Planning

Today, I reflected on my job search struggles and the anxiety that has been holding me back. I'm 21 and currently living with my parents in an Asian country. I had a part-time job as a server at a restaurant for about two years, which was a casual environment with just me and the chef. I decided to quit a month before graduating high school due to hygiene concerns at the restaurant. After that, I took a gap year, but I didn't use it effectively and ended up getting rejected from university twice. This made me realize that traditional schooling isn't for me, but now I feel like I've wasted a lot of time. The thought of applying for a 'proper' job terrifies me. I'm scared of new environments and responsibilities, and interviews feel daunting. I recently discovered that I've been struggling with anxiety since middle school, which has severely impacted my confidence and decision-making. I keep doubting my abilities and whether I can work well with others. It's frustrating because I don't want to stay stuck in this mindset, but I feel overwhelmed and unsure about how to take the first step. I've decided to start looking for a seasonal job instead, but the anxiety still lingers. I feel like I'm starting from zero, and it's been like this for over a year now. I struggle with self-compliments, as my mind quickly dismisses them with negativity. Overall, I'm disappointed in myself and just want to overcome this fear. I'm reaching out to see if anyone else has faced similar challenges and how they managed to build their confidence.

After over a year of searching and sending out 1200 resumes, I finally received a job offer. I'm working in a role I love, but the pay is quite low. To make matters worse, I have to travel two hours away for work and stay with friends during the week, which means I'm away from my wife, pets, and home. While I'm grateful for the support of my friends, I can't help but feel the strain of being away from my family. I'm actively looking for another job or considering starting my own company again, but I don't see either option materializing anytime soon. It's tough because I need to take care of my family, yet I'm struggling to make ends meet. I find myself delaying essential maintenance on my house and car, which adds to my stress. Overall, I'm feeling really sad about my situation and just needed to vent.

I recently graduated with a B.S. in AI and Cognitive Science from Carnegie Mellon, and I've been navigating the job market like many others. It’s ironic that my resume gets rejected by the very algorithms I studied for four years. To tackle this, I reverse-engineered how Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) work, and I found that a lot of the advice out there is outdated or just plain wrong. For instance, the old trick of stuffing your resume with keywords from job descriptions might have worked a few years ago, but modern ATS use semantic similarity scoring. This means they can understand that phrases like "led a team of 5 engineers" and "managed a cross-functional engineering squad" are similar. Overloading your resume with keywords can actually hurt you, as high keyword density can flag your resume as spam. I also learned that while using a simple one-column format is partially true, it’s not just about columns. Many ATS struggle with text boxes, headers, footers, and embedded tables. I’ve seen well-formatted resumes get messed up just because the applicant used a text box instead of typing directly into the document. Moreover, while ATS do generate match scores, many recruiters don’t even look at these scores. They often search the database using their own queries, which means your high-scoring resume could go unseen if it doesn’t contain the specific terms they’re searching for. It’s more of a search engine than a ranking system, so optimizing your resume accordingly is crucial. I also advise against using "white text tricks" to hide keywords, as this can lead to being blacklisted if a human recruiter sees it. What I found truly works is writing like a human and using the natural language from the job posting. Tailoring each resume is essential, even though it’s time-consuming. I’ve sent out 9 highly tailored resumes so far and secured 4 interviews for next week using these strategies! I had applied to many jobs before graduation and received a lot of rejections, but now I feel hopeful. Good luck to everyone else in their job search!

I recently left my position in the SaaS industry, and I'm trying to envision what life looks like outside of the tech rollercoaster. The constant ups and downs were exhausting, and I felt trapped by the pressure to generate wealth. I'm curious to hear from others who have made a similar transition. What are you doing now? How has your life changed since leaving tech? One commenter mentioned they became a successful business owner after quitting on their own terms, which gives me some hope. I'm eager to explore new opportunities and find a path that feels more fulfilling.

I was recently fired from my retail job after a year of working there because I was caught taking merchandise. It was a tough lesson to learn, and now I'm trying to figure out what to do next. I'm 19 and feeling a bit lost about how to get back on my feet. I'm looking for advice on what kind of jobs I could apply for and how to address my work history, especially having been fired. I know I made a mistake, and I'm ready to move forward, but I need guidance on how to approach this situation.

I’ve been job searching for the past five months, applying to over 450 positions and interviewing with about 20 companies, but I haven’t had any luck landing a job. I’m starting to feel like I should give up on my current career path since I don’t want to remain unemployed any longer. I’m considering a couple of options: joining a trade or enlisting in the military. I worry that trades might become oversaturated due to AI layoffs, but the military does offer appealing benefits. However, I struggle with the ethical implications of joining, especially given the current political climate. I’m doing my own research, but I’d appreciate any advice on what my best next steps could be.

I recently transitioned out of the Army and have been struggling to find a job. I've applied for numerous positions, including entry-level roles like wine cellar stocker, gas station attendant, and even McDonald's, but I've faced rejection from all of them. Most disheartening was getting turned down by a dog kennel for being 'under qualified.' I served as a Paralegal in the Army, and I was led to believe that my experience would make me a desirable candidate in the civilian job market. It's been really tough on my self-esteem, and I can't shake the feeling that my wife might see me as a failure. I’m not sure if I’m venting or seeking advice, but I just wanted to share my experience. I’ve heard about programs like ACP that can help with resumes and interviews, and I might look into that. This job search has been more challenging than I ever expected.

I recently graduated from university and have been actively searching for a job. I was contacted by a recruiter who set me up for an interview with a large company for a data analyst position. To my surprise, I received a verbal offer just a few hours after the interview, and the recruiter followed up the next day with the contract. The offered salary is $4,000, which I feel might be on the lower side for this role, but I am eager to start my career and feel that having a job is better than not having one at all. I have some concerns about this offer. Firstly, I'm worried that accepting a lower salary now might affect my future earnings, as other companies might use this as a benchmark for my pay. Additionally, I’m unsure how to list this job on my resume. Should I indicate that I worked for the big company, or just the recruitment agency? The contract is for one year, and I’m contemplating whether leaving after that time might make me appear flaky to future employers, or if they might think I was let go. I’ve also heard from some insiders that it’s rare for the company to convert contract roles into permanent positions, even for high performers, despite what the recruiter mentioned. Lastly, I can't help but feel a bit frustrated thinking that the recruiter might be taking a significant cut from my pay. I wonder if it’s possible to reach out to the company directly to bypass the recruiter altogether. I would appreciate any advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation!

I'm a 27-year-old with a Master's in Sports Management from LNIPE, currently based in India. I've worked as a Program Manager at The Little Gym India, interned at Decathlon, and volunteered for various sporting events, including Khelo India. My experience spans program management, sports operations, event execution, community engagement, and customer-facing roles. Lately, I've been applying for positions in sports operations, program management, event management, operations, customer success, and community management, but I've struggled to turn my applications into interviews. I'm reaching out for advice from those in operations, sports, education, NGOs, or similar fields. What roles would you recommend for someone with my background? Are there other industries outside of sports that might value my experience? Additionally, what skills or certifications could enhance my competitiveness? I'd also like to know if there's anything in my profile that might be hindering my chances of getting interview calls. Any honest feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I was fired from my first engineering job on Friday due to performance issues, and I have an interview lined up for Monday. I'm feeling a bit anxious about how to present my current employment status. Should I act like I still work there unless directly asked? I'm considering saying I was laid off instead of fired, especially since I was only there for six months. I hope to negotiate a salary during the interview, but I'm worried that my recent termination might be used against me. I've read some advice suggesting to avoid lying, as it could hurt my credibility in the long run. I'm really not sure how to navigate this situation.

I am a 40-year-old female currently working as a Senior Threat Detection Engineer, but I’ve been informed that layoffs are imminent, so I'm actively looking for a new role. My CV reflects a pattern that might look like job hopping, but the reality is that life circumstances have forced me into these transitions. I’ve been living and working in the UK for the past decade, but I've had to return to my home country multiple times for medical reasons and family support. I’ve applied to over 600 jobs since January, but I haven’t had any interviews. I’ve tried tweaking my CV, applying to similar fields, and even obtaining certifications, but nothing seems to work. I’m worried that the short durations at each job are affecting my chances. Here’s a brief overview of my recent roles: - Senior Threat Detection Engineer (July 2025 - Present) - Currently employed but facing layoffs. - Cyber Specialist (Jan 2024 - April 2025) - Let go due to a merger. - Cyber Analyst (Aug 2022 - Sept 2023) - Left for surgery related to a severe neck injury. - Cyber Analyst (Sept 2020 - April 2022) - Had to leave after losing my dad and staying abroad for months. - 2019-2020 - Faced a toenail infection that led to multiple surgeries and required me to return home for support. - Commodities Strategist (Sept 2016 - Sept 2018) - Left due to early menopause diagnosis and related treatments. - Commodities Analyst (Sept 2014 - Sept 2016) - This was a temporary role. I’m considering grouping some of my roles together on my CV to present a more stable narrative. I’m anxious and unsure if that will help, but I feel it’s worth a try.

I recently applied for an Administrative Assistant position at a small company with about 9 employees, but I overlooked a key requirement in the job description: an associate's degree. I have been working towards my degree and am set to graduate in about 5 months, but I haven't completed it yet. I have an interview scheduled for Tuesday, and I want to be honest about my situation. I'm considering whether I should email them to clarify the misunderstanding or just address it directly during the interview. I really don't want to come off as unqualified or mislead them, but I also want to make a good impression. I'm leaning towards attending the interview and being upfront about my degree status if it comes up.

I recently landed an interview for a mechanic position at PG&E in the Bay Area, which feels like a huge win after years of applying. Currently, I'm working as an EV technician at Rivian, and while I enjoy my role, I'm really excited about the opportunity at PG&E. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has insights into the interview process or tips on what types of questions I might encounter. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I recently started my first full-time job as a desk editor at a well-known medical journal. I got the position about six months ago after my thesis supervisor informed me they were hiring. However, I've come to realize that this job isn't the right fit for me. While I enjoy the work, the pay is low, my boss is rarely around, and the office atmosphere is quite tense. I plan to stay for another 2-3 years to gain valuable experience and contacts, as this journal has a good reputation in my country. I've been involved in overseeing the editorial process, creating newsletters, recording podcasts, doing freelance translations, and modernizing systems. My main concern now is figuring out how to find similar desk editor roles in the future. Should I just send out my CV to various publishers and journals? Any advice on how to navigate this job search would be greatly appreciated. I'm based in southern Europe but I'm open to opportunities abroad.

I recently had a conversation with my manager at the startup where I've been working as a product designer. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being sidelined during discussions about upcoming projects. It seems like my contributions are being overlooked, and I feel increasingly disposable in my role. I'm worried about my job security and whether I should start looking for new opportunities elsewhere. It's a tough position to be in, especially since I really enjoy the work and the team.

I've been working at my current job for quite some time now, initially starting as a part-time employee, which was perfect for balancing my responsibilities as a parent. However, over the last year, my hours have shifted to full-time, and it's been incredibly challenging for me to manage work and my kids. I can't even recall the last time I picked up my youngest from school because I'm always working late, and their dad has to step in to take care of them. I've been requesting to revert to my original part-time hours for about six months, but nothing has changed. I just received my new schedule, and it shows I'm expected to work over 38 hours a week, which is overwhelming. I've started looking for other job opportunities and have been applying, but the job market is tough right now, and I feel stuck. I’m wondering if my employer can legally require me to work these hours when I originally signed a part-time contract. I’ve heard that if they’re a reasonable employer, they might allow me to return to part-time hours, but I’m unsure how to approach this situation. I think I need to have a meeting with my manager to discuss my options.

I was recently terminated from my job in Ohio due to alleged performance issues, specifically for missing deadlines. After applying for unemployment benefits, my claim was denied, and now I'm looking to appeal the decision. The problem is, I don't have any evidence to support my case. I never received a copy of my performance review from January, which was actually quite positive, and I lack any other tangible documentation to back up my claims. To give some background, I received a glowing performance review in January, filled with positive feedback. However, prior to that, I was often assigned work that didn't align with my job description. It wasn't until late December that I started working on projects that were actually relevant to my role. I was then handed a large project with a tight deadline that coincided with my approved vacation time. Although I submitted it late, my manager noted this incident negatively in my performance review, which I unfortunately do not have a copy of. In February or March, I faced another significant project that was also submitted late. My manager expressed frustration in Slack, claiming we had discussed this multiple times, but it was really just the previous incident. I was consistently working over 40 hours a week on various projects, often working through the night to meet deadlines. Despite my efforts, the expectations seemed unreasonable, and I believe there was a skills gap issue as well. I understand that missing deadlines is a valid reason for termination, but I'm struggling to find a way to appeal my unemployment denial without any supporting documentation. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has successfully appealed a similar situation without evidence, or if there are any strategies I could employ to strengthen my case.

I recently graduated with an accounting degree and have been actively applying for jobs in my field. This week, I have two interviews lined up: one is a second-round interview with a director, and the other is for an accounting position at a hospital. The catch is that I just started a factory job as a production worker, making $15/hour, to cover my bills. My work schedule is from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The first interview is on Tuesday at 3:00 PM, and it takes me about 45 minutes to get there, while the second interview is on Friday at 11:00 AM. I'm hesitant to miss work since I'm still new at this job, but I also don't want to miss out on these opportunities in my chosen field. My boyfriend thinks I should prioritize my current job and focus on earning money, especially since I've been to several interviews already without landing a position. I understand his concern, as I’m a fresh graduate with limited professional experience beyond school projects. However, I feel that I owe it to myself to at least attend the interviews and see where they lead. If I were to ask for advice, should I leave work early to pursue these interviews, or should I focus on keeping my factory job for now?

I'm currently seeking entry-level Chemical Engineer positions. I have recently graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering and am eager to apply my knowledge and skills in a professional setting. I'm open to various locations and willing to learn and grow within a company. If anyone has leads or advice on where to look, I would greatly appreciate it!

I am a recent graduate from Hyderabad, class of 2025, actively seeking a job in the Cybersecurity field. As a fresher, I am eager to apply my knowledge and skills in a professional environment. I'm open to entry-level positions and internships that will help me gain practical experience and grow in this dynamic industry.