Planning

I've been job hunting since my junior year of high school, starting as a volunteer outreach coordinator at an animal shelter. After six months, I landed an apprenticeship as a motorcycle technician, which I enjoyed for nearly two years until my boss decided to liquidate the shop due to age. Now, I've graduated high school and am studying to become an automotive engineer while doing freelance work on cars and bikes for acquaintances. I expected that finishing high school and gaining more experience would make finding a job easier, but it feels like the opposite is true. Over the past three years, I've submitted over 1000 applications and only received about 20 interviews. I was hired at one place, but it was very sketchy and not in line with my rights, so I left after just a week. I'm currently using platforms like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and LinkedIn, but I'm struggling to get noticed. If anyone has advice on increasing my chances of landing interviews, I'd really appreciate it.

I recently had a couple of interviews for a position that I was really excited about. On Wednesday, I received a verbal offer, which felt like a huge relief since I'm currently in a job that I absolutely do not enjoy. I was told to expect a follow-up from HR regarding the next steps, and I was over the moon with the news. However, as the days passed without a formal written offer, I started to feel anxious. I understand that these things take time, and I wasn't expecting to hear back immediately, but I couldn't shake the fear that the verbal offer might fall through. To ease my mind, I sent a polite follow-up email today, but I haven't received a response yet. I know that the hiring process can be slow and that HR likely has a lot on their plate, but I'm struggling to stay calm. I really don't want to be stuck in my current job, which doesn't even cover my bills. I'm trying to figure out what a realistic timeline for hearing back might be, but the uncertainty is tough.

This week, I received my layoff notice after over 20 years with the company. They are offshoring my role along with others in the same position outside of India. I had a feeling this was coming but was hoping to hold on for at least another year. My severance package will cover me for about 8 or 9 months, which gives me a decent timeframe to find a new job. I've already applied for three roles and have a few more in mind, mainly in the areas of AI engagement, transformation, learning, and change management. To cope with the news, I treated myself to some pizza and took a moment to commiserate.

I recently found myself in a tough spot while applying for jobs. After leaving my toxic homophobic family this summer, I moved into university dorms and I'm really proud of that decision. However, as I've been applying for jobs, I hit a snag. One company got back to me, but I only have one reference available—my university tutor. They require two references, and since I'm estranged from my family, I don't have anyone else to turn to. I'm feeling really stuck. Should I give up on this job application and keep looking for other opportunities, knowing they might also ask for two references? Or should I consider finding someone to fabricate a reference for me? I know that lying isn't the best route, but I'm worried about my finances during university if I can't secure a job. I'm torn about whether to cancel the application altogether.

I recently found myself in a tough situation regarding my wife's unemployment benefits. She was temporarily let go from her job in February 2025 due to a lack of work, returned in April, but was permanently terminated in October. After her termination, she applied for unemployment benefits but faced complications when her previous employer appealed the determination, claiming she was doing word puzzles instead of working. This was not the reason given in her termination letter, which cited her sales performance. After a hearing, the officer ruled against her, stating this was grounds for disqualification from benefits, and now we are facing an overpayment notice of over $7,000. We believe this decision is unfair, especially since she was told to stop doing puzzles and was never coached on her performance. She missed the appeal deadline for the new determination letter, thinking she could wait to see if an overpayment notice would come. Now, we are unsure whether to appeal both the determination and the overpayment or apply for an overpayment waiver, especially since she is currently employed. I’m considering seeking legal counsel to navigate this complicated situation.

I recently graduated in the UK with a degree in accounting and finance, but I'm struggling to land an interview. I lack any relevant experience like internships, and I'm unsure about which career path to pursue. I've been applying for a wide range of positions, from management roles to analyst jobs, but my only work experience is in retail. I'm multilingual, so I've also searched for jobs that require specific language skills, yet I keep receiving rejections. Most of my applications go through LinkedIn and Reed, but I know those platforms are quite competitive. I'm looking for advice on how to find more job opportunities or improve my CV. I've been advised to lie on my CV, but I want to stay honest. I'm focusing on graduate schemes or any position outside of retail and hospitality, but I can't relocate as I help my mum with rent in London. Any tips or guidance would be greatly appreciated!

I recently applied for a position at Walmart, but unfortunately, I failed their assessment. I was feeling confident about my answers, but it seems I misjudged what they were looking for. I've never failed an assessment like this before, and it's really frustrating. Now I'm contemplating whether I should reach out to Walmart to see if there's anything I can do to improve my chances or if I should just create a new email and reapply. I'm worried about using my social security number again and getting flagged for trying to be sneaky. I really need a job soon and can't wait until October to retake the assessment. I'm considering applying to other stores like Target as well, so I don't put all my eggs in one basket.

Today marked my last day at a university job I cherished for nearly three years. I’m 26, and this job was my first real career path where I could envision a future. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts and declining enrollment, my position was eliminated. I’m feeling completely lost and heartbroken. I won’t get to see the students I started with graduate, and the future I imagined for myself has vanished. The job market feels bleak, and I’m struggling with the reality that my college degree doesn’t seem to hold much value right now. I’m in desperate need of benefits, and moving is not an option for me financially. I’ve started applying for new jobs, but I doubt I’ll hear back anytime soon. The waiting period for unemployment benefits is daunting, and I can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the pressure of bills piling up. I’ve considered doing gig work like DoorDash, but the thought of putting on a brave face and pretending everything is okay feels exhausting. I just want to do something productive, but I feel paralyzed by my emotions. I know I’m not alone in this struggle, but it’s hard to see a way forward right now.

I've been struggling to find full-time work for over two years now, and I'm starting to wonder if it's time for a career switch. I'm currently in the data science field, but my job search has been pretty bleak. I feel lost and unsure about what direction to take next. Has anyone else faced a similar situation? I'd really appreciate any tips or advice on how to navigate this. I know I need to improve my resume, as I've received feedback that it's lacking in skills and experience. It seems like the projects I've listed are too basic and don't showcase my capabilities effectively. I'm considering how to better present my experience, especially in areas like forecasting and predictive model development. Any thoughts on pivoting careers or enhancing my resume would be incredibly helpful.

I recently connected with a recruiter but I'm feeling a bit lost on how to make the most of that relationship. I scheduled a call with them and I'm not sure what I should be asking or sharing during our conversation. I also want to reach out to people on LinkedIn who are in the roles I'm targeting, but I could use some guidance on that too. I'm looking for a step-by-step approach to effectively engage with recruiters and hopefully land a job. Has anyone had success after connecting with a recruiter? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

I applied for a public sector job through governmentjobs.com and went through two rounds of interviews. They mentioned that I would hear back within a couple of weeks after the in-person interview. Now, it's the end of the third week, and I haven't heard anything yet. I understand that the recent holiday may have caused some delays, but I'm considering reaching out to HR for an update. I know the public sector operates differently than the private sector, so I'm unsure if it's appropriate to follow up at this stage.

I have been struggling to find a job for 11 months after being laid off from my role in a new grad program at a tech company. I had two years of experience, but the program I started in was quite intense, focusing on critical work that reported directly to upper management. While I worked with some great people, the experience didn't align well with my career goals, as I was involved in various tasks like data analysis, project coordination, and SharePoint site maintenance, which didn't help me build a focused skill set. I was laid off in October 2025 due to "operational efficiency" along with others in my department. Since then, I've applied for around 10 to 20 jobs, but I've mostly received feedback that I lost out to candidates with more relevant experience. It's been tough finding roles that match my background, and I've noticed that junior positions are often filled by individuals with significantly more experience due to the current job market. In light of this, I've started applying for rotational programs, as they typically seek candidates with less than two years of experience. However, I've already faced a few rejections, although the response rate is better than for other jobs. I'm targeting rotational programs related to business analysis and product management, which align with my degree in UX Design and Data Analysis. I'm open to exploring new career paths, even if it means a pay cut or relocation. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has advice or knows someone who successfully transitioned into a rotational program with a similar background. I'm feeling a bit lost and would appreciate any insights.

I was laid off in April and have been actively job searching since then. Recently, I completed a final round interview with a company I'll refer to as Co A, and I received an offer from them. However, I also have a final round interview scheduled with another company, Co B, this coming Tuesday. I feel more inclined towards Co B, but I'm unsure if they will extend an offer. I'm contemplating whether it's appropriate to ask Co A for more time to make my decision. I'm seeking advice on how to handle the situation and what information, if any, I should share with both companies regarding my decision timeline.

I’m about to start a new job after applying to over 300 positions in the last four months. Even though I’ll soon be employed, I’m still receiving rejection letters, which is frustrating. I want to be prepared for the possibility of getting interviews for better opportunities. I plan to be more selective now, but if something comes up that seems significantly better than my current role, I’m unsure how to handle the interview process. I don’t have any PTO yet, and it feels awkward to leave my new job so soon for an interview. I’ve seen suggestions to use my lunch break or to say I have a doctor’s appointment for interviews that don’t fit my schedule. I’m considering taking those routes if needed.

Today, I found myself in a tough situation at my job where I've been working for the past four years. Due to my father's unexpected passing last year, my availability has become quite limited. I currently only have one four-hour shift each week, and to help cover bills, my mother and I started working a weekend job since April. My boss recently told me that my limited availability isn't working for the company, especially with the holiday season approaching. She suggested that I need to either change my availability or quit and reapply if I can. This has left me feeling anxious, as I suspect she might hire seasonal workers and not bring me back. Given my chronic illness, finding another job is challenging, but I'm actively searching since seasonal positions are scarce. I'm considering whether I should report this situation to HR, but I'm unsure if my boss's actions are even legal.

I’m currently navigating a tough situation at my company, where I’ve been for nearly a decade. Recently, I was promoted to a new role, but I’ve been completely idle since starting a month ago. This restructuring has me feeling exhausted and anxious, especially since I’m the only US employee, which makes me feel vulnerable in terms of layoffs. Over my 9.5 years here, I’ve witnessed eight rounds of layoffs, so the fear is always looming. If I were laid off, my severance would be substantial—around $140k, which includes 10 months of pay and my 2026 bonus. While that’s tempting, I’m also aware that it’s year-end, and I’m uncertain about finding a new job quickly after a layoff. I’ve been stuck in a situation where my pay has stagnated, but the benefits have kept me from leaving. Here’s where it gets complicated: I finally received a job offer from Microsoft, which would pay me 15% more than my current total compensation. The role is in data center construction, requires a move, and would mean my husband would also need to find a new job. We’re open to the move since it’s to a more affordable area, but my husband took 26 months to find a job after his last layoff, and his pay was recently cut by 30%. Now I’m torn between taking the Microsoft offer and starting fresh or waiting to see if I get laid off and potentially cash in on the severance. The golden handcuffs are tough to break, but I’m also aware that staying in a job with so much uncertainty may not be worth it. It feels like a gamble, and I’m trying to weigh the risks and rewards carefully.

I'm currently facing potential layoffs at my large tech company where I've worked for over 10 years. I've always had high performance ratings, but I've learned that my organization is planning a non-performance-based layoff around October, likely affecting me. Although my friends have asked for an exception on my behalf, the outlook isn't optimistic. I’m trying to figure out my next steps. I’m fortunate that the severance package would be substantial—8 months of base pay plus stock vesting—so I’m torn between starting my job search now or waiting it out to collect the severance. The idea of taking a break and enjoying life before diving back into work sounds appealing, but the uncertainty of the job market makes me anxious about not having a solid plan. I’ve been advised to gather metrics and feedback from my current role while I still can, and to start reaching out to my network under the guise of catching up. I’m wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation and can share their experiences or advice.

Today, I found myself in a bit of a dilemma regarding a job offer I received from a tech company for a software engineer position. I'm excited about the opportunity, but I'm not entirely sure if it's the best offer I could get. I've been actively applying to multiple roles and have a few interviews lined up, but nothing is guaranteed. I'm weighing the pros and cons of accepting this offer versus holding out for potentially better opportunities. I really need to decide soon, as the company is expecting a response shortly. It's tough to balance the fear of missing out on a solid job with the hope of landing something even better.

I have an upcoming interview for an Operations Specialist role on Monday. It's going to be an in-person interview lasting 30 minutes with the manager, followed by a case study interview. I've never done a case study interview before, and I'm feeling a bit nervous about it. I'm looking for tips on how to prepare effectively. I appreciate any advice to help me get ready!

I recently accepted a job offer for a role I've been eager to step into, and I thought the salary was decent compared to my current job. However, after signing the offer letter, I discovered that colleagues in the same position, hired around the same time, are earning $7-8k more than I am, despite having less experience. This realization has left me feeling quite resentful, especially since I didn't negotiate during the verbal offer due to fears of the offer being rescinded in this competitive job market. To complicate matters, my current employer countered my resignation with an offer to match the new salary, along with a guaranteed promotion and addressing some issues I've had in my current role. I genuinely enjoy my current job, and the main reason for seeking a new position was the salary. The new job is hybrid, while my current position is fully remote. Now, I'm contemplating whether it would be wise to reach out to the recruiter to request a salary adjustment based on my experience, even after signing the offer letter. I know I have little leverage and that asking for a raise post-signing could risk the offer being rescinded. Still, the thought of starting in a role where I'm underpaid compared to my peers is bothering me. What would you do in my situation?