Thinking

I recently graduated with honors from the University of Washington, where I earned a BA in Social Work and Criminal Justice, along with minors in Sociology. I’m fluent in French, German, and English, and I have over 200 hours of volunteering experience with various human rights and advocacy organizations. I thought my qualifications would make it easier to find a job, but I’ve been facing a real struggle in the current job market. It seems like everywhere I look, employers are either not hiring or they want candidates with 4+ years of experience for positions that are advertised as entry-level. My boyfriend, who also graduated from UW with a degree in Business Accounting and Math, is having the same frustrating experience. We’ve even discussed the possibility of pursuing Master’s degrees just to improve our chances, but that feels overwhelming and confusing. We both believe our degrees have value, yet we feel lost in this job search. It’s disheartening to see so many qualified candidates like us struggling to find opportunities.

I received a call from the recruiter on Tuesday informing me that I was the chosen candidate from the final round of interviews. They mentioned that the hiring manager would reach out the next day with a verbal offer. However, as of Thursday, I hadn't heard anything, so I decided to follow up with the recruiter. He explained that the HR person responsible for approving the offer was traveling, which caused a delay. Now, it's the weekend, and I'm still waiting for any updates. I'm trying to stay positive and remind myself that it's likely just a delay, but it's definitely nerve-wracking not having a formal offer yet.

I've been struggling to find employment as a young British adult, and I wanted to share my experience and seek advice. After receiving some valuable feedback on my previous post, I've started to rethink my approach to job searching. Many people mentioned that employers often prioritize experience over qualifications, which is frustrating because I have both. Despite my solid qualifications and experience, I keep facing rejection after getting to the interview stage. I feel confident during interviews, but I still receive rejections. Recently, I applied for a cleaning position at Lidl, which offered a 5am shift for £13 an hour, just 10 hours a week, and I was still turned down. It's disheartening to see that even for low-demand roles, the competition is fierce. I'm 19 years old, just finished my A Levels, and I have a lot of experience and qualifications under my belt. I'm reaching out for any additional advice from those who have been in similar situations or from employers who can shed light on what they look for in candidates. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I’m 25 years old and just celebrated my birthday a few days ago. I’ve been working at a niche fast food restaurant for 9 years, starting as a crew member and working my way up to manager and then taking over my own franchise location. For the past two years, I was making around $6,000 a month, thanks to overtime, and I was able to save a bit. However, I’ve created a lifestyle around that income. Recently, they put me on a salary starting February 26, and since then, my take-home has dropped to about $3,500 a month. This change has hit me hard, and I’m now living paycheck to paycheck. I have two job opportunities on the table, both commission-based, including one at Belle Tire, but I don’t have any certifications. I’ve been trying to navigate this situation, and while I have some savings to help during the transition, I feel stuck. Many managers at my job are leaving to pursue other careers or education, leaving me with a stagnant salary and working a lot of hours without compensation. When I’ve approached my director about revisiting my salary, I’ve been met with refusal. I know I’m a great worker—arguably the best in my position—but I need to make more money. I’m torn about whether to take the risk and leave the job I’ve been at for so long. I feel like I’m wasting my 20s, especially since there are no benefits, 401k, or health insurance offered.

I got fired from my job as a scheduler and receptionist at a healthcare company. It’s a long story, but essentially, I was struggling with my workload after my manager hired her daughter, who took over most of our tasks. My coworker and I were left with very little to do, and I found myself scrolling the internet during downtime, which I know isn’t appropriate. I was hesitant to approach my manager about it since it involved her daughter. One day, she caught me looking at a news article and questioned me about it. I tried to explain that I was looking for ways to be productive, but the conversation escalated. She mentioned that people had complained about me being on my phone a lot and eating at my desk, which I thought was acceptable since I wasn’t having lunch but just snacking. After a back-and-forth discussion, she decided to let me go, saying we weren’t seeing eye to eye. I wasn’t angry, as I had been considering leaving due to some uncomfortable dynamics with my boss and the doctor at the practice. I felt embarrassed and like I had failed, even though I had completed my tasks. I’m now looking for advice on whether this firing was justified and how to navigate my job search moving forward.

I recently found myself laid off from my position as a contract game designer after three years with a startup in the medical field. The company has been struggling to secure grants and, as a result, they can no longer sustain the contracts for developers like me. This has left me feeling overwhelmed and stressed, even though I'm just starting my job search. I did the math and realized I can survive on my savings for about six months, which adds to my anxiety. Part of me is eager to find any job, even part-time work in unrelated fields, just to keep things afloat. However, I’m finding that even minimum wage jobs are hard to come by. Another part of me is aware of the current job market for software development and I’m unsure if my experience aligns with what employers are looking for. I’ve dedicated my life to game development, and it’s disheartening to think about stepping away from that passion. I excelled in my college courses related to game design, which helped me land this job, and now I feel like I’m losing the opportunity to do what I love. I wish I had spent more time developing my own games and pursuing indie projects, but balancing that with a full-time job has been challenging. I find myself wishing I had made different choices that would have put me in a better position to succeed. I’m trying to cope with the reality that I may have to put my dreams on hold just to survive, and even then, I know it will be a struggle. Writing this out helps a bit, and I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read my thoughts. I know others have it worse, so I’m also trying to focus on my blessings.

I recently graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in English, but I've been struggling to find a job in an office setting for the past eight months. I have two health conditions, POTS and CFS, which make it essential for me to find a role where I can mostly sit. I've been particularly interested in working in a medical office, but most job postings require an office administration degree or something similar, which I don't have. I'm considering enrolling in the Health Services Office Admin program at Sheridan, but I'm unsure if it would be a worthwhile investment for my career. I would appreciate any insights on whether this degree is useful for securing a job in the medical office field or if I should continue applying with just my English degree.

I recently applied for a part-time Retail Associate-Inventory position at WIS International, with a pay range of $18-$20 per hour. However, I’m feeling hesitant about accepting the job after reading various employee reviews online. Many of these reviews highlight mixed experiences, particularly concerning management, though most seem to be a couple of years old. As a college student in California, I’m curious if anyone else has worked there in a similar situation and can share their insights. I’ve been applying to numerous other companies without much luck, so I’m feeling a bit desperate for a job at this point.

Feeling nervous and vulnerable after experiencing two layoffs, one in 2022 and another in 2026. Both times, I ended up with higher salaries at my new jobs, going from 440K to 520K and then from 545K to 610K. However, I was out of work for 2 to 3 months each time, but thankfully, severance packages helped bridge the gap. As an experienced software engineer in Silicon Valley, I’ve faced a high failure rate in job offers, only receiving 2 offers out of 9 to 10 interviews during each job search. I’m turning 50 next month, and my wife has faced her own struggles, losing her job every year since 2022 and not staying in one for more than 8 months due to serious health complications. With the added pressure of our children’s college expenses, I had sleepless nights for 3 months earlier this year, and I still find it hard to rest despite having an income coming in. These layoffs have really shaken my trust in companies and their leaders, and I find it difficult to see the positives in any situation now.

Today, I completed a background check for a job I applied for in Texas, and it revealed a misdemeanor conviction from 2009 for theft (between $50 and $500). I was only 19 at the time. The company had me go through behavioral assessments and reference checks before even making a formal offer, which has me a bit anxious. I sent my references to my future boss on Wednesday, but I haven't heard back yet. The recruiter mentioned that my assessment results were sent to the hiring manager, so I'm left wondering how much this old conviction might impact my chances of getting the job, especially since the salary band starts at $75k and they ran a comprehensive check back to when I was 18. I'm curious if others have had similar experiences and how they were treated by employers regarding past misdemeanors.

I just went through a tough experience at my job where I failed my 90-day probation period. I was working as a marketing associate at a mid-sized tech company, and I never received any formal reviews or evaluations from my manager about my performance. The only communication I had was with the HR representative. My manager was often out of the office, attending meetings or traveling, so I never had a chance to discuss my progress with him. He mainly focused on results rather than quality, which I found concerning. During my termination meeting, he mentioned that I was asking too many questions and struggled to grasp the company vision, which I didn't see coming. It felt like I was left in the dark about my performance, and now I'm left to figure out my next steps. It’s hard to process this unexpected loss, but I know I need to update my resume and start looking for new opportunities. I’ve learned the importance of keeping detailed notes and seeking feedback more proactively in the future.

I applied for a pilot position about a month ago and have progressed through three interview stages: a video interview, a technical interview, and a final interview last Friday with the assistant chief pilots, who are the hiring managers. I felt confident about my performance and made sure to send thank you notes to each of them. They mentioned there are six candidates for the role, and they plan to hire two, with one last candidate to interview the following Tuesday. They indicated I would hear back by the end of last week, but it’s now a week later and I haven't received any updates. Throughout the process, communication was prompt, which makes the silence even more nerve-wracking. I've been checking my ICIMS status, which still shows 'under review'—it hasn’t changed since I started interviewing. The last update was the Monday after my interview, which adds to my anxiety. I know different companies use ICIMS in various ways, but I’m hoping for some insight to ease my worries.

I was recently laid off from my position as a flight attendant with Spirit Airlines due to company closures. Now, I'm actively searching for work-from-home (WFH) job opportunities that would allow me to spend more time at home with my daughter. My background includes experience in Operations Management, Customer Relations, scheduling and payroll, as well as Inventory and vendor management, Title processing, DMV compliance, and CRM systems. I'm hoping to leverage these skills in a remote role. I've been looking into customer service and project management positions, and I've received some advice to check out sites like remote.co and flexjobs for potential leads. I'm eager to find a suitable position that aligns with my experience.

I recently had an interview for a job that I applied for, and it went really well, even though it was held outside, which was a first for me. While I was there, I noticed they were interviewing another candidate as I signed in. Just two days later, I received a text from my recruiter congratulating me on getting the job! However, I was taken aback when she asked me to send my full name, address, date of birth, and social security number via email. She also requested photos of my SSN and driver's license for the I-9 form to start the onboarding process. I expressed my willingness to provide any necessary documentation, but I voiced my concerns about sending my SSN through email due to privacy and security issues. When I asked if there were alternative methods, like a secure link, she insisted that there weren't and reassured me that my information would be safe. I'm feeling conflicted because I really need this job, but I'm also wary about the security of my personal information. I'm considering reaching out to the company's HR department to verify the legitimacy of the request. What would you do in my situation?

Today, I'm reflecting on a big decision regarding my career and living situation. I've been working in a fully remote role for about six years now, making around $103k while living rent-free with my family in Georgia. Recently, I received an offer for an onsite position in Birmingham, Alabama, which comes with a salary of $130k. However, this would mean moving out, paying rent, and covering all the living expenses that come with it. I'm trying to figure out if the extra $30k would be worth the costs of living in a new state. My current job is focused on cloud migrations, while the new role is a DevOps SRE position. I have concerns about how much I'd actually keep after taxes and living expenses, especially since my current company has been laying off employees annually. I also worry about job stability in general, as I've only received about three job offers in the last three years out of around 200 applications. Most of those offers came from smaller companies that seemed unstable and offered salaries significantly lower than my current pay. On top of all that, I'm considering the social aspect of moving. Living with family has been great financially, but it's not ideal for dating, and the local population feels a bit cliquish. I wonder if moving to Birmingham would improve my dating prospects or if I'd just end up commuting to work and back home without much of a social life. I'm really torn about whether to leave my $100k+ remote job for this new $130k position. It feels risky to leave a stable situation, especially if I could end up getting laid off again and not have a safety net. I'm looking for advice on whether this move would be financially beneficial in the long run.

I recently received a job offer that has left me feeling conflicted. I applied for a more senior role at a new company, but they believe I would be a better fit for a less senior position, which feels like a lateral move for me. Currently, I’m in a role with my existing company where there is no upward mobility, as I would essentially hit a dead end with my boss. I’ve tried to explore moving to different teams for growth, but my inquiries have been met with negative responses, leaving me feeling stagnant. The new role offers the same base salary as my current job, but with a lower annual bonus and no 401k match, which would effectively reduce my overall compensation by about $9,000 each year. Unfortunately, they are not open to negotiation on this front. On the upside, the new company is experiencing rapid growth and has promised plenty of opportunities for advancement, which is very appealing given my current situation. However, I’ve also read some negative reviews on Glassdoor about the new company, mentioning issues with lack of movement and a toxic work environment. Now, I’m grappling with whether it’s worth it to make the move to a new company where growth is a possibility but not guaranteed, especially when it means accepting a lower compensation package.

I just started onboarding for my first real job after graduating, and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with the paperwork. I need to provide my employment history for the last seven years, but I'm struggling to recall the exact start and end dates for some of my past jobs. I've worked about ten different jobs since I was 15, but I only have the dates for my three most recent positions on my resume. I've spent half an hour trying to track down the dates for my very first job, and it's frustrating me. I don't have any tax documents to reference since my dad handles that, and I'm worried about how strict the background check will be. Will it be a problem if the dates I provide aren't exact? Also, I had a brief stint at a bowling alley where I quit after a week due to harassment. Do I really need to include that on my history? I thought background checks were mostly to verify my resume and check for criminal records, so I'm hoping minor discrepancies won't be a big issue.

I'm currently job hunting and I've been reflecting on how much my appearance might affect my chances of getting hired. Recently, I applied for a position in videography and video editing, and the company decided to skip preliminary interviews. Instead, they asked applicants to submit a short video answering a few basic questions about our experience and motivations for wanting to work there. I didn't put on any makeup for the video, just brushed my hair to look presentable. However, after watching the video, I felt really self-conscious about how I looked. I don't consider myself conventionally attractive; I have some masculine features that I usually soften with makeup, and I'm also overweight, which doesn't fit societal standards. I have crooked teeth and imperfect skin, but I always maintain good hygiene and dress well. Despite my efforts to look professional, I can't shake the feeling that my appearance might lead to being overlooked for positions I'm qualified for. In the past, I've suspected that less qualified candidates were chosen over me simply because they fit conventional beauty standards better. I’m starting to wonder if I’m just being paranoid or if there’s some truth to my concerns. Has anyone else felt this way during their job search?

I started a new job about two months ago, but I'm really not enjoying it. I was excited about the opportunity to learn new skills and work on interesting projects, but since my third week, every day has felt like a chore. I've only been onboarded into two projects, neither of which are engaging or utilize my skills. The company culture also puts the onus on me to find work if I'm not busy, which adds to my frustration. I'm seriously considering whether I should start applying for new positions now or give it a bit more time. I've heard that it's often best to look for new opportunities while still employed, especially since the job market can be unpredictable. I'm weighing my options and trying to figure out if I should stick it out a bit longer or move on.

I received a call today from a company I interviewed with about 8 months ago. Back then, the hiring manager mentioned that if I didn’t get the position, I should reapply when they were hiring again. I had completely forgotten about them until I got this call asking if I would be interested in coming in for another interview. I'm considering whether it's worth my time to go in, especially since I didn’t hear back from them after the initial process. Some advice I got was to think about how desperate I am for a job and the salary they might offer. Others suggested that it could be a better opportunity now, so I’m leaning towards going in for the interview.