Planning

I recently started a part-time job as a customer service associate at a local retail store. I've completed a few shifts, but this week was supposed to be my official training period. During my first training shift, a fellow trainee asked our manager a question, and that’s when I learned that these training shifts are unpaid. I was completely taken aback because I’ve never encountered a situation like this before. After the shift, I did some research and found out that there are laws regarding unpaid labor, though I'm not entirely sure if my employer is violating any regulations. It seems to me that the training is mandatory since I need it to perform my job effectively. During the training, we weren’t doing any actual work; it was purely learning and observing our coworkers. I’m feeling quite disillusioned with the company for various reasons, and this unpaid training revelation has only added to my concerns. I’m seriously considering looking for other job opportunities. I’m also contemplating emailing my boss to confirm the unpaid status of the training, even though I suspect the manager was clear about it. I just find it odd that this wasn’t communicated upfront. I’ve asked a few friends about this, and opinions are mixed. Some believe I should definitely be paid for my time, while others think it’s not a big deal as long as I get paid for my shifts after training. I’m starting to think that if they’re already being shady about this, it might be time to cut my losses and find a better job.

I just received an unexpected application update from a company I don't even remember applying to. To my surprise, I got invited to interview! It's a bit of a shock, but I'm excited about the opportunity. It's funny how these things work out sometimes. I guess this is what happens when you apply to multiple positions at major corporations. Now I'm trying to decide if I should go for it!

I experienced a tough 14-month unemployment stretch between 2023 and 2024, which was the lowest point of my adult life. During this time, I found a training program in a less-than-ideal city that offered a salary of $65k. I spent a year there, feeling depressed and poor, but at least I was working. After that year, I got promoted and negotiated a move to the New York City office with a salary of $95k. A year later, I leveraged my experience to secure a local job that pays nearly $140k with fantastic benefits. While I'm not wealthy, my situation has drastically improved from those days of living at my mom's house, walking to a 7:00 a.m. shift at a gym, cleaning toilets, and struggling to pay my student loans. Now, I'm in a great city, have a nice apartment, a vibrant social life, and a promising career path. If I had known two years ago that I would be where I am now, it would have given me so much hope. I hope my story inspires others going through tough times.

I have recently been placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) at my current job, and I'm feeling quite lost about the next steps. My manager hasn't provided me with clear evidence or a solid action plan regarding the PIP, and despite my attempts to seek clarification, she has not documented anything or given me any guidance. I'm currently exploring other job offers, but I'm concerned about the potential impact of this situation on my future employment. Specifically, I'm wondering if my manager has the authority to include comments about my performance in my exit form and whether this could affect my background check with a new employer. It feels like my manager has been targeting me for no apparent reason, which adds to my anxiety about the situation.

I got laid off today from my director position in the healthcare field after 2.5 years with the company. We had been hearing about hiring freezes and layoffs happening, but I never thought it would happen to me. The way they delivered the news felt cold and brutal—just a vague explanation about cutting budgets and reorganizing. It all felt like a blur. Now, I'm left wondering if two weeks of severance is really all I can expect after being in a director role for that long, especially considering I'm over 40 and in a higher income bracket. How can a company justify such a low severance package? I feel betrayed, hopeless, and angry right now. I did receive a payout for my PTO and was offered a month of COBRA, but I'm definitely planning to negotiate. I'm curious if anyone else in Southern California is in a similar situation.

I’ve been job searching since April and it’s been really tough. I haven’t had any interviews yet, which is frustrating. Recently, I started listing over 130 skills on each application, thinking it would help me get past the screening filters. My girlfriend thinks this approach might be self-sabotaging and that my applications look too robotic. I’m torn because I want to make sure I’m showcasing all my abilities, but I also want to get noticed by employers. I’m open to any advice on how to improve my applications and increase my chances of landing interviews.

I had my fourth and final interview for a role I really want three weeks ago, and I haven’t heard anything since. I got laid off a few years back and have been in a job that I’m eager to leave due to no health insurance and a toxic work environment. During the interviews, I felt really positive, especially after speaking with a higher-up in the last round, which seemed like a formality before an offer. After the interview, I followed up with the HR person the next day to ask about the timeline for a decision, but received no response. I waited about 2.5 weeks and reached out again to check in and express my continued interest, but still nothing. I’m starting to feel anxious about the situation and wonder if there’s any chance of getting this job at this point. I have the contact info for the would-be manager since I interviewed with her twice, but I hesitate to reach out to her directly, fearing it might come off as overstepping. I’m looking for advice or just some opinions on my chances.

I am a 24-year-old male about to graduate from the Politecnico di Torino with a degree in Mechatronics Engineering, specializing in Automation & Control, AI, and Robotics. I'm looking to relocate to the US for job opportunities, but I hold Lebanese nationality and I'm concerned about the current immigration climate under the Trump administration. I'm reaching out for advice on how to navigate this situation and secure a job in the US. If anyone is interested in my CV or has tips, feel free to DM me. I'm aware that there are mixed opinions on hiring foreign workers right now, but I'm determined to explore my options.

My mom, who is 59, lost her job of 29 years at T-Mobile as a senior project manager at the beginning of this year due to company reductions. Since February, she has been applying to hundreds of jobs, spending hours researching companies and tailoring her resumes, but she keeps getting ghosted or denied. It's really disheartening to see her start to lose hope. I live at home with her while I’m in college, and I'm not currently working due to my disabilities and managing school. She's tried networking with old colleagues, paid for LinkedIn Premium, and followed up both online and in person, but nothing seems to be working. I'm reaching out for advice on how I can help her during this tough time.

I'm currently a 25-year-old driving instructor making $65K a year, but I feel like I'm in a dead-end job. I'm looking to pivot into something new, possibly in supervising or logistics. I've shared my resume and would appreciate any honest feedback or advice on how to make this transition. I'm not really interested in opening my own driving school, so I'm exploring other options.

I'm an MBA Marketing graduate with a 6-year career gap due to motherhood and some health issues, and I'm feeling a bit lost as I try to rebuild my career. I have about 3 years of experience in social media marketing, but I find that my skills feel outdated and I lack a strong passion for digital marketing. What I truly enjoyed in marketing was branding, strategy, visual ideas, and design. I've dabbled in Adobe Illustrator and enjoy creating, but I'm unsure how to move forward. Currently, I'm overwhelmed by the job market. I've looked into fields like graphic design, UI/UX, and social media marketing, but I keep hearing that they are saturated. A friend has offered me access to Coursera Plus, which provides a range of courses, but I'm stuck on what to focus on. I realize I've spent too much time searching for my passion, and now I just want to acquire a valuable skill that will make me employable and help me regain my financial independence. If anyone has advice or has faced a similar situation, I would really appreciate your insights on what skills are worth investing my time in today.

I am currently seeking an entry-level job that pays well to support my family, as I am pregnant and need to provide for my husband and me. Our monthly expenses are around $2,500 to $3,000, so I am looking for full-time opportunities. Previously, I worked in massage therapy, but due to my circumstances, I can't continue in that field as I won't be in the same state. I would appreciate any recommendations for entry-level positions that could help me get back on my feet.

I’m currently in a tough spot as an 18-year-old sophomore in college trying to land my first job. I’ve applied to numerous places around LA County and even in nearby cities, but I haven’t received a single response. It’s really disheartening. I’ve tried following up with some places by calling, but that hasn’t yielded any results either. My schedule is pretty flexible since I only attend classes twice a week and am usually home by 2 PM. I’m starting to feel the pressure to find a job soon since I’ll need to start paying rent at home. Right now, I’m doing some flipping on marketplace, but it’s not enough to sustain me financially. I would really appreciate any advice or tips on how to improve my job search!

I’ve been working in retail since I graduated high school, primarily in grocery stores and clothing shops, and even at a water park. Due to various personal and financial challenges, I haven’t been able to pursue college yet. However, I’m planning to return to school soon, with radiologic technology as my top choice. In the meantime, I’m really looking to transition into a new job, preferably as an administrative assistant or a medical receptionist. I’m feeling burnt out from retail and need a change. I thought becoming a medical receptionist would be a good fit since it seemed like it didn't require a degree and would allow me to gain experience while I study. Unfortunately, many of the positions I’ve found require prior medical or clerical experience, which has been really discouraging. I’ve realized that my resume isn’t as strong as I hoped, and I didn’t expect the job search to be this challenging. I’m trying to stay positive and am focusing on tailoring my resume for the jobs I apply to, but it’s tough. I know I need to keep applying and not take rejections personally.

I finally received my hearing date, and it's scheduled for next week. However, I'm feeling pretty anxious about it being conducted through Webex. I've had some frustrating experiences with Webex in the past, especially during virtual job interviews where technical issues led to multiple rescheduling. I'm really hoping this goes smoothly. The Notice of Hearing says I need to download Webex Meetings, but then I found a video on the DOL website saying that iPhone users should use the Safari browser instead. It's all a bit confusing because another part of the site advises against using Webex Meetings altogether and suggests attending by phone if I can't access the internet. I'm just trying to figure out what the best option is and what has worked reliably for others. Honestly, I was expecting this to be a phone call, so I'm disappointed that I have to face them on video again.

I recently graduated with my Electrical Engineering degree last month, and I've been struggling to find a job. I've been actively applying, focusing on proper applications through company websites rather than just quick apply options, but all I've received so far are rejections. I'm considering looking for positions that aren't strictly tied to electrical engineering. For instance, I'm interested in data analysis roles in New York City or other technical jobs that might require a strong math background and have an emphasis on leadership. I'm curious about what types of jobs I could qualify for outside of traditional EE roles.

I graduated with a degree in political science two years ago, but I didn't have the opportunity to do internships during my time at university. I was working full-time and caring for my dad, which left me with no time to gain relevant experience. Now that I'm trying to enter the job market, I'm finding it really challenging. Most entry-level positions in my field require some prior experience or an internship, and I'm feeling lost on how to break in without that background. I'm determined to start from the bottom, but I need some guidance on how to navigate this situation.

I'm currently in my third month at a large, well-known company where I'm working as an entry-level employee. I make $22/hour, which translates to about $45k a year. My role has a 90-day probation period, and I find myself in a frustrating situation. I work four days in the office and one day remote, with a 30-minute commute each way. While I do get two weeks of vacation upfront, I've realized there's zero room for growth in my current team. Everyone else on my team has been there less than a year, and there's a high turnover rate. I often find myself staring at my computer or phone for 95% of the time because there’s just not enough work to keep me busy. My manager has also made comments about my demeanor, suggesting that as a woman, I should smile more and be friendlier, which feels quite odd and uncomfortable. However, I recently received a job offer for a new position that pays $58k a year, with a built-in promotion after a year, three weeks of vacation, and two weeks of sick time annually. The new company is smaller and not as well-known, but the work seems interesting and important, and the managers appear to be more relatable and chill. I’m really torn about whether to leave my current job, which has the prestige of a big name, for this new opportunity. I’ve been actively looking for work since my first month because I felt insecure after my manager's feedback about my friendliness and skills. I hate being at a job where I have nothing to do, but I'm also anxious about making the wrong decision. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, especially since this is my first real job after graduating.

I’ve been searching for a product manager position for a while now, but it feels like an uphill battle. I’ve sent out numerous resumes and tried cold messaging a few connections on LinkedIn, but I haven’t received much response, and most of my applications have led to rejections. It seems like companies are shifting their approach; in my previous organization, product managers weren't being utilized as much, and I suspect this trend is widespread. Teams are expected to handle more responsibilities on their own, often relying on large language models to fill in the gaps. I'm wondering how long it typically takes to land a product manager role and what strategies others have found effective in this current job market.

I recently applied for a position that I felt I was well-suited for, given my background. I submitted my application around 12:15 PM and was shocked to receive a rejection email just half an hour later, at 12:45 PM. To add to the confusion, I got the 'application received' email at 1:06 PM, which made me feel like I was rejected before they even acknowledged my application. It seems like I was filtered out by some automated system without anyone actually reviewing my qualifications. The role required only a High School Diploma and one year of general work experience, while I have a Bachelor's Degree and four previous roles on my resume. I thought overqualification wouldn’t be an issue, especially since the application didn’t even ask about salary expectations or availability. I can't wrap my head around why I was rejected so quickly. I'm seriously considering reaching out to the company to express my frustration and ask what their hiring process entails because it certainly doesn’t seem like they’re doing their jobs properly. It's disheartening that employers can't take a moment to look at resumes and provide feedback on why candidates weren't selected, especially in this competitive job market.