Planning

It's been almost two years since I was laid off from my position as a design quality assurance engineer. I was let go by my managers, who labeled me as "uncooperative." Reflecting on my time there, I find myself questioning whether I should try to make peace with my past mistakes or just move on. In my second job, I had adopted a mindset that seemed to align with modern work culture, where I aimed to do the bare minimum, thinking my boss would always earn more than me. While I was efficient and completed my tasks quickly, I struggled with taking the initiative to do more than what was assigned. I believed I was being cooperative, but ultimately, my performance didn't meet expectations, and I was let go after just a year. I remember my manager mentioning that he tried to keep me on despite pressure from his boss to fire me after six months. He also noted that younger colleagues appreciated my presence, while older ones did not. This feedback lingers in my mind, making me wonder if I really wasn't as bad as I think. Now, living abroad and pursuing higher education, I still grapple with these thoughts. Should I learn to let go of my past and strive to improve? I don't want to become just another employee who blindly follows orders. I tend to be open about my thoughts at work, sharing ideas that could potentially benefit the company and my coworkers. However, I often feel that my honesty might be seen as a negative trait. I can't help but think about how different things might have been if I had kept my job. I wouldn't be abroad, relying on my parents for financial support while studying a subject that feels uncertain. I had a decent salary that was above minimum wage, and I wonder if I should have approached my work differently. I don't regret my actions, but I wish I had a clearer understanding of my worth and how to navigate the workplace dynamics.

I'm nearing a year of unemployment since graduating and I'm targeting a role as a product designer. I've been actively applying for jobs, tailoring my applications, and cold messaging on LinkedIn, but I haven't been able to land any interviews. I've utilized my school's career services, reached out to alumni for networking, applied for internships, and even connected with people in my industry on Discord and Reddit. Despite all these efforts, I'm struggling to get my foot in the door. I'm looking for advice or any connections that could help me in my job search.

I have a job interview tomorrow for a position that I really want, and I’m feeling quite nervous about it. As a college student with a 4.0 GPA, I know I’m capable, especially when it comes to writing clearly. However, I often struggle to articulate my thoughts on the spot, which makes interviews challenging for me. I've been practicing for days, trying to prepare myself and overcome my tendency to stumble over my words. I just hope that all this preparation pays off and helps me perform better during the interview.

I recently received a judgment warning from the New York Department of Labor after picking up a gig. I've been on unemployment insurance since October 2025, and my benefits are about to expire. When I called a month ago, I was advised to keep certifying every week, so I continued doing so out of habit. I’m a performer and just got married, which led me to move back home without any jobs lined up. Shortly after moving, I booked a six-week job and have already received three paychecks from it. However, I failed to notify the DOL about my change in work status and was certifying for weeks when I should have reported my earnings. I’m unsure how to handle this situation and am looking for updated advice on judgment warnings from NYDOL, as most information I found online is outdated. I genuinely made a mistake and want to avoid any penalties.

I'm currently navigating the final stages of my unemployment claim in Michigan. I haven't certified for the last two weeks yet and I'm a bit confused about the process. I've received mixed information online about whether I can still claim those weeks. I see a 'to-do' alert for certification, but when I click on it, it only directs me to a page to file a new claim, which is not what I need. My previous claim was from last year, but I had to reopen it earlier this year after returning to work briefly. I'm unsure if I should wait until tomorrow to try certifying again, or if my chance to claim those weeks is lost and I need to reapply completely. I did fulfill the job search requirements each week, but my claim was closed just two days before I could certify. Any advice on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.

I was recently laid off from my contractor position at a major tech company. As a TVC, I was already struggling with low pay and living paycheck to paycheck, especially after being asked to return to the office in Silicon Valley. This move significantly increased my expenses, and I found myself dipping into my savings just to make ends meet. Now, with my job gone, I’m facing the very real threat of eviction in less than a month because unemployment benefits aren't enough to cover my rent. I've tried to cut back on expenses as much as possible, but I still have medical and dental bills looming over me. I'm currently looking for advice on how others in similar situations—like temp workers or contractors—are managing with unemployment. I'm also curious about where people are finding new job opportunities and what strategies they are using to cope during this tough time.

I recently got laid off from my job at a signal processing company where I worked for 1.5 years. I'm a 26-year-old male from India with an M.Tech from NIT, but my skills are quite specific to my previous company. The only broadly applicable skill I have is C++ coding. Since losing my job, I've started applying for new positions, but I've only been getting calls for software jobs that offer salaries in the range of 6-9 LPA, while my previous CTC was around 15 LPA. Given the current job market, I'm contemplating whether I should take the risk and apply for these lower-paying software positions, even though they are outside the signal processing domain. There seems to be a lack of jobs in my field in India right now, and I know I need to prepare a lot to interview for these software roles. I'm seeking advice on whether I should pursue these opportunities to stay employed or hold out for something more aligned with my previous experience.

After eight years of applying for jobs without success, I'm starting to wonder if I should just give up. I've been in the same role for a long time, and despite my efforts to improve my resume and interview skills, I haven't landed a position that aligns with my career goals. It's disheartening to see others move forward while I feel stagnant. I'm considering whether it's time to change my approach or if I should just accept my current situation.

I had my first proper interview scheduled for 4 PM, but I found myself racing to a café with Wi-Fi because my phone died. I was 8 minutes late, and I was in a panic about how to handle it when I finally joined the call. I considered several options: should I just act normal, apologize briefly, over-apologize, or even email them before joining? I was worried that this would be the only thing they remembered about me. I ended up joining the call a few minutes later and decided to apologize once briefly, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had already blown my chances. I’ve read that being late can reflect poorly on your preparedness, and I was really hoping to make a good impression. I’m still waiting to hear back, but I can’t help but feel that my tardiness may have cost me this opportunity.

I've been on the job hunt for my first position after graduating and I'm feeling a bit lost. I've applied to several entry-level roles in marketing, but haven't heard back from any of them. I've updated my resume, tailored my cover letters, and even reached out to a few connections on LinkedIn for advice. I'm wondering if anyone has tips on how to stand out as a new graduate or how to effectively network to land that first job. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I'm currently a network engineer, but I'm feeling disillusioned with the tech industry. Since 2021, there have been nearly a million layoffs, and the job market is incredibly tough right now. Remote work opportunities have dwindled, and the competition for available positions is fierce. I'm considering a career switch into low voltage systems and want to understand the job opportunities and growth potential in that field. I'm curious if there will be enough work available or if I’ll just be facing the same level of competition as I do now.

I'm currently navigating unemployment and looking for advice on how to improve my job search strategy. I've been applying to various positions but haven't had much luck. I'm considering revamping my LinkedIn profile to make it more appealing to potential employers. If anyone has tips on what to include or how to stand out, I would really appreciate it. Additionally, any insights on networking or resources for job seekers would be helpful!

I'm currently in the thick of my job search and feeling a bit overwhelmed. I've seen a lot of posts from students and recent graduates claiming they've applied to 400-500 jobs, received hundreds of rejections, and managed to land a few interviews. It got me wondering how they find so many job openings. I've been focusing on LinkedIn, checking company career pages, and browsing a few job boards, but I feel like I run out of relevant listings pretty quickly. I'm curious about what resources others are using to discover so many opportunities. Here are some questions I have: 1. What specific websites or job boards are you using to find a high volume of job openings? 2. How do you manage to find jobs as soon as they are posted? 3. Do you set up job alerts? If so, where do you do that? 4. Are applicants considering positions in multiple cities or countries, or are there really that many openings available locally? 5. How do you keep track of all the applications you submit? I would really appreciate hearing about your processes, especially if you've navigated a large-volume job search recently. Thanks!

I'm a 24-year-old male who moved to Melbourne a year ago, and I've been actively searching for a job ever since. I apply to over 20 positions daily, attaching my resume and cover letter, but unfortunately, I haven't received any responses. I'm in urgent need of work to support my 3-year-old child, and I'm ready to start immediately. I hold a Certificate II in Construction, have a White Card, and reliable public transport. My previous experience includes pick packing, cleaning, and general laboring. I'm really hoping to find someone willing to give me a chance.

I completed my MBA in Spain last year and have been on the job hunt ever since. It's been way too long, and I'm feeling a bit desperate for some guidance. I'm open to a variety of positions, from junior to managerial roles, and I bring over 5 years of experience to the table. Here's a quick overview of my background: I've worked in both the USA and Mexico, and I earned my Bachelor's degree in the USA. My most recent position was at PepsiCo, and my career has primarily focused on communication and marketing. I'm specifically targeting job opportunities in Barcelona, mainly within international corporations, which is why my resume is in English to align with the job postings. I’m starting to wonder if there’s something fundamentally wrong with my resume. I would really appreciate any feedback, even if it’s tough love, as I’m eager to secure a job soon!

I'm currently working as a Kitchen Attendant at a local community kitchen in my rural hometown, where I started last week. At 19 and a college student, I took this job for $18 an hour, thinking it would be a good summer opportunity. However, after just a week, I'm seriously considering quitting. The first four days were dedicated to training, and I was already feeling exhausted. This week, I learned that we will be serving every kitchen in the area, which the HR lady seemed to think was a positive thing, but it just adds to my stress. The hours are from 7 AM to 3 PM, five days a week, but my commute requires me to wake up at 5:30 every morning. I spend an hour getting ready and commuting, which leaves me drained before I even start my shift. Being the youngest in a kitchen full of older workers means I'm often given the hardest tasks, like lifting heavy items, which adds to my fatigue. The work itself is repetitive, and I stand for most of the 8-hour shift with only a 30-minute break. By the end of the day, I'm completely wiped out and often pass out as soon as I get home, which leaves me sleep-deprived during the week. I feel like I'm missing out on summer because I can't enjoy my afternoons due to exhaustion. I'm worried that if I quit now, I might not find another job this summer. I'd love to return to an old community arts center where I worked in high school, but I'm concerned they won't take me back. That job would be a better fit, with more flexible hours and less intensive labor, even though it pays $15 an hour instead of $18. I just don't think the pay is worth the toll this job is taking on me. I want to enjoy my summer and not feel like I'm constantly battling exhaustion. If I decide to quit, I plan to do so this Friday, as I'm also working as a delivery driver for shipments a few days a week and want to avoid leaving them short-staffed.

I just found out that my plant in the US is closing on the 26th, and I was shocked to learn about it from a customer instead of management. Headquarters in France didn't even plan to inform us directly. To keep operations running until the closure, they offered severance and retention packages. What surprised me even more was discovering that I qualify as part of a protected class because I'm over 40. This means I have 45 days to sign the agreement, while younger employees only have 7 days. Initially, I thought this was a great advantage, but now that I'm job hunting, I can't help but wonder if my age is affecting my job applications. Although age discrimination is illegal, I feel like my resume might reveal my age, which could be a factor in my search. The urgency of being unemployed adds a lot of stress, especially compared to searching for a job while still employed.

I recently experienced a termination after just one month in an entry-level role at a company that I initially thought I would thrive in. From the start, I sensed the environment was toxic. They asked me to begin work earlier than we had agreed upon multiple times, which would have conflicted with my previous job. During the interview, I even noticed some awkward tension between the married interviewers. Once I started, I found myself doing tasks that weren't part of my job description, and I only received two weeks of onboarding. For the last two weeks of my time there, I was essentially on my own as everyone else was on holiday. The workload was overwhelming, and I tried my best to keep up, often rushing back from breaks just to stay on top of things. Now, I'm on the hunt for a new job and I'm unsure how to address this brief stint in interviews. Some advice I've received suggests leaving it off my resume entirely, while others recommend being honest but keeping it simple. I think I’ll focus on the fact that the role wasn't the right fit and that I learned a lot from the experience, but I’m still figuring out how to present it without raising too many questions.

I'm currently living in Algeria and I'm looking for job opportunities abroad. I have a strong academic background and I'm proficient in English, but I'm not sure where to start my job search. I'm seeking advice on how to find job contracts in foreign countries. Any tips or resources that could help me navigate this process would be greatly appreciated!

I recently experienced a layoff from my first software engineering position at a startup. I joined the company with high hopes, excited to contribute to a product that was still in development. Unfortunately, just a few weeks before we were set to launch, the company faced financial difficulties and had to make the tough decision to let go of several employees, including me. It was disheartening to see all the hard work and dedication go to waste, especially since I was eager to see the product succeed. Now, I'm focusing on my job search and hoping to find a new opportunity where I can make a meaningful impact.