Thinking

I’ve been on the job hunt for a while now, and it’s been incredibly frustrating. I’m 21 years old and have mostly worked as a waiter, but I’m eager to find something that feels like a better fit for me. I’ve been applying to jobs non-stop, even walking into random stores to ask about applications. Despite my efforts, I haven’t had any luck getting interviews. My mom, who is 65, keeps insisting that I’m doing something wrong and wants to take over my applications and resume. I feel like I’m trying my hardest, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s something about me that makes me unhirable. I’ve even tried applying to places where my family members work, but still no success. It’s really disheartening, and I’m starting to feel hopeless about my job prospects.

I've been unemployed for almost a year now, and it's really starting to take a toll on me. I'm 22 years old and graduated from university last year, but despite my efforts, I've only managed to secure three interviews in this time. I've applied for internships, apprenticeships, and both part-time and full-time jobs, even those outside my ideal career path, but nothing seems to work out. The constant rejection is demotivating, and I feel lost about what to do next. To keep myself occupied, I've been reading, studying new subjects, and even learning a language, but the pressure of feeling like I'm falling behind is overwhelming. I've made sure to constantly update my CV for each application and have reached out to various companies directly, but still no luck. I'm open to any advice on how to improve my situation or new strategies I can try. I've heard suggestions about volunteering or taking on part-time work to gain experience, which I might consider. I'm also thinking about broadening my job search to include positions that may not align perfectly with my degree. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

I started a new corporate job less than two weeks ago, and I'm already facing some challenges with my boss's behavior. During the interview process, I was excited about the supportive environment everyone talked about, especially my boss, who emphasized that I could contribute as much or as little as I wanted while I learned the ropes. Initially, it seemed true, but things have taken a turn. In my first week, my boss assigned me a project and asked me to reach out to him and a coworker for the necessary information. I did that promptly, and he responded positively. However, I was later added to a meeting about a significant initiative with only five minutes' notice, where I was told to just listen. After the meeting, my boss questioned why I didn't contribute, even though I had no context or background on the project. It felt odd and a bit unfair, given that I was there to learn. As the week progressed, my boss seemed to become more stressed, especially after a reprimand from his supervisor regarding our hybrid work situation. He asked me to come into the office on a day I was supposed to work remotely to 'prove' we were together, which felt inconvenient and unnecessary. The main issue arose when my boss pressed me for updates on the project, despite me still waiting for responses to my earlier requests for information. When I mentioned this, he became condescending and expressed doubts about my ability to do the job. This was surprising since I was still waiting for guidance, and I felt like he had shifted from being accommodating to critical very quickly. Eventually, he responded to my week-old email with the information I needed but made a comment about feeling like he was 'pulling teeth' to get updates. He also copied a coworker on this email, which felt disrespectful and embarrassing. I managed to complete a significant part of the project quickly once I received the materials, even though I felt discouraged by our earlier interactions. I'm looking for advice on how to address this situation with him in person this week. I want to set clear boundaries early on, as I don't appreciate the way he communicated with me, especially with a coworker involved. I believe I shouldn't feel discouraged this early in my job, and I need to discuss the feedback style he's using, which doesn't work well for me.

I recently faced a frustrating situation regarding my unemployment benefits in Tennessee. I worked at an office job from September 2025 until May 2026, and I thought my earnings from 2026 would help my eligibility. However, I learned that Tennessee uses the most recent five quarters to determine monetary eligibility, but they only consider the first four of those quarters for the base period. When I received my monetary eligibility letter, it only reflected my earnings from 2025, and unfortunately, the third quarter of 2025 did not meet the necessary threshold. I decided to appeal the decision and submitted my 2025 W2 as requested. After ten days, I was disappointed to find out that my appeal was denied, and they affirmed the previous result. It seems my earnings from 2026 won't count at all in this situation. I'm feeling stuck and unsure of what steps to take next, especially since I was advised that I need to reapply when the new quarter begins on July 5th. It's been quite a learning experience, but I wish I had known more about the eligibility criteria earlier.

Today, I logged into my Colorado unemployment account to report my work search activities and was surprised to see a notification about needing to complete something called RESEA. The correspondence stated that this is mandatory to maintain my benefits. After doing some research, I learned that individuals are selected for RESEA based on their likelihood of exhausting benefits before finding a new job. This left me confused since I've only been unemployed for about a month and my benefits are supposed to last until April 2027. I've been diligently completing and reporting over five work search activities each week, so I don't understand why they think I'm at risk of running out of benefits so soon. I'm reaching out to see if anyone else has been through this RESEA process in Colorado and if it's worth contacting unemployment for clarification. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I was laid off just 23 days after joining Meta as a software engineer in their Reality Labs division in London. It was a rollercoaster experience; after preparing for a year and failing a system design interview with them last June, I was surprised when they reached out in December for another opportunity. I managed to crack the interview and started on April 27. However, just a few weeks later, on May 20, I was let go. I couldn't even complete my first month, and now I'm feeling completely lost. With 13 years of experience in a niche area of AOSP, I find that job opportunities are scarce, and I lack the motivation to dive back into coding or even prepare for interviews. The thought of my uncertain future weighs heavily on me, and I feel like I have no skills or interests that I can monetize. I'm reaching out for guidance from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

I’ve been with my current employer for just over four years as a field engineer, and I’ve developed a strong emotional attachment to the team and my foreman. However, I recently realized that staying might not be the best move for my career. I have a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, and about three months ago, I started feeling ready for a change. I reached out to my former foreman and a couple of superintendents to discuss moving into a role that would allow me to use my degree more directly. Three weeks ago, I applied internally for a Project Engineer position, but last week, the CEO met with me and expressed concerns about my readiness for that transition. He suggested I spend another year in my current role before reevaluating my options. At the same time, I began applying externally and have had four interviews in the past month, receiving one offer for a Construction Inspector position within the civil engineering division at an Air Force base. The pay and benefits are better, but what I truly desire is to feel challenged and to gain experience that aligns with my long-term career goals. Whenever I consider staying, I ask myself if I would be happy doing my current job a year from now, and the answer is usually no. The emotional ties to my current job make the decision difficult, especially since everyone around me thinks I should take the new opportunity. I’m struggling with the conflict between what feels right emotionally and what seems like the logical career move. Has anyone else faced a similar dilemma? How did you navigate it?

I’ve been wondering about the effectiveness of LinkedIn job postings lately. It seems like so many positions are listed, but how many of them are actually for roles that companies are seriously trying to fill? I've applied to numerous jobs, only to face automated rejections or, worse, no response at all. It’s frustrating to see some listings remain open for months, while others pop up and disappear repeatedly. I’ve heard theories that some of these postings are just for building talent pipelines, testing the market, or even compliance reasons. It makes me feel like I’m throwing my applications into a black hole. I’d love to hear from recruiters and hiring managers about what’s really happening behind the scenes. Are these genuine openings, or are we just chasing ghost jobs?

I have been unemployed for the past six months and I'm starting to lose hope. I've been actively applying for jobs, but I haven't had much luck. I'm reaching out for advice on how to improve my CV. I feel like it might not be showcasing my skills and experiences effectively. Any tips or feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I recently found out that my team at my current company is being offshored, and I'm starting to prepare for upcoming job interviews. I'm unsure whether I should bring this up during the interview process. On one hand, it might explain my situation and the urgency of my job search, but on the other hand, I don't want to come across as negative or unprofessional. I'm looking for advice on how to handle this topic if it comes up, or if I should mention it at all.

I recently graduated high school and have been on the job hunt for about two weeks, applying to over 40 positions. I had a phone interview for a senior care/activity assistant role that I felt went really well, and the interviewer mentioned scheduling a second in-person interview soon. This job aligns with my long-term interests in healthcare, so I'm really hopeful about it. However, I also had an in-person interview for a delivery driver position at Blackjack Pizza, and they hired me on the spot. I'm set to start on Monday. I made it clear to them about the potential second interview for the senior care job, and they were fine with me missing work for that. My parents are concerned about me taking the delivery job and think I should wait for the senior care position, but I'm feeling anxious about the job search and don’t want to pass up a guaranteed position when I haven't officially secured the other one yet. Has anyone else taken a temporary job while waiting for a better opportunity? How did it turn out for you?

I just received a job offer for a business immigration paralegal position after 5 years of experience, and I'm really excited about it! I submitted my background check application last Thursday, and I was informed that it could take until the 1st to complete, which makes me a bit nervous. I wasn't worried until I found out they would be checking my credit report. Unfortunately, my credit just took a hit of 150 points due to missed student loan payments because I've been unemployed. Aside from that, my credit history has been spotless; I’ve never missed a credit card payment and my score was 760 until last week. Now I'm anxious about how this will affect my job offer, especially since I’m working remotely and not handling money directly. Is it common for employers to check credit in this way?

I've been unemployed for the past six months, and I'm starting to lose hope in my job search. I've applied to numerous positions but haven't received much feedback. I'm reaching out for advice on how to improve my CV. I want to make sure it stands out to potential employers. Any tips or resources would be greatly appreciated!

I recently had a challenging interview experience while trying to transition from an operations role in the hospitality industry to a sales position. I had my first round with the HR manager, who seemed impressed with my background. However, during the second round with the Sales Head, things took a turn. He asked about my experience and my reasons for wanting to switch to sales, which I felt I answered adequately. But then he posed a sales-specific question that I struggled to answer in detail, and I could tell he was disappointed. I tried to salvage the situation by asking him to pose another question to help him understand me better, but he didn't have any further inquiries and mentioned that HR would reach out if there was a next round. Now, I'm left feeling confused and unsure of my chances. I genuinely want this role, but I'm not sure how to move forward after what felt like a bad interview. I've received some advice from others, suggesting that I should learn from this experience and keep pushing forward. It's clear that sales interviews require a different approach, where taking control and engaging actively is crucial. I'm hoping to apply this feedback to my next opportunity.

I'm currently navigating a tough decision about potentially rejoining my previous company after leaving during a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) due to medical reasons. I had been with the company for 4.5 years and was performing well until my health issues impacted my work, leading to my placement on the PIP. Unfortunately, the situation became overwhelming, and I resigned shortly after, which was a difficult choice. My medical condition, which has lasted over two years, was known to my manager and HR, and everything was well-documented. I'm still in recovery and expect it to take another 2-3 months. I've been considering whether it's worth trying to return to the company once I'm fully healed. My former manager mentioned that he would let me know if there’s a vacancy when I'm ready, but I’m unsure if he was genuinely sincere or just being polite. I'm looking for advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation—how is rejoining after leaving during a PIP viewed internally? Should I pursue this opportunity or focus on moving forward?

I am a recent graduate actively seeking a job in the US, specifically in mobile or call center roles. I have a strong interest in customer service and communication, and I believe my skills would be a great fit for these positions. I'm currently applying to various companies and reaching out to my network for any leads or advice on how to break into this field. If anyone has tips or knows of any openings, I would greatly appreciate your help!

It's been a year since I graduated, and I'm still searching for a job. I've applied to numerous positions in my field, but I haven't had any luck landing interviews. I keep pushing myself to stay motivated and continue applying, but it's starting to feel overwhelming. I'm reaching out to my network and trying to find any opportunities, but the job market seems tough right now. Any advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

I recently completed all interview rounds for a company and am now waiting for the compensation discussions. During the final round, I had a brief chat with the CEO, who directly asked me what salary would make me happy. I proposed a figure that represented a 66% increase from my current base salary. He listened but countered with a 30% increase and no stock options, explaining that the company is not known for high pay. I didn’t respond at that moment. He mentioned he could offer a joining bonus to help bridge the gap and said he would see what he could do. However, I feel that a 30% increase is too low, and even if I accept this offer, I might still be tempted by better opportunities. I am actively interviewing elsewhere but don’t have any solid offers yet. In my initial recruiter call, I communicated the same 66% increase, so I feel like I’m being lowballed. I want to be prepared for when the final numbers come in. Currently, I am an immediate joiner, and I believe I have performed well in all my interviews, having completed four rounds in two days. The CEO even mentioned that the team is excited about my potential joining. I’ve also indicated that I don’t have any concrete offers yet, and since this company doesn’t provide stock options (just a retention bonus), I want to negotiate a better base salary since the joining bonus is only for the first year. I’m contemplating whether I should push back if the offer comes in lower than expected and whether I should mention that I have verbal offers from other organizations to strengthen my position. I really like the product this company offers and want to work there, but the compensation feels like a pay cut.

I recently started a new job in real estate marketing, but it's been a rough experience. During the interview, they met me at a coffee shop and seemed professional, but when I arrived, I was shocked to find the office was just a storage container. The workspace is cramped, and I'm sharing it with two other employees. Instead of the marketing role I expected, I'm stuck doing customer service calls, which is not what I signed up for. The software they use is outdated and incredibly difficult to navigate, making it impossible for me to assist customers effectively. I'm about to start my second week, and honestly, I dread going to work every day. The pay is just okay, and I know I could find a better position elsewhere that aligns more with my skills and degree. I'm seriously considering quitting, but I've never been in a situation like this before. Is it really acceptable to leave after just two weeks?

I recently signed an offer letter for a new role with a tentative start date of June 22. Since the 26th, my background check and employment verifications have been in progress. I had initially communicated to the recruiter that I would love some time off between jobs, and he assured me that this wouldn’t be a problem, even giving me an extra week. However, I didn’t anticipate the background check and verifications would take this long. Now it's the 30th, and if everything doesn’t wrap up by Monday the 1st, I might end up having to work into the week of the 15th, leaving me with only three days between jobs. I’m leaving my current employer because it has become completely unsustainable for my mental health, and I really wanted that time to process the transition. Both roles are remote, and I hoped to adjust and start the new job in a better headspace. My past employers were all small companies, and I’m worried that the background check might delay the process since they might struggle to contact my previous bosses, especially since one of the companies no longer exists. Now, I’m torn between two options: should I just go ahead and give my two weeks' notice, assuming everything will clear up by Friday? Or should I ask the recruiter if I can push back my start date by another week? I’m really anxious about messing up this opportunity, but I also feel that I need a break. I’ve heard horror stories about job transitions and I’ve been through unemployment before, so I’m really keen to avoid that again. I’m seeking advice on whether asking for an extension would look bad or if it would raise any flags if I say I want to wait until everything is cleared before giving my notice.