Planning

I recently left my job as an Application Developer at an MNC in November 2023 to focus on preparing for the UPSC exams. I graduated in 2022 with a B.Tech in Computer Science, but my journey has been challenging. After resigning, I fell ill and underwent surgery for gallstones, which set me back significantly. I attempted the UPSC prelims in 2024 but didn't perform as well as I hoped, scoring 54 in General Studies and around 88 in CSAT. Despite my health issues, I continued to prepare for the next attempt in 2025, but family responsibilities took a toll on me. I lost my father to COVID in 2021, and since then, I've been the primary caretaker for my mother and have had to manage family disputes and my grandmother's illness. In November 2024, I had to deal with a family crisis that further distracted me from my studies. I finally took the 2025 UPSC exam and improved my scores to 86 in GS and over 92 in CSAT. However, tragedy struck again when I lost my grandfather, who had been a significant support for my mother. I was overwhelmed with grief and financial demands from relatives for the funeral, which drained my limited resources. Now, I'm in Noida, desperately searching for IT jobs since February 2026, but I haven't had much luck. I received a few interview calls in March and April, but nothing has materialized since then. I'm feeling lost and frustrated, unsure of how to move forward. I just want to provide a better life for my mother, but I'm struggling to even secure basic employment. I'm reaching out for any advice or suggestions on how to get back on track. Thank you for your support.

I have a round of interviews lined up with a company I used to work for, and I'm feeling a bit conflicted about it. I applied impulsively for a position that seemed to fit my background perfectly, and after completing the hiring manager interview, they've scheduled four rounds of technical interviews. While it's exciting to get this far, I'm starting to doubt whether they can offer a competitive compensation package. The recruiter seems optimistic, but I still enjoy my current job and don't really want to leave. Finding four hours for interviews is also a challenge, especially since I’ll need to take time off work to do it. I'm considering whether I should continue with the interviews next week or withdraw now, knowing that the chances of me actually taking the job if offered are low. I want to maintain a good relationship with this company since I have a history there, but I'm torn on what to do.

I recently interviewed for a photo editing position at a local company, and I felt it went better than I anticipated. A friend who works there referred me, which I think helped me feel more comfortable. After the interview, they gave me a tour of the office, which was nice. They mentioned that I should expect to hear back within a week since they were reviewing other applications too. They said they would email me to confirm if I was still interested and then send over a contract. However, I found their wording a bit confusing because they didn’t explicitly say, "If you're hired." I'm wondering if it would be inappropriate to ask them directly if I got the position after the week has passed. I really want to make sure I'm following up in the right way.

I'm currently working at a job that pays $19/hr, but the environment is incredibly toxic. My boss and management have been verbally bullying me to the point where it's affecting my mental and physical health. I know I need to leave this job, so I've been applying to positions like crazy, but the job market is tough right now, and I haven't had much luck. I do have an interview lined up for a position at a school, but I found out they are offering $13/hr for the role. I'm really torn about whether to take a significant pay cut for my mental health. On one hand, moving to this new position could improve my well-being and give me more time off, but on the other hand, going from $19 to $13 feels like a major step back, especially since I've spent 13 years working my way up to this pay rate. I don't have any student loans anymore, and my monthly expenses are manageable since I live at home, but I still worry about saving for a house, marriage, and kids in the future. I’m in my early 30s, and it feels like this would be a huge setback in my career. I'm considering going to the interview and seeing what happens. Maybe I can negotiate a higher salary if they make an offer. I just want to make the right choice for my health and future.

I've been navigating the job market for the past couple of months and, while it's disheartening, I can't help but find some humor in the situation. I'm currently in the running for two positions—one internal and one external. The internal interview seemed to go well, but the hiring manager later expressed doubts about whether I would be satisfied with the role, claiming it might not be as analytics-focused as my current job, even though it was advertised as such. Her response was a mix of confusion and frustration, which left me scratching my head. On the other hand, the external role felt much more promising. It was a stretch position that would allow me to grow professionally. I made it through a panel interview, a technical interview, and provided references that were checked and would give positive feedback. However, it's been a week since then, and I've heard nothing back—just silence. In the meantime, I've been applying to other jobs, but it's been a string of rejections or complete radio silence. To add to the absurdity, I wanted to give back to my community by volunteering with a nonprofit. I was connected to them through a state agency and they seemed eager at first, but now my application is stuck in limbo, and I can't get any responses to my follow-ups. I even tried calling them, only to find the line disconnected. It's like I'm trying to give my time away for free, and nobody wants it. This whole experience feels like a dark comedy.

I'm currently facing a tough job search as a CDL B driver with a passenger and school bus endorsement. I drove a school bus for 7 months, but due to some personal family issues and a CPS case that didn't favor me, I lost my job for this year. I've been applying to various Class B driving positions, but most companies require at least 3 years of experience on the road, which I don't have. I've gone through numerous interviews but have received almost as many rejections. I'm feeling stuck and unsure of where to turn next. I really want to continue driving, but the experience barrier is making it difficult. I'm considering branching out from school bus applications to explore opportunities with paratransit, private shuttles, or tour companies, as I've heard their hiring criteria might be more flexible.

I recently received a job offer from RD Solutions for a part-time position, where I would be working about 4-5 hours a week. I'm currently looking for a second job and need to make a decision quickly. The role is based in Indiana, and they mentioned that the first 50 hours would be at a set pay rate, after which the compensation would switch to a pay-per-item structure. I'm trying to figure out if this opportunity is worth pursuing.

I qualified for unemployment benefits in DC last summer, starting in late July, after working at Company A. I received payments based on my earnings from July to September 2024, October to December 2024, and January to March 2025. Unfortunately, I ran out of benefits by March. In early April, I was contacted by some AI companies on LinkedIn and did some freelance work, earning a few thousand dollars. The payments were wired directly to my bank, but I did not receive a W-2 for this work. Since then, I've been out of work and refiled my unemployment claim in the first week of August. Initially, I was deemed eligible based on my wages from April to June 2025 and July to September 2025, all from Company A. However, DC is now saying I'm ineligible because I didn't report my freelance work from April. I forgot to account for it when I was filing. I called the employment office, and they advised me to request a review of my wages, which will lead to an interview to discuss my eligibility, including the freelance work. I'm wondering if my freelance income, combined with my sufficient wages from Company A, will qualify me for another claim. I only need a couple more months of unemployment benefits to get by, as I'm very close to landing another job, especially with the seasonal hiring in my field.

I'm currently in my mid-30s and actively job searching to leave my current role due to a toxic company culture that's really affecting my sleep and overall well-being. I'm considering expanding my job search to include rotational and night shifts, even though this isn't my first choice. My main goal is to get my foot in the door at a company or in an industry I want to work in, with the hope of transitioning or transferring to a more desirable position later on. I've noticed a lot of job postings for 40-hour schedules that alternate between two weeks of daytime and two weeks of nighttime shifts, as well as some positions with rotating 12-hour shifts. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has experience with this kind of employment arrangement. I have a few questions: - What was your experience like when you started working these shifts? Did you have a plan to leave, and how did that work out for you? - How did your sleep pattern change, and were you able to adjust over time? - If you lived with roommates, did they have issues with your nighttime schedule? - On your days off, did you find yourself feeling tired, especially after 12-hour shifts? Did you spend most of your time catching up on sleep? - How long did you work these shifts, and was it tough to transition back to a regular 9-5 afterward? - Looking back, do you have any regrets? What advice would you give to your younger self starting a job with these hours? - Lastly, can you maintain a relatively normal life while working these shifts? How important is scheduling? I've read comments about losing track of what day it is—does that improve? I plan to take public transit, so I'm also curious about how the commute differs between night and day shifts. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I was recently laid off from my first job as a fresher, which was a Data and Automation Engineer role that I enjoyed. I graduated in Computer Science from a tier 2 university in October 2025 and landed this remote position right before graduating. Unfortunately, I was let go due to what they described as a "lack of proper communication." As a newcomer, I find this reasoning puzzling; I think communication skills can be developed over time rather than being a reason for termination. Since my layoff, I have sent out over 700 applications through platforms like LinkedIn, Naukri, and Instahyre, but I’ve only landed one interview. The silence from most applications is disheartening, and the rejections I do receive rarely provide feedback, leaving me unsure of what I need to improve. Currently, my job search strategy includes tailoring my resume for each role instead of sending out mass applications, reaching out to founders and HR via direct messages on LinkedIn, and applying daily on major job portals. I have about six months of experience in data engineering and web scraping, along with a backend project and a mobile app that I've launched, so I feel I have relevant skills to offer. Despite my efforts, the high number of applications with minimal responses is mentally taxing. I’m committed to staying positive and treating my job search like a full-time job, but I could really use some advice: 1. What changes would you suggest for my workflow? 2. Is it worth the effort to cold DM founders and HR, or should I focus my energy elsewhere? 3. Where should I concentrate my efforts as a fresher? 4. If anyone knows of teams hiring freshers or has referrals, I would greatly appreciate it. For context, my tech stack includes Python, Dart, Java, SQL, FastAPI, Flutter, and more. Thanks for taking the time to read this; any guidance would mean a lot to me right now.

As a recent college graduate with an international business degree, I've been on the job hunt since May and it's been incredibly frustrating. I've applied to countless positions but have only landed three interviews. Out of those, only one company followed up to let me know they chose another candidate. The rest just ghosted me after I submitted my applications. I'm left wondering if my resume is even being seen by a real person or if it’s getting filtered out by some AI due to a lack of relevant keywords. I've noticed that while big cities have a lot of job openings, the competition is fierce and the cost of living is so high that even if I secured a job there, I would barely scrape by. In smaller towns, the cost of living is lower, but the job opportunities are scarce and often require 1-2 years of experience for entry-level roles, which is frustrating since I'm applying for basic positions like administrative assistant and office coordinator. I’ve had my resume reviewed and it seems fine, and I have some internship experience. My interview skills are decent too. I know I can do these jobs, yet I find myself reaching out to hiring managers on LinkedIn, practically begging for a chance. I’m not aiming for anything extravagant; I just want a job that pays enough to cover rent. Living with my parents has become unbearable due to a toxic family situation, and I really need to find a job and my own place soon. What am I doing wrong?

I'm currently working as a Sales Admin at an automotive company that manages three brands. Recently, due to some management conflicts between the OEM and our CEO, two of our brands have been acquired by another automotive company. This has left me feeling quite anxious about my job security. We've been informed that by September, there might be layoffs or salary cuts, and I'm really worried about what that could mean for my position. I'm seeking advice on how to prepare for this potential situation and what steps I should take moving forward.

I was laid off just a month after returning from maternity leave. Last year, I lost my dream job while I was on leave following a complicated delivery. They made me finish a high-value project, and right after it shipped, I was let go. I had sensed this might happen even before my leave, despite submitting my request way in advance. Once I was laid off, I spent three months focused on building and learning AI. I went through four interviews and applied to around 230 roles. After four months of unemployment, I finally landed a new job. I was really passionate about learning during that time, and although it took longer than I expected, I secured a position that offered a $70k pay increase. My interview process was swift, taking only seven days. I want to encourage others in similar situations: keep looking for roles, especially at competitors. Remember to prioritize your own development and growth. Stay curious and keep learning; you deserve it.

I recently had my first group interview experience while trying to transition into a new industry. I've been in my current role for a few years, but I applied for an entry-level position with a lower salary to gain relevant experience. During the interview, I was taken aback by the other candidates who had decades of experience, which made me feel quite anxious. I was the last to answer every question, and I struggled to present myself well. It was really uncomfortable, and I felt embarrassed since I could only share that I'm pursuing a part-time degree related to the role. The next day, the HR consultant reached out and asked if I would be open to redoing the interview one-on-one because she was worried that the group interview recording might not reflect my potential. I'm torn about whether to go for it. Is it common for companies to conduct group interviews? I found it much more challenging than a one-on-one. Also, is the job market so competitive that experienced professionals are applying for entry-level jobs?

I recently got laid off from my position in the Bay Area tech scene and I'm looking for ways to connect with others who are in similar situations. I'm particularly interested in finding online or in-person meetups where mid-level managers and engineers gather. I think it would be really beneficial to network, share emotional support, and explore potential co-founder opportunities for new projects. Additionally, I'm eager to discuss job opportunities and strategies for preparing for the next steps in our careers. If anyone knows of any groups or events, please let me know!

I had my first real job interview last Thursday for a position on my college campus. The interviewer mentioned that I should expect to hear back by early this week. It's now Wednesday night, and I haven't received any updates yet. I'm feeling really anxious because I genuinely want this job. I was quite nervous during the interview, and I don't think I performed as well as I could have. I'm considering sending a follow-up email tomorrow to inquire about my application status. I'm unsure about what to say in the email, though.

Today, I took some time to reflect on my job search, and honestly, it's not going well. I recently completed my master's degree, hoping it would lead to a solid full-time job with benefits. However, I've spent the last twenty years juggling part-time, freelance, and gig work, and I'm still in that same situation. Despite being employed in various capacities since I was 14, I've never held a full-time position. My upbringing has influenced this path; my parents faced their own employment struggles, and in my culture, it was often frowned upon for women to work full-time outside the home. My father was also unemployed for extended periods, which meant I didn't have strong role models for stable employment. Although I've managed to pay my bills and have gained a wealth of work experience, I feel like I lack the traditional employment background that many employers look for. I'm starting to wonder if I need a mindset shift or if there's something else at play. Am I the only one feeling this way? How can I overcome this history? Are there recruiters out there who specialize in helping people like me?

I’m feeling really lost right now. I have college tuition due in 14 months, and the reality is that I haven’t worked a single job in my life. I’m unsure of where to start or how to find a job that can help me pay for school. I’m looking for advice on how to break into the job market and what steps I should take to prepare myself.

I’m currently working at a contract company where morale is plummeting. Our new director has been making it clear that everyone is expected to quit, and it’s no surprise that attendance at our yearly work party is dwindling. The company barely managed to secure the new contract, largely thanks to one standout worker who impressed the client. Unfortunately, the director has been dishonest about raises and has even committed wage theft. Many of us are too scared to report it, fearing retaliation or the financial burden of a legal battle, especially during this recession when jobs are scarce. Upper management is unprofessional and rude, which creates a toxic atmosphere. There’s no work-life balance; everyone is stressed and taking work home mentally. While some are getting overworked, others are seeing their hours cut. Promises of raises have turned into statements claiming that raises simply aren’t given. The yearly party is a joke—same old food and prizes, and most employees just show up, eat, and leave within half an hour. There’s no incentive to stay, especially with the lack of meaningful benefits. It’s ironic that the directors are upset about the low turnout; they’ve created this situation through their poor management. With no guarantee that our contract will be renewed next year, I’m focusing on saving money and learning new skills in hopes of finding a better opportunity.

I'm currently working as a bus operator in California and recently interviewed for a maintenance position at a different city yard that is unionized. I felt the interview went well, and the maintenance supervisor even went to speak with his GM afterward. However, when I spoke with the GM, she informed me that my transfer is now dependent on my current GM's approval. I tried to reach out to her but she wasn't in the office today, and dispatch couldn't provide any information on her return. I texted her, but she replied with a mention of a 1-year tenure rule that I need to meet in order to transfer. I'm really frustrated because my current yard is terrible—there's no union, and the supervisors are creating a toxic environment filled with fear tactics. The GM is often yelling at the safety manager in front of everyone, and I’m only making $20/hr for driving a transit vehicle while dealing with all this nonsense. I desperately want to leave this job. After her text, I left her on read and have been keeping the new GM and maintenance supervisor updated via email and text. I even offered to resign and come in as a new hire if that would help. I've done everything I can for now, but I'm looking for any advice on how to navigate this situation.