Planning

I recently started working at Popeyes about a month ago, but I've realized that fast food isn't the right fit for me. This is my first job, and I'm looking to transition into retail. I'm unsure whether I should list my current job on applications for retail positions. On one hand, I worry that if I include it, potential employers might contact my current job and that could jeopardize my position. On the other hand, having some work experience might improve my chances of getting an interview. I'm torn between wanting to be honest about my experience and not wanting to raise any red flags about my short tenure.

I worked for Vail Resorts in Colorado for five years in HR, earning nearly $24 an hour, but I was outsourced last year. After that, I took a retail position with the same company from August to March, making $20 an hour, but I was laid off when the season ended. I filed for unemployment successfully, but my benefits are running low, and I'm trying to re-open my claim. I'm having trouble reporting both jobs because the system says I've already included Vail Resorts as my employer. I'm unsure how to report the two different jobs and wages under the same W-2 employer. Any advice would be appreciated!

I was a delivery driver for an Amazon DSP in Michigan for three years until I was fired in April. My termination was based on claims of time card fraud, stating I made two unplanned stops on my way back from my route, including a 32-minute stop at a gas station. However, I only stopped once to refuel and use the restroom, and my Google Maps timeline shows I was there for only 18 minutes. I didn't take any of my paid breaks that day, which I could have used while at the gas station. I appealed the decision by providing evidence from my Google Maps timeline and a detailed account of my drive back, but my claim was denied again. Now, I'm waiting for a telephone hearing to discuss my case. I feel like the appeal reviewer didn't fully consider the information I submitted and just sided with my employer. On the day of the incident, the Amazon warehouse was two hours late preparing our packages, causing many drivers to return late. I managed to finish my route without taking breaks, but I had to wait in line at the station, which added 20-30 minutes to my return time. My termination letter claimed I took 1 hour and 10 minutes from my last stop to when I punched out, but that doesn't account for the time spent getting gas, cleaning the van, and waiting behind other drivers. I'm looking for advice on how to effectively prove that I was doing my job properly during this hearing.

I just returned from my annual leave to some shocking news. My beloved manager has been laid off without any transition or farewell, just a company-wide announcement about a re-org. Thankfully, I had his private number, so I've been able to stay in touch and find out what happened. To make matters worse, I was informed that my role is now considered 'at risk' and I will be going through a redundancy consultation process. I've been placed in a pool of potentially redundant employees and will be scored against certain criteria—those with the lowest scores could be let go. I've never been through this process before and I'm unsure if anyone actually survives it or if it's just a formality to comply with UK laws. I feel terrified and betrayed by the company, especially since I've consistently been a top performer and was just promoted last November. On top of everything, my wife is one month pregnant, and I'm really worried about providing a stable environment for her and our future child.

I'm currently taking a summer college course and I'm feeling overwhelmed about finding a part or full-time job. Once the summer ends, I need to start making enough money to cover my monthly rent payments and eventually save up for an instrument. I'm looking for guidance on how to start this job search, as I really need to earn some money in the next two months, ideally around $100 a month. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

I recently started working as a junior specialist at a small company focused on organizing BIM processes. The work is partially remote, but I noticed that there are no work computers in the office, just monitors. I brought my own Mac, but I'm concerned that it will wear out with 8 hours of daily use. Additionally, they asked me to buy a cable for the monitor out of my own pocket, which feels off to me. Is this common in the job market? More importantly, I haven't received an employment contract yet. Although I've signed a statement of employment, it's been two weeks and I still haven't signed the contract in two copies. Should I be worried about this situation, or is it typical? I'm considering whether I should leave this job or if this is just how things are in smaller companies.

I recently resigned from my position at an Indian product company where I worked since last September. The work environment wasn't very professional, which led me to make the decision to leave. The company has a 90-day notice period policy, and I communicated with my new employer to set a joining date after this period. I officially resigned via email on June 5th, but since my probation had just ended, the system hadn't updated my status for separation. Since then, I've been in limbo. I've gone through multiple calls, HRBP rounds, and exit interviews, yet I still haven't received a formal Last Working Day (LWD) confirmation. I've sent several reminder emails, but there's been no response. My resignation email, which included my reporting manager and all HRs in CC, hasn't been acknowledged either. In a WhatsApp call, my manager mentioned that they are looking for my replacement and that I would be allowed to leave once they find someone, with a proposed overlap of three weeks. This situation is causing me a lot of anxiety as my joining date with the new company approaches. I'm unsure how to proceed without creating further complications. I've received some advice to send a formal email to HR regarding my resignation confirmation and LWD query, maintaining a professional tone and attaching previous correspondence for clarity. If I don't hear back in a few days, I might need to escalate the issue to the HR head. I'm hoping to resolve this soon.

I graduated with a B.Com (Hons) from SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi University, with a CGPA of 8.03 in 2025. I spent a lot of time learning SQL, as I found it fascinating, especially after completing two significant projects in my final year—one focused on credit risk and the other on retail analytics, both using SQL, Python, and Excel. I took the CAT exam in 2024 and scored in the 94th percentile, but I didn't apply to any schools that year. In 2025, my score dropped to the 92nd percentile, and I applied to a few places but only got an interview with XIMB (Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar), which I didn't do well in. I initially didn't want to pursue an MBA right after graduation, but due to family pressure, I'm considering it. Since April, I've been actively applying for jobs in data, business, and credit risk roles, but it's been tough. I've applied to numerous positions, but half of them have gone unanswered, and the other half have resulted in rejections, mainly from MNCs and larger companies. I've connected with over 300 people on LinkedIn and even received one referral, but it didn't lead to a job. I'm also contemplating government bank exams as a backup, but I've seen a lot of negative comments about the work environment in those roles, which doesn't appeal to me. I'm okay with work pressure, but I want to be in a place where my input is valued. I'm feeling a bit lost and unsure of what my next steps should be.

I graduated with a B.Com (Hons) from SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi University, in 2025, achieving an 8.03 CGPA. I spent a considerable amount of time learning SQL, which I found fascinating, but unfortunately, it hasn't translated into job offers yet. I attempted the CAT exam in 2024 and 2025, scoring 94 percentile in the first attempt and 92 percentile in the second. Despite the decent scores, I didn't apply to any colleges after the first attempt, and when I did apply in 2025, the only interview I landed was with XIMB (Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar), which I didn't perform well in. Initially, I wasn't keen on pursuing an MBA without work experience, but due to family pressure, I felt compelled to explore that path. During my final year, I developed two significant projects focused on credit risk and retail analytics using SQL, Python, and Excel, which I was proud of. Since April, I've been actively applying for jobs targeting roles in data analysis, business analytics, and credit risk. I've reached out to over 300 people on LinkedIn and received one referral, but it didn't lead to an offer. The response to my applications has been disheartening—I've faced numerous rejections, particularly from MNCs and larger companies. I've also considered government bank exams as a backup option, but I've seen many negative comments about the work environment in those roles, which doesn't appeal to me. While I can handle work pressure, I want to be in a place where my contributions are valued. I'm feeling stuck and uncertain about my next steps. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I’ve been on the job hunt for a while now, applying to what feels like hundreds of positions without much luck. I would submit application after application, only to receive a handful of responses, if any at all. It was incredibly frustrating to see my efforts seemingly vanish into a black hole, with no rejection emails or feedback to help me understand what went wrong. After reflecting on my situation, I started to wonder if the issue was with my resume rather than my qualifications. I decided to analyze my resume against various job descriptions and discovered that while I had the right experience, my resume was lacking crucial keywords and skills that recruiters and ATS systems look for. This meant that I was likely being filtered out before my application even reached a human recruiter. In response to this realization, I created a tool called CareerMauka.in. This platform allows users to paste their resumes and job descriptions to get an ATS Match Score, Callback Likelihood, missing keywords, skill gaps, salary insights, and even which jobs they’re most likely to get shortlisted for. I tested one of my resumes and saw a significant improvement in my match score, jumping from 28% to 92% after making targeted changes. It was the same experience but a completely different outcome. Now, I’m curious about others’ experiences—how many jobs have you applied for before finally landing an interview?

I'm currently a backend Python developer at Tata Consultancy Services in Bengaluru, and I'm approaching my two-year mark with the company. I'm looking to explore new opportunities as I've been applying for various roles, but the responses have been quite limited. Many of the job listings I've encountered have turned out to be for coaching or training institutes, which has been frustrating. In my role, I've gained substantial experience in Python backend development and MLOps, and I'm currently expanding my skill set by learning Go. I'm primarily seeking backend Python roles but am open to adapting to new technologies as necessary. While I prefer to stay in Bengaluru, I'm willing to relocate anywhere in India for the right position and am also interested in remote work. If anyone has referrals, job leads, or advice on how to effectively navigate the job market, I would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you!

I just quit my job after twelve years without a concrete plan, and I'm feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. For the last two years, I felt completely drained; my workload increased while my pay stagnated, and I kept telling myself to hang on a little longer. But yesterday, I reached my breaking point and messaged my manager to say I needed to leave. She wants to discuss it before I make it official, but I’ve seen how those conversations typically go, and I doubt anything will change. Now, I’m in my mid-forties, with solid experience in my field, but I haven’t had to job hunt in over a decade, and the current job market feels overwhelming. I can’t afford to be without income for long, and I don’t have a backup plan. I don’t regret my decision to leave; I just wish I hadn’t waited so long to take this step. I’m seeking practical advice from anyone who’s been in a similar situation about what the first few weeks look like and what I should focus on right now.

I recently interviewed for an internal position at my company, but after some reflection, I've realized that it's not the right fit for me. I didn't send a thank you email right after the interview because I got caught up with work, but I'm still within the 24-hour window to follow up. I'm contemplating whether to combine my thank you note with a message to withdraw my application in one email or to keep them separate. I think it might be more efficient to include both in one email, but I'm concerned it might come off as rude. I appreciate any advice on how to approach this situation.

I recently gave my notice at a small cleaning business where I worked, expecting a smooth transition. Instead, they called me and fired me immediately. Now I'm left wondering how to handle this situation in future job interviews. Should I mention this job at all on my resume? If it comes up, what should I say about why I left? I’ve received some advice suggesting I can simply state that I was let go after giving notice, which is the truth. It feels frustrating, but I want to be honest without it reflecting poorly on me.

I graduated in 2024 and I'm currently applying for a job that requires a reference. I only had one summer internship in 2023, and I've been trying to reconnect with my former office for a reference, but I haven't had any luck. Even if I did manage to reach someone, I'm worried they wouldn't remember me. I found a contact on LinkedIn, but he was actually quite dismissive of me during my internship, and I doubt he would give a positive reference. I've searched through LinkedIn, the office's website, and even search engines, but I can't find anyone else to use as a reference. This job opportunity feels like a perfect fit for me, and I really don't want to miss out just because I can't provide a reference. I'm feeling stuck and unsure of what to do next.

I just got laid off for the first time from my job in Canada, and I'm feeling a bit lost on what to do next before my termination takes effect. I know I need to accept the situation, but I'm also trying to figure out my next steps. I've seen some advice about taking a few days to process everything and spend time with family and friends, which sounds good. I plan to keep my costs minimal during this time and start my job search next week. I need to update my CV and file for unemployment benefits as soon as possible. I've also been told to take advantage of any benefits I have left while I can. Gathering contacts for references and making sure I have all the HR information for offboarding is on my to-do list too. I’m considering negotiating for more benefits if possible. I’ll print out personal documents like pay stubs and certifications that might be useful later, but I’ll make sure not to take anything that belongs to the company. Lastly, I’ve started looking at my expenses to see where I can cut back—maybe I’ll cancel a few streaming services and switch to a cheaper mobile plan. It’s a lot to think about, but I’m determined to hit the ground running.

I just received a job offer after a year of searching, and I'm feeling both excited and anxious. The role is with a great company, and the compensation package is set at $100k, which includes an annual bonus. However, this is a significant pay cut for me, and I'm worried it won't cover my family's expenses since my wife can't work right now due to our two kids and a baby at home. I initially agreed to the salary during the HR screening call, but now I'm contemplating whether I should negotiate for a higher amount. I believe that with my experience and the job requirements, asking for $110k would be reasonable. I'm stressed about this because I really don't want to lose the offer, especially in this tough job market. I'm wondering if I should suggest an increase and how best to approach it. Should I request a phone call to discuss this or handle it via email? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I've been actively searching for jobs that align with my experience, but I'm struggling to find effective resources. I'm curious to know where others are successfully landing interviews. Are there specific job boards, networking events, or strategies that have worked for you? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I recently accepted a job offer and I'm feeling a bit uneasy about it. I want to ensure that this opportunity is legitimate and not a scam. The company seems reputable, but I've heard stories about people getting involved with fraudulent organizations. I'm currently in the onboarding process, and I plan to do thorough research on the company and reach out to current employees to get their insights. I just want to be sure I'm making the right decision before fully committing.

I'm feeling really anxious about my job search and worried that I might be un-hirable. After graduating in 2023, I landed a low-paying internship where I was eventually promoted to an SEO content writer. However, I got let go, possibly because my boss was frustrated with my inquiries about my paycheck. I took on several contract jobs in graphic design and video editing, but my performance suffered due to chronic illnesses I wasn't aware of at the time. After about a year and a half of contracts, I had to step back to focus on my health and ended up working at my former college in a job that wasn't fulfilling. Now, I'm back in school for mental health and applying mainly through Handshake. I've been hesitant to list my past contracts as references because I'm worried they might give me bad reviews, even though I've reached out for feedback and received positive responses. Lately, I've been getting interview requests but then getting ghosted, which adds to my anxiety. I can't help but wonder if there's some background check system that might be affecting my chances. I'm really concerned about my future and how I'll manage financially. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.