help out more than once a week, and asking for that is a challenge. I'm seeking advice from anyone who has faced similar situations or has insights on how to navigate this.

I wanted to reach out to anyone impacted by the recent layoffs. If you are looking for new opportunities, feel free to DM me your resume for a referral. My company operates remotely and currently has openings in Software Engineering, DevOps, Data Science, and Product roles. I'm also happy to help with referrals for other positions if you're considering a change. Don't hesitate to reach out!

I was laid off from my Strat Fin role at Uber just two days ago after moving to NYC six months ago. Honestly, I'm in disbelief rather than feeling sad about it. After having tough experiences at my previous companies, I'm not sure I want to dive back into the corporate world or deal with the recruiting process again. I'm looking for advice on what to do next. Some people suggested I consider my savings and even think about starting a food truck or my own business. Others mentioned that my skills in finance could be applicable across various industries, so I might still want to reenter the workforce if I feel up to it. It's tough to see another major company like Uber cutting jobs, especially with the current state of the job market.

Today, I was among the 4,000 employees laid off by Dell. The cuts primarily affected IT teams and software engineering departments, including the bios automation team. In Bangalore alone, around 130 people were let go. It's disheartening to see that despite the hard work and loyalty, the company made this decision without any prior announcement. I received a severance package that includes three months of pay for each year I worked at Dell. It’s a harsh reminder that in the corporate world, loyalty often takes a backseat to financial decisions. I'm now focusing on my next steps and hoping to find new opportunities soon.

I came across a job opportunity that I think could help those affected by the recent layoffs at Uber and Oracle. While browsing LinkedIn, I found a post specifically targeting employees impacted by these layoffs. The company, Emergent, seems to have a strong reputation, described as a G.O.A.T company, and boasts a team with experience from major firms like Amazon, Google, Zomato, and Microsoft. I wanted to share this link for anyone who might be interested in exploring new opportunities: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/disha-s-shenoy-999798223_emergent-is-hiring-to-everyone-impacted-activity-7501242911792091136-I1kf?rcm=ACoAADUoxHEBTmo-uP79kstKHobQaxZWCyuVrEU. I hope this helps someone in their job search!

I just found out that UBS is planning to lay off 41 employees from the Weehawken, NJ office between November 25 and November 30, 2026. I'm trying to connect with anyone else from the office who might be tracking this news or knows which teams will be affected. It's a tough time, especially with the holidays approaching.