Miscellaneous

I've been on a relentless job search for over six years now, and I've submitted more than 3000 applications without much success. It's been incredibly disheartening. Although I managed to get a couple of jobs during this time, I struggled in both roles and ended up getting fired. It's been a year since my last job, and I'm feeling completely defeated. I've applied for every position I could find that seemed suitable for someone with my background, including volunteering, but nothing has panned out. I've also reached out to temp agencies and job providers, but they haven't been helpful either. I graduated from university, but I feel like that has done more harm than good, and I've even left it off my resume at times. My work experience is minimal, totaling about four months across my two previous jobs, and I don't have any references due to how those roles ended. I do have a few certificates for certain fields, but they haven't made a difference in my job search. At this point, I've decided to give up on finding a job. It seems clear that I can't hold one down, and employers don't seem interested in hiring me. I know that giving up will likely lead to a bleak future, but I just can't muster the energy to keep trying. I wanted to share my experience and vent a little, but if anyone has any reasons for me to keep pushing forward, I'm open to hearing them. Just a heads up, though—I'm feeling pretty fed up with the usual advice I've seen, as it often feels contradictory.

I've been a freelance writer for the past five years, primarily working with magazines and online publications. For a while, my work was quite stable, but over the last two years, I've noticed a significant decline in opportunities, especially in the last six months. Many publications are shutting down or cutting budgets, which has drastically affected my income and overall livelihood. Although I'm not technically laid off and don't qualify for severance or unemployment benefits, the impact on my finances feels just as severe. I'm reaching out to see if there are other freelancers, particularly in writing or media, who are facing similar challenges. I'm currently trying to find new clients, but it feels like the competition is intensifying, and my usual client base is shrinking. It's a scary and disheartening situation, and I'm looking for any tips or strategies to regain some stability in my work.

I was laid off today from my marketing role, and I'm feeling really discouraged. I've been with the company for nearly 7 years, and I was blindsided by the news. Just a month ago, we had a new VP who seemed pleased with my work and even involved me in planning for the next quarter. I received positive feedback from other teams and took on additional projects that were deemed high priority. However, today I found out that I'm the only one being let go from my team of three, which makes it feel personal despite being told it was part of a restructuring. It stings even more because they are keeping my intern-turned-contractor on full-time, who still needs a lot of training and guidance. The company is facing its worst financial quarter ever, and I was one of the highest-paid employees on my team. It’s tough to process all of this, especially since it’s my first experience with being laid off. I’ve heard that more cuts might be coming, and I can’t help but feel a mix of frustration and sadness about the whole situation.

I interviewed for an online adjunct faculty position at my alma mater back in June, feeling genuinely hopeful for the first time in a long time. The university's fall semester is divided into two eight-week sessions, and I was told the position would be for the second session, which starts tomorrow. Having earned my master's degree from this university and previously working there as a teaching assistant, I felt well-prepared and excited about the opportunity. During the interview, the department chair reassured me that since I had experience as a TA, the hiring process would be quick. She mentioned that I might not hear back until the week before classes started due to enrollment and departmental needs, so I waited patiently. As the start date approached, I kept checking the course schedule, which still showed 'TBA' for the instructors of the classes we discussed. I held on to hope that I would receive an email confirming my position. Today, I checked again, and to my dismay, both classes now have instructors assigned — neither of whom is me. It stings to see that both instructors are new to the university and seemingly have no more experience than I do. I know I wasn't guaranteed the position, but the way the conversation went left me with expectations that have now been shattered. I spent months believing I had a real chance, only to discover my rejection through a course schedule rather than a simple email or acknowledgment. I'm already feeling stuck in my full-time job, overworked and underpaid, with no room for professional growth. I've worked hard for my education, earning my bachelor's and master's degrees, and now pursuing a PhD, sacrificing so much along the way. I just wanted to teach a couple of introductory psychology courses, gain experience, and feel like my education was leading somewhere. Instead, I’m left feeling embarrassed for getting my hopes up and questioning my qualifications and decisions. I understand that rejection is part of academia and that adjunct positions aren't guaranteed, but the disappointment still hurts deeply. I don’t understand why opportunities are presented as promising when there’s no intention to follow through or communicate changes. I’m tired of doing everything right and still feeling like I’m getting nowhere. I just wanted a chance, and for a moment, I thought I was finally getting one.

I recently had a conversation with a friend who interviewed for a senior position at her company. She and a colleague, who has less experience, were both vying for the same role. Despite my friend's extensive experience, her colleague was selected, which raised some red flags for her regarding potential bias in the decision-making process. Before the interview, my friend learned from a senior staff member that there were concerns about who would handle a specific client, which hinted that the decision may have been made before the interviews even took place. After receiving the news, she expressed her feelings about being discounted and mentioned the feedback she received, which was vague and unhelpful. The interviewers couldn't clearly articulate what set the two candidates apart, further adding to her concerns about bias. Now, my friend feels disheartened and believes she no longer has a future at the company where she has dedicated years of her career. I've suggested that she consider looking for opportunities elsewhere, but I'm also wondering if there are other steps she should take to address this situation.

I’m feeling completely defeated right now. My LinkedIn account has been restricted for a whole year, and I can’t figure out why. I created the account when I was really young, back in middle school, and it had a gibberish name that I never used. Fast forward to a year ago, I tried to log in and changed the name to my own, but then the trouble started. I kept getting Captcha errors when trying to log in on the mobile app, and eventually, my account got locked. I’ve tried everything to restore it. I submitted my ID and a photo of myself through their Persona system, but it always fails. I looked through the Help Center for solutions, but nothing worked. After months of frustration, I decided to create a new account with a different email, thinking maybe that would help. But just five minutes after creating it, that account was restricted too, with no explanation. I’ve been filling out appeal forms and trying to explain my situation, but I never get a response. Just today, I attempted to log in again, but it wouldn’t let me access the Persona system because it said I had already submitted a request. I finally got a glimmer of hope when my new account seemed to be on the right track, saying they’d get back to me in a few days. But then I received an email saying my account violated their user agreement and wouldn’t be restored. I don’t even have anything on my account! I feel like I’m being shadow banned from the job market, and it’s incredibly stressful. In 2026, not having a LinkedIn account makes job searching nearly impossible. I’m even considering going to a physical LinkedIn office to plead my case in person because I just want someone to explain what’s going on. If anyone has advice or has been through something similar, I would really appreciate your help.

I recently faced a challenging situation at my job as a senior data analyst at a mid-sized financial tech firm where I've been for over two years. Last Thursday, our new operations director called a surprise mandatory team meeting and announced that Saturdays would now be required workdays with no overtime pay. He framed it as an 'investment in our collective future' and a test of 'team spirit.' I was the only one who spoke up, citing our contracts that specify standard weekday hours and expressing my refusal to work unpaid weekends. This did not sit well with him; he turned red and warned that anyone lacking team loyalty would struggle to advance in the company. After that, things took a turn for the worse. Starting Monday, he retaliated by removing me from my key analytics projects and assigning my work to interns. I was instead tasked with reformatting old spreadsheets into a format that serves no purpose. To make matters worse, he walks by my desk daily with a smug look, asking if I've reconsidered my stance on 'team spirit.' My coworkers seem scared to associate with me, and HR has yet to respond to my formal complaint. I'm currently updating my resume, but the unprofessionalism I've encountered is shocking.

I just received some fantastic news regarding my unemployment appeal in Texas — I won! My case was quite complicated, and I had previously deleted my posts out of concern that my former employer might find them and retaliate. During the appeal hearing, my former manager was present, and I managed to get him to admit that the policy he used to justify my firing was not enforced or communicated to us. This victory feels incredibly validating after all the mistreatment I endured at that job. I'm relieved and grateful that my efforts paid off.

After being unemployed for 6 months, I finally landed a new job, but it came with a $30k pay cut from my previous salary. I thought I had to make the best of it, but just 3 months in, I'm realizing this new position is just awful. Today, I found myself looking for new job opportunities again and noticed that my old employer has reposted my exact previous role, albeit for even less pay than I was making before. It's disheartening. I feel like I'm stuck in a cycle of disappointment and I'm dreading the thought of going through the job hunt process again. As I approach 40, I can't shake the feeling of failure. My spouse was also laid off recently, and it seems like this is a trend with companies these days, posting roles at lower pay levels. I’m torn about whether I should even consider going back to my old job. The thought of returning to a place that let me go feels like admitting defeat, but the current situation is weighing heavily on me.

I recently experienced a setback in my job search after not passing a background check for a position at a large defense contractor. Despite having no criminal history, a solid credit score, and being a military veteran with a clearance, my offer was revoked. I was fired from a previous job within the last five years, but it wasn't for anything serious like time card fraud. I disclosed this information during the application process, which I now regret, especially since the background check didn't even flag that firing. I'm left wondering if this will affect my chances of ever applying to this company again.

I accepted a remote role about two months ago, thinking it was my dream job. The pay was significantly better than what I could find locally, and the work aligned perfectly with my skills. However, the company is located on the opposite side of the globe, resulting in a 7-hour time difference. During the interview, HR assured me that they valued flexibility and that I could manage my own hours as long as I completed my tasks. Unfortunately, that turned out to be untrue. By my second week, my manager started scheduling 'quick syncs' that fell between 10 PM and 1 AM my time. If I miss one or request an asynchronous update, I receive passive-aggressive messages on Slack questioning my commitment to the team. Additionally, team members frequently ping me during the night, and if I don't respond within 30 minutes, I get follow-up messages asking where I am. As a result, my sleep schedule has been wrecked, and I'm only getting 2-3 hours of sleep at a time. I'm constantly irritable, and my partner is understandably upset because I'm hardly present at home. I tried discussing boundary settings during my one-on-one last week, but my boss dismissed my concerns, saying, 'this is just the reality of global teams, everyone makes sacrifices.' I feel trapped because the job market is terrible right now, and I can't afford to quit without another offer lined up. However, I genuinely don't know how much longer I can maintain this routine without it taking a toll on my health. Has anyone else experienced such extreme time zone challenges? Did you find effective ways to set boundaries, or should I start looking for a new job immediately?

I had an interview this morning for a position I was really excited about. However, as we were wrapping up, the interviewer informed me that they had already filled the position and that I wouldn’t be hearing back from them. I’m left feeling frustrated and confused about why they would conduct an interview if they had no intention of hiring me. It feels like a complete waste of my time, and I can’t help but wonder if they were just trying to compare me to the chosen candidate.

I'm currently working in childcare, but I'm feeling burnt out and underpaid. I've been considering switching to a retail management position since I have some prior experience in that field. I've noticed that retail managers in my area are making significantly more than I do right now, with one of my younger family members earning $6-$7 more per hour as a grocery store manager. I'm really struggling to make ends meet with my current wage, and I'm contemplating whether it's worth it to transition back into retail. I'm curious if stores are open to hiring external candidates for manager roles or if I would have to start as a sales associate again. Additionally, I hold an art degree, but I feel like it hasn't been beneficial for my career lately. My ultimate dream is to return to art and earn a livable wage from it, but that doesn't seem realistic at the moment. I'm reaching out for advice and insights from anyone who has experience in retail management or has made a similar career switch.

I recently had a phone interview for a graphic designer position that I was really excited about. After about 15 years in the field, I thought the interview went exceptionally well. The recruiter reached out to me about two weeks ago, and I quickly applied through Indeed. They scheduled a phone interview for later that week, which I felt went great. I was then asked to complete an assessment and a personality test, which I submitted on time. Up until that point, communication had been smooth, and I was even told they might reach out to schedule an in-person interview. However, after I submitted my assessment, I didn't hear anything back. I waited a week and decided to send a polite follow-up email expressing my continued interest in the role and asking if they had moved on to another candidate. Unfortunately, I still received no response. This sudden silence after what felt like a positive interaction has left me confused and a bit frustrated. I can't help but wonder if I did something wrong or if there was some miscommunication. I know that ghosting can happen during the job search process, but it’s disheartening to go from frequent communication to complete radio silence.

I was recently laid off from my position as a Senior Software Engineer in Cairo, Egypt, where I had over 6 years of experience, primarily focusing on .NET, Cloud, and AI technologies. My last role was with Geidea in the fintech sector, but I've also worked in PropTech and the Public Sector. My tech stack includes C#, .NET 8/9, Node.js, Angular/React, PostgreSQL, Redis, RabbitMQ, Docker, and both AWS and Azure. Although the job market is quite tough right now, especially for remote positions, I'm trying to stay positive and view this as an opportunity to find a role that truly fits my skills and aspirations. I've been actively applying to positions for a few weeks, but the competition is fierce. To stay relevant, I'm currently enhancing my expertise in AI orchestration with LangGraph. I'm reaching out for any advice on where to find reputable remote-first companies that are hiring Senior .NET/AI engineers. Additionally, I'd appreciate feedback on my resume, particularly regarding my recent shift into AI and Automation—does it stand out enough? If anyone has leads or referrals, that would be incredibly helpful as well. Thanks for taking the time to read my post! I'm open to discussing anything related to fintech or AI integration in .NET.

I never thought I would regret taking a job as much as I do now. There’s a common saying that your biggest regrets are often about the things you didn’t do, but I’m realizing how much you can also regret the choices you make. In this tough job market, I felt pressured to accept any opportunity that came my way, fearing I wouldn’t find anything else. I took this job thinking I would regret not taking it, but now, four months in, my mental and physical health have deteriorated significantly. My anxiety is at an all-time high, and I’ve come to the harsh realization that this mindset is damaging. I understand the catch-22 here; the alternative is unemployment, or in my case, going back to hustling, which was hard but nowhere near as soul-crushing as working under terrible conditions for minimal pay. It’s frustrating that so many of us feel trapped in these situations, and while I know many can’t afford to be unemployed, I firmly believe that no job is worth sacrificing your well-being over.

I recently found myself in a situation where my company is undergoing a restructure, and I've been trying to understand the decision-making process behind layoffs. I've spoken to several leaders within the organization, but the common response has been uncertainty about the outcomes. It leaves me wondering who exactly is responsible for deciding who stays and who goes during this process. It's a stressful time, and the lack of clear communication from management only adds to the anxiety.

I’m currently feeling lost after nearly two years without a full-time job. I’m 28 and completed my BA in International Development in 2020, followed by an MA in Political Science in 2022. I had a position as a Research/Project Management Associate from 2023 to 2024, but since then, my job search has been unsuccessful. Right now, I’m doing part-time work for my father, which makes me feel guilty as if I’m leeching off him. I’m confused about what’s wrong with me because I’m trying to make ends meet but feel like I’m not contributing enough. Last year, I worked with an employment counselor who reviewed my CV and cover letter, and they said they looked good. However, I’ve only managed to secure two interviews so far. I’ve been proactive, reaching out for informational interviews on LinkedIn, but still, no luck. It’s been such a long time, and I can’t help but feel like a failure in my job search.

I was laid off unexpectedly on a Monday evening after just 7 months with a remote startup that had received Series B funding last February. The interview process felt as rigorous as a FAANG company, and I believed I was making a significant impact—my Director of Engineering even acknowledged my extraordinary contributions in recent months. However, during a meeting titled "Business update," I was informed that my position was being eliminated due to the company's poor financial state, not because of my performance. It was hard to hear that multiple roles were being cut, and despite the reassurances, it feels personal. I'm struggling to process this sudden change and feeling like I've hit a wall. I’ve always been an overachiever, and this feels like a harsh blow. It's been about 12 hours since the layoff, and I'm trying to keep it together, but I can't shake the feeling of confusion and disappointment. I'm reaching out for advice on how to cope and move forward after this setback.

I recently experienced a layoff announcement from Bending Spoons, where I worked as a product manager. The CEO's message felt more like a product launch than a communication about job losses. He announced that a significant portion of the workforce would be let go, then quickly shifted the focus to product upgrades and the supposed benefits of smaller teams. It was disheartening to see such a lack of empathy for the real people affected—many of whom have dedicated years to building the very products he was celebrating. The comments from others echoed my feelings; it was demoralizing to witness such a corporate spin on a serious issue. Some colleagues pointed out that this kind of communication is becoming all too common, prioritizing marketing over the well-being of employees. It's frustrating to see how companies can discard their workforce without acknowledging the human impact. I'm now navigating my next steps in the job market.