Planning

I recently started tracking severance packages after hearing about various layoffs in the tech industry. According to the data I've gathered from 59 severance reports since launching my project, the median severance package is currently 12 weeks of pay. Interestingly, only 3% of those who received severance negotiated for better terms. In terms of location, 46% of the reports are from US-based employees, with an even split between remote and onsite work. Looking at seniority levels, 2% were VP, 33% senior, 5% mid-level, and 2% entry-level. The roles represented include 27% software engineers, 7% designers, and 5% project managers. I'm eager to provide more insights, so if anyone has specific breakdowns or information they would like to see, please let me know!

I recently had an interview scheduled for a marketing position at a tech startup. However, after some reflection on the company culture and values, I'm considering withdrawing my application. I feel that the role might not align with my long-term career goals, and I want to ensure that I pursue opportunities that truly resonate with me. I'm in the process of drafting an email to inform the hiring manager of my decision. It's a tough choice, but I believe it's important to trust my instincts.

I recently completed my master's degree in clinical psychology in 2024 and initially focused on preparing for entrance and competitive exams. Unfortunately, I haven't had much success with that route. I've shifted my attention to job applications, primarily targeting roles in HR. Despite my efforts and the numerous applications I've submitted, I haven't received responses from most employers. I'm feeling a bit lost and would appreciate any guidance or advice on how to improve my job search.

I recently received a full-time offer as an Engineer at the largest bank in my country, which has over 10,000 employees. I'm currently an international student and expected to graduate in June 2026. However, there's a chance I might fail a subject, which would push my graduation to December 2026 as I would need to retake the exam. The hiring manager verbally offered me the position in early June and mentioned that the earliest I could start would be in August, after their vacation in July. When I inquired about the implications of potentially not graduating on time, she said she would need to check with HR for clarity. I'm contemplating whether to delay my start date until December or request a part-time position from August to December, transitioning to full-time afterward. Given that my study visa restricts me from working full-time before graduation, I’m unsure how to navigate this situation. I would appreciate any advice from those who have faced similar challenges.

I was laid off last week from my IT role due to a departmental restructure aimed at cost savings. This is the first time I've experienced a layoff in my career, and I'm still processing the decision to eliminate my position. I have to remind myself that this isn't a reflection of my skills or accomplishments. As a mid-50s professional with extensive experience in IT, I'm not particularly excited about starting a job search. However, I hope that my age, which I see as wisdom, along with my broad IT background, will help me stand out during interviews. I noticed that the job market appears to be improving based on recent job numbers, so I'm optimistic that this will be a short break before I find my next role. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has had success in their application or interview process and what made a difference for them. I'm wishing everyone else in the job search process the best of luck. The fear of the unknown is definitely keeping me awake at night.

I recently gave my notice at my job in the food industry, where I've been working primarily in controlled environments like retreat centers and a senior center. With 8 years of cooking experience and 14 years in kitchens overall, I found myself increasingly stressed due to a moody boss and being part of an understaffed team. Everyone was just trying to survive their shifts. The only upside was the pay, which was decent. Now, I'm about four days into my two-week notice after accepting a Food Prep Cook position at a high-end restaurant. The pay is slightly lower than my current $23 per hour, but the better hours and improved work-life balance are worth it to me, especially since I have a family and I’m also a gigging musician. I initially found the job on Indeed, which advertised a pay range of $20-24 per hour. After I applied, the General Manager reached out, impressed with my experience, and set up an interview with the Sous Chef. The interview was brief but friendly, and I expressed my desire for a job that fit my work-life balance better. I mentioned my current pay rate, and she suggested they could offer me $21-22 per hour. After a short conversation, I was offered the job, and I immediately gave notice at my current position once I received the onboarding link. However, I haven't received a formal written job offer—everything has been done through an app. I reached out to the Head Chef to confirm my start date and salary, but he didn't respond and later told me I would start at $18 per hour, like all new hires, despite my extensive experience. They mentioned that I could renegotiate after 90 days, but I feel misled and blindsided by this situation. Currently, I have completed all onboarding processes and am likely scheduled for training next week, but without a formal commitment from them, I feel it’s wise to keep my options open and continue searching for other opportunities.

I recently found myself contemplating a new job opportunity while still employed at a federal agency. I'm currently in a well-paying position that I enjoy, but the long commute and the desire for more engaging work have prompted me to explore other options. I came across a role at a nonprofit organization that piqued my interest. Interestingly, I had interviewed with them a few years ago for a different position but wasn't selected, which I hold no grudges about. To gauge the situation, I reached out to a contact I have within the organization, someone fairly high up, to inquire about the salary range for the new position. I made it clear that I am not willing to accept a significant pay cut. My contact was helpful and created a group text with the two individuals overseeing the hiring process. However, the response I received was quite terse, simply instructing me to send in my resume and cover letter. While I understand that they don’t owe me anything, I was hoping for a more professional interaction. Now, I'm at a crossroads on how to proceed. I could send my resume as requested, express my disinterest politely, or ask further questions. Given my background as a retired law enforcement officer who transitioned to a STEM career, I have experience in the workforce, but this situation is making me reconsider how to navigate the job application process. Any advice on how to move forward would be greatly appreciated.

After struggling for six months with my job search, I decided to automate the entire process to improve my efficiency and response rates. Initially, I was manually tracking applications using spreadsheets, which involved a lot of copy-pasting and refreshing job boards daily. It was exhausting, and I often found myself dropping the ball on follow-ups. To tackle this, I built an automated job search system using Claude Cowork, Google Sheets, and App Scripts. The results have been remarkable! My response rates have doubled from around 5% to between 12-15%. Here's how I did it: 1. **Automated job discovery:** I created a script that pulls new job listings that match my criteria directly into a Google Sheet. Now, instead of hunting for jobs every day, I just review this list once. 2. **Automated follow-ups:** For every application I submit, a follow-up email is drafted automatically 48 hours later. I can review, edit, and send it in just 2-3 minutes, compared to the 15 minutes it used to take. 3. **Tab queue:** Each morning, the roles I’ve queued up open automatically in Chrome, allowing me to work through them efficiently. Overall, this system has reduced my mental overhead significantly and made my job search much more consistent. While I still experience a lot of silence, I feel more in control and productive. If anyone is interested in the details or has questions about my setup, feel free to ask!

I'm currently on the job hunt for a work-from-home position, and I'm finding it quite challenging. I've been applying to various roles but haven't had much luck so far. I'm looking for advice on how to improve my chances of landing a remote job. Any tips on where to look, how to tailor my resume, or networking strategies would be greatly appreciated!

I recently found myself in an interesting situation regarding a job opportunity that I wasn't actively pursuing. I had been networking on LinkedIn, expressing my interest in moving to France in about three years. I connected with a hiring manager at a company I admire, whom I'll refer to as Person A. I made it clear that I was primarily looking to gather information and make connections rather than apply for a job immediately. However, I also connected with another engineer, Person B, at the same company. To my surprise, Person B pushed my application forward without me formally applying, and now I've received an invitation to interview with Person A. The catch is that I'm currently settled in my new job, and my family isn't quite ready to move yet. While the company offers great relocation resources, I'm torn about how to approach this opportunity. I wonder if I should still go through with the interview, even though I'm not looking for a job right now. Some advice I received suggests being upfront about my situation during the interview. I could mention my timeline and see if they might be open to remote work for a year or a delayed start. Worst case, I get some valuable interview practice and keep the connection warm for when I'm actually ready to make the move.

I received a call yesterday informing me that I’ve been offered a position at a company I interviewed with. However, they mentioned that the official offer letter might take a few days to arrive. I’m considering whether I should send a thank you email now or wait until I get the offer letter. I already expressed my gratitude after the interview, but I’m unsure if it’s appropriate to send another thank you at this stage. Most advice I’ve seen suggests waiting until I have the official offer in hand, as it might seem premature to thank them for a letter that hasn’t arrived yet. I plan to follow up if I don’t hear back in the timeframe they provided.

I currently work at Bank A in Canada, earning $108k CAD with a $12.5k bonus last year in the deposits space. Recently, I received a competing offer from Bank B for $120k CAD, along with a slightly higher bonus of around $4k, and a title bump. However, the role is completely different, as it's within capital markets, and the team mentioned that during earnings season, they start their days as early as 5:30-6 am. The HR representative was quite tough during negotiations and stated they wouldn't budge on the base salary. While the salary increase is appealing, I'm concerned that it may not be worth the stress of early mornings and potentially demanding work hours outside of earnings season. They also seem to have lowballed me due to my limited experience, and I feel that I should be compensated fairly for the additional responsibilities that come with the title bump. I'm currently negotiating a signing bonus, but I realize that I would be giving up my year-end bonus at my current job. Additionally, I have about $1.5k in unvested shares that will vest next August, which I’m willing to forfeit if I decide to make the switch. I’m seeking advice on how to proceed. I want to negotiate with my current employer to see if they can match the offer from Bank B, but I’m unsure when to bring this up. Should I wait until they complete the background check or give my notice? Any insights would be appreciated.

I recently received an email from a company called Cellular Engineering Technologies offering me a position as a data entry clerk at $30 an hour. The whole situation feels off because I don't remember applying for this job, and I can't find any information about the company or its employees online. They mentioned that I would receive an expense check for obtaining a personal software license, which raised my suspicions even more. After doing some research and reading about common job scams, I’m starting to think this might be a scam. I’ve heard about similar tactics where scammers send fake checks to trick people into depositing them and then asking for money back. I plan to reach out directly to the company to verify if this offer is legitimate, but I’m feeling pretty uneasy about the whole thing.

I experienced a tough month with my job search, receiving rejections from four different companies. Each rejection came at various stages of the hiring process: one was after an online assessment, another after an HR round, and the last two were at the final interview stage. I’ve been tracking my applications and, unfortunately, all I see are 'rejected' tags. It's disheartening to see my friends landing internships while I’m still searching. I’m left wondering if it’s my resume, my LinkedIn profile, or my interview communication that’s holding me back. I've got a Notion document filled with vague feedback that doesn’t help me pinpoint the issue. I really want to improve my chances and would appreciate any insights from those who have faced similar struggles. Did you find out what was wrong with your approach? How did you diagnose the issue?

I recently received a letter from my employer stating that they have appealed my unemployment claim to the Industrial Claims Appeals Office (ICAO) in Colorado. The letter mentioned that my copy of the hearing record was enclosed, but nothing was actually included. I'm unsure if it was sent to my attorney instead, as the letter doesn't clarify that. I'm feeling a bit lost about what this appeal process entails and I'm under pressure since I have until the 8th to respond and submit any necessary brief. I'm considering logging into my MyUI account or reaching out to my lawyer for guidance, but I really want to understand what steps I need to take next.

I’ve been trying to submit my unemployment claim online for the past two days here in Illinois, but I keep running into issues. I'm considering whether I should just walk in to the IDES office or if I should try to make an appointment instead. The website mentions that they accept walk-ins, but I’ve also seen information suggesting it’s appointment-only. I'm feeling a bit confused about the best course of action.

I was laid off in early February and now, in June, I'm facing the end of my state unemployment benefits. Living in Kansas, I learned that benefits only last for 16 weeks, and with the unemployment rate at a low 3.9%, there are no extensions available. After taking a month off to regroup, I started applying for jobs in late March. April was pretty slow for interviews, but things picked up in May with 1-3 interviews each week. Unfortunately, I haven't received any job offers yet. The thought of my benefits running out soon is making me anxious, but I do have some savings to fall back on if necessary. The job market feels really competitive, but I'm trying to stay positive. I'm curious how others are managing as their benefits come to an end.

I’m a 26-year-old looking for a fresh start and am willing to travel anywhere in the U.S. for work. I have two years of experience in plumbing, forklift operation, warehouse work, general labor, and customer service/management. I’m eager to find companies that are hiring and that offer benefits like per diem, paid travel, or housing. I’m open to various fields such as construction, industrial labor, shutdown/turnaround work, railroad jobs, disaster relief, apprenticeships, oil & gas, or any role that provides a solid opportunity to work hard and build a career. I’m reaching out to see if anyone has recommendations on companies, industries, unions, staffing agencies, or travel jobs that I should apply to. Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

I graduated in Spring 2025 with a degree in Marketing and have been struggling to find a job since then. I don’t have any internships or prior work experience, but I did well in college with a good GPA and even won some awards for my marketing projects. I worked closely with local businesses for my capstone projects and presentations, which was a great experience. I also sell clothes and shoes online through platforms like Depop, Grailed, and eBay, with over 250 sales under my belt. Despite my efforts, I’ve had no luck securing a job. I’ve interviewed at several places including Verizon, Best Buy, Famous Footwear, local car dealerships, Staples, and a few remote roles, but I haven’t received any offers. Not getting the job at Famous Footwear was particularly disheartening and has affected my motivation. I’ve reached out to my old professors and advisors for help, but so far, I haven’t had any success. I live in a small town about an hour and a half from Pittsburgh, and I’m considering moving to a bigger city where there are more job opportunities. I’m open to taking a service job or temp position just to get my foot in the door. Any advice on how to improve my job search or where to look would be greatly appreciated!

I've been feeling really stuck in my job search lately. It's been a few months since I was laid off from my position as a marketing coordinator at a mid-sized tech company. I've applied to numerous jobs, tailored my resume, and even reached out to some connections in the industry, but I haven't had much luck getting interviews. It's frustrating because I know I have the skills and experience, but it seems like the competition is fierce right now. I'm considering seeking help from a career coach or joining a job search group to get some new strategies and support. Any advice would be appreciated!