Planning

I recently started a new job in the food industry after quitting my last position due to severe bullying and threats from my previous employer. I was really hoping for a fresh start, but things aren't looking good. The training period was supposed to last three days, but they've extended it, and I still haven't passed the test to start receiving tips. They promised $8 an hour plus tips, but due to weather issues, my hours have been cut significantly, and I can't survive on just $8 an hour. I have over a decade of experience in this field, so I feel frustrated and confused about why they think I'm not ready for the training test. I need at least 35 hours a week to make ends meet, and I'm worried about getting fired again. I'm considering updating my resume and looking for new opportunities before this job drains me financially.

I've been employed but I'm actively searching for a new job because I'm really unhappy in my current position, even though the pay is decent. The job hunt has been incredibly frustrating. It feels like every employer expects at least 20 years of experience, which is just ridiculous. I can't believe I have to apply to over 100 jobs just to get one response. I have solid technical skills and experience in measurements, math, mechanics, and reading blueprints, so I know I have a lot to offer. But the process is exhausting and disheartening. I'm so tired of seeing 'now hiring' signs everywhere when it feels like no one is actually willing to hire me. I'm fed up with this situation.

I spent the last year searching for jobs with barely any interviews, and now all of a sudden, I have three interviews lined up at the same time. It's a bit overwhelming! I have a final round coming up with one company, but honestly, there are other opportunities I would prefer to pursue. The dilemma is that I might end up declining the first offer if it comes through, only to miss out on the others and still be jobless. It's just wild how everything is happening all at once when I struggled for so long to get noticed. I think I’ll keep all three options open until I have a formal offer in hand.

I recently had a phone screening with a recruiter for an Account Manager position that went really well. Following that, we had a virtual Teams meeting which also seemed to go smoothly. I'm expecting to hear back from them by Friday. The job listing mentions that ideally, they want someone in the office for two days a week, but the company does emphasize flexibility regarding remote work. The recruiter mentioned that some employees work remotely while others come in for client meetings. I made it clear that I prefer remote work, but she said she would suggest to the hiring manager that I could come in one day a week. Now, I'm wondering if I should wait until the next round of interviews to clarify my preference for remote work or if I should reach out to the recruiter now to discuss it further. How should I approach this?

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 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 recently landed a job and was asked to participate in a four-day training program. The scheduling has been a bit tricky because I'm currently at university, but the company was accommodating and adjusted the training dates for me. Just last Friday, I received an email saying they could start the training tomorrow, which is Wednesday. However, I was at uni all day Friday and couldn't respond until yesterday. I asked for the training location, but it's now 9 PM and I haven't heard back from them yet, even though the training starts at 9 AM. I'm feeling anxious about whether I should just show up at the training location, assuming it hasn't changed from the original dates I couldn't attend. Their office hours are from 9 to 5, so I'm unsure if they were expecting me or if I would be showing up unannounced. I'm based in the UK, and I'm looking for advice on how to handle this situation.

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 found myself in a bit of a dilemma at my job. I've been working at my current company for about a year now as a [insert role], earning $69,000 annually. I truly love my job, my boss, and my team; it's the best work environment I've ever experienced. My boss consistently acknowledges my contributions, which makes me feel valued and motivated to come to work every day. Out of the blue, a recruiter from another company reached out to me about a similar role. I wasn't actively looking for a new job, but I decided to interview just to see what was out there. To my surprise, the hiring manager indicated that the position is essentially mine if I want it, and they're preparing to send me an offer letter for $85,000. That's a significant $16,000 increase over my current salary, which is hard to ignore. However, I have some reservations about the new company. From what I gathered during the interview, it seems less organized than where I currently work, and the team is quite small, which could lead to a heavier workload until they hire more staff. I genuinely want to stay at my current company. I'm happy here, I enjoy the people I work with, and I can see myself growing with the team long-term. But that extra $16,000 is tempting. I'm contemplating whether I should approach my boss about the offer and see if there's any chance they could match or come close to the new salary. I'm not expecting them to match it exactly, but even a reasonable increase would be appreciated. I'm also concerned about how this conversation might affect my relationship with my boss since I don't want to come off as using the offer as leverage. I'm really torn about what to do. If you were in my shoes, would you bring up the offer to your boss and ask for a raise?

I was laid off from my role as an Accounts Payable Specialist in April 2025 after working for the company for about four years. I started as an Ops Assistant making $22 per hour, and within six months, I transitioned to an Ops Coordinator role with a salary of $65,000. Over the years, my salary increased to $70,000 in 2024 and then to $85,000 before my layoff. After moving from Los Angeles to New York, I've been working as a barista while also holding two office jobs—one part-time at $30 per hour and a full-time remote position that paid $80,000. I'm currently looking for new opportunities and would be comfortable starting again at $65,000 to $75,000. However, I'm noticing many job listings around $55,000, which isn't feasible for me due to my debt and cost of living. A friend and former coworker mentioned that our previous job paid well for the industry, but I'm starting to feel like my salary expectations might be out of touch.

I recently started a new contract position as a software developer after being laid off from my previous job. My background is in full-stack development, mainly focusing on web applications, APIs, and databases. However, this new role has been a struggle since it's heavily centered on infrastructure and deployment technologies, which are not my strong suit. To make matters worse, I waited about three weeks for the necessary system access, and just a month into the job, I was placed on a performance improvement plan. Although I've been making progress by completing tickets and submitting pull requests, I'm feeling absolutely miserable in this role. I've thought about quitting several times, but I don't have another job lined up, and I'm worried that resigning could jeopardize my eligibility for unemployment benefits in Indiana. I'm torn between wanting to submit my resignation at the end of this week and the financial implications of doing so. I could really use some advice on how to navigate this situation.

I was laid off 7 months ago and finally received two job offers this week! I wanted to share some strategies that worked for me during my job search in the tech/product/design field. Both offers came in at a slightly lower salary than my previous role, but I chose the one that aligns better with my career goals and provides the title I need for my next step. Here are a few key takeaways from my experience: 1. **Be specific on LinkedIn**: I avoided announcing that I was open to every type of role. I understand the temptation, but it can dilute your brand. Employers are looking for specialists, not generalists. 2. **Apply early**: I made it a point to apply as soon as a job was posted. I found that applications submitted within the first day received much more attention. I set up job alerts to catch new postings immediately, using Claude with Apify to streamline the process. 3. **Tailor your CV**: For each application, I customized my CV to highlight the exact expertise the employer was seeking. It’s crucial that the hiring manager sees that I’ve done precisely what they need. 4. **Broaden your search**: I looked beyond my comfort zone, even considering roles that were below my previous level. Sometimes a lateral move can lead to better opportunities. I also recommend checking out **The Skip podcast** for insights on the job market and repositioning yourself. It’s a tough job market, and it took longer than I anticipated, but I’m hopeful. Hang in there!

I recently applied for a full-time position at a company where I previously worked as a contractor for a couple of years. After submitting my application, I quickly got an interview with a recruiter, and she informed me that she would be passing my details to the hiring manager. I'm excited about this opportunity but also a bit nervous. I still have good relationships with many of my former coworkers, and my brother suggested that I reach out to them for support. However, it’s been a couple of years since we last spoke, and I'm unsure about how to approach them or what to say. I'm looking for advice on how to reconnect and potentially leverage those connections to strengthen my application.

I recently started my job search after being laid off from my position as a marketing coordinator at a tech company. It's been a challenging process, but I'm determined to find a new opportunity that aligns with my skills and interests. I've updated my resume and LinkedIn profile, and I've been applying to various roles in marketing and communications. I've also reached out to my network for potential leads and advice. So far, I've had a few interviews, but I'm still waiting for the right fit. I'm staying positive and hopeful that something will come through soon.

Today, I found myself contemplating a risky strategy to motivate my boss into discussing potential advancement opportunities at my job. I've been in my current role for over three years, and while I generally enjoy the work and the people, my boss's erratic behavior and the lack of clear paths for promotion have left me feeling stuck. I'm a 44-year-old male in a niche field, earning well compared to my peers, but I’ve hit the ceiling of my pay scale and feel like I’m not going anywhere. My boss has talked about future opportunities for advancement, but those conversations have gone nowhere. When I bring it up, he tends to be evasive or outright dismissive. This has led me to consider a plan where I create the illusion of having another job offer in order to spur him into action. The idea is to take a few personal appointments, dressed in a suit, to suggest that I might be interviewing elsewhere. I would then follow up with a call claiming I've received a job offer that pays significantly more, which would force him to reconsider my situation. I know this is a dangerous game; if he calls my bluff, I could end up losing my job or damaging my reputation. I’m aware that this could backfire, especially since my boss might decide to let me go rather than negotiate. Still, I’m not ready to leave a good-paying job without a solid opportunity lined up. I just want to avoid spending another three years waiting for something that may never happen. I’m feeling conflicted about whether this is a smart move or a foolish gamble. I’d love to hear thoughts from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

I have a degree in library and information science, but I've been struggling to find a job in that field. My friends suggested that I should take any job to build my resume, so I took their advice and have been working at a cafe for the past four months. This experience has helped me develop customer service skills and improved my confidence in communication. Now, I'm considering applying for library or archive positions again, even though my experience in that specific field is limited. The cafe job is the longest I've held, and I'm wondering if this general job experience is enough to start applying.

Today was my last working day as a developer after being laid off. I've got 1.8 years of experience, and I'm feeling a bit lost on how to find my next job. I remember how I landed my previous position, but now it feels like the job market is tougher. I've seen some advice suggesting I should approach my job search the same way I did before, leveraging my experience. I'm eager to hear any tips or strategies from others who have been in a similar situation.

I was put on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) at my first job out of college just four months in, while still in training. The expectations were vague and subjective, which made me realize I needed to start job searching immediately. From the beginning, I sensed that my manager wasn't fond of me. Whenever I sought help, I was told I should already know the answers, and then blamed for not knowing. This created a toxic environment that led to panic attacks, sleepless nights, and excessive stress. I felt set up to fail from the start. Now, with the PIP ending this week, I’ve accepted that termination is likely. I'm struggling with feelings of failure and letting everyone down, especially as I face the reality of paying bills like student loans and credit cards without a job. I've been actively applying for new positions, but I'm worried this experience will hinder my chances. It’s painful to feel so incompetent and defeated.

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 had a second interview today for an admin role at a small, local factory. During my first interview, I spoke with the owner's wife and the head of administration. They seemed pleased with my background and provided a lot of details about the job and what to expect after being hired. At the end of our conversation, they asked if I could return tomorrow morning to meet the owner and complete a drug test. I understand that the owner has the final say on hiring decisions, which makes me wonder if this means I'm close to getting the job or if this is just a standard part of the process. I'm feeling a bit uncertain about what to expect and how to prepare for this next meeting.