Thinking

I took a week off from job applications, and it was a game changer for my mental health. After five months of relentless searching, I was feeling completely burnt out. I had created a detailed system with spreadsheets, tailored resumes, and cover letters, but every day felt like I was just going through the motions. I would wake up, check job postings before getting out of bed, and spend hours applying, only to receive silence or automated rejection emails. The stress was overwhelming, and I dreaded seeing phrases like 'exciting opportunity.' So, I decided to stop for seven days. I avoided job boards, LinkedIn, and application portals. At first, I felt guilty, thinking I was wasting time, but gradually, I started to feel like myself again. I slept better, cooked meals, and even enjoyed some fresh air without the nagging thought of job applications. While my job situation is still unresolved, this break helped me realize how consuming the job hunt had become. I wish more people understood how applying for jobs can turn into a full-time job filled with anxiety.

I recently reached out for help with my resume because I haven't been getting any calls for interviews. I shared my resume and asked for honest feedback. I mentioned that while I may have slightly inflated some numbers, I can justify them if needed. One of the top comments I received praised my technical qualifications, highlighting my certifications like CKA, CKS, and multiple AWS associates, along with my GCP ML Engineer certification. They noted that my achievement of saving $2M annually through a MongoDB-to-Kubernetes migration would definitely catch the eye of budget-conscious recruiters. However, I also received some constructive criticism. One commenter pointed out that while my resume has the right keywords for ATS, it might be too much for a recruiter or HR person to digest. They suggested I consider how I tailor my applications and mentioned tools like free Gemini or GPT that could help me score my resume without needing to rewrite it completely. Another piece of advice was to condense my resume to one page, as it might be a bit too lengthy. Overall, I appreciate the feedback and am looking to make improvements to increase my chances of landing interviews.

I have my first interview tomorrow at Ross, and I’m feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. Since this is my first interview ever, I’m unsure what to expect in terms of questions or the overall process. I’m trying to stay calm and confident, but I could really use some advice or tips from anyone who has experience with interviews, especially at Ross. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I recently found myself out of work after the school year ended at the school bus company where I worked from October 2025 to June 2026. I filed for unemployment right after the school year finished, but I received a finding stating that my unemployment benefits are zero. After doing some research, I learned that I'm ineligible for unemployment based on the standard base period. However, I can request a redetermination using the alternate base period, which requires me to upload my check stubs to show that I earned enough during that time. It's been almost two weeks, and I haven't heard from anyone regarding the redetermination process. I'm unsure if I should wait for them to reach out, call them myself, or even file an appeal. I'm feeling a bit lost and could use some guidance on the next steps.

I currently work at a vape shop in Michigan and have been facing numerous issues related to my job. I have endometriosis, which I disclosed during the hiring process. Due to this condition, I've had to call in sick multiple times for medical appointments and even a miscarriage, all of which I have documentation for. Initially, my employer was understanding, but recently when I called in for a non-medical reason, they demanded a doctor's note. Since I couldn't provide one, they transferred me to a different location with significantly lower commission, cutting my hours in half. When I arrived at the new store, I discovered a serious cockroach infestation. There were dead roaches everywhere, including in the food stock and fridge. I documented everything with pictures and had to throw away food I had purchased. Thankfully, I was moved back to my original store, but I felt it necessary to inform my bosses about the roach situation, which they brushed off. Additionally, I have concerns about the store's practices, such as selling to minors and encouraging employees to do the same, as well as illegal sales of nitrous tanks. They also take deductions from our commission for 'inventory shrinkage' without any signed agreement from us. I've reported the infestation and wage theft, but I'm hesitant to escalate the situation further because I fear losing my job, especially since I rely on the commission. I have everything documented, but I'm unsure if my case is strong enough to pursue further action.

I am currently seeking a part-time office or desk job in the College Park, Maryland area. As a business management student with over 6 years of experience in customer service, I am looking to transition from cashier roles into office-based positions where I can further my career in business and management. I am open to both in-person and remote opportunities. My ideal roles include receptionist, administrative assistant, office assistant, data entry, or any entry-level business positions. I pride myself on being reliable, a quick learner, and able to thrive in fast-paced environments. I also possess strong communication, teamwork, and customer service skills. If anyone has leads or advice on job openings, I would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you!

I had an interview today for a position that I'm really interested in, but I'm feeling uncertain about how it went. They asked the usual questions like "tell me about yourself" and "do you have reliable transportation?" which I answered as best as I could. However, the interview felt rushed, and it was cut short, which has me worried. I've heard that a shorter interview can be a bad sign, and the interviewer mentioned they had another candidate to see afterward. They said they'd contact me tomorrow, but now I'm second-guessing everything. Has anyone else experienced this and still ended up getting the job? I'm just trying to figure out if this is a common situation or if I should prepare for the worst.

I'm currently seeking remote job opportunities and would love some advice on my career path. I have over 9 years of experience in behavioral health, crisis intervention, leadership, and customer service. My background includes working for 3 years with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, where I also had remote work experience. I've held roles such as Lead Mental Health Technician and Interim Supervisor in various settings, including hospitals and residential treatment facilities. Additionally, I spent 4 years as a Behavioral Health Technician in a school district and have experience in customer service and team leadership at a small business. My strongest skills are in crisis intervention, team leadership, customer support, documentation, training, conflict resolution, and remote communication. Due to transportation limitations, I'm specifically looking for fully remote work and am open to exploring fields beyond behavioral health. I've considered roles in remote customer support, community management, trust & safety, gaming industry support, healthcare administration, and operations. Despite submitting hundreds of applications over the past year, I've had little success. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has recommendations for job titles, industries, or companies that might value my experience. Any leads or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I’m currently navigating my job search after a two-year gap in employment. My last position was at Whole Foods, where I worked until January 2024. I’m eager to get back into the bakery field, specifically looking for baker or cake decorating roles at grocery stores or independent bakeries. I’m seeking advice on how to address my unemployment gap on my resume. Are there strategies I can employ to make myself more appealing to potential employers, or are there specific places that might be more open to hiring someone with a gap in their work history?

Today, I accepted a job offer after months of searching and feeling increasingly discouraged. I had been applying, interviewing, and getting ghosted by companies, all while rewriting my resume and trying to stay positive despite the rejection emails. I should feel relieved, and part of me does, but I can't shake the feeling of disappointment. The job I accepted is a normal one with decent pay and a reasonable commute, but it's not something I'm excited about. When I started my job search, I envisioned finding a role that aligned with my long-term goals and utilized my experience meaningfully. However, after facing numerous rejections, my standards shifted from seeking a good opportunity to simply wanting to avoid waking up feeling useless every day. I said yes to this offer because I’m exhausted—exhausted from constantly checking job boards, explaining my employment gap, and watching my savings dwindle. I know many people would argue that any job is better than none, and perhaps that’s true for me right now. I am grateful to have an income again, but there's a lingering sadness about how I came to this decision. I feel like I surrendered to this job rather than actively choosing it. Maybe it will surprise me, and perhaps it’s okay to take a stable position while I continue to look for something that fits better. I just wish that getting hired felt more like a victory and less like a desperate escape from a difficult situation.

I recently returned to my office job after a two-month leave of absence (LOA). Before my leave, I was receiving a lot of mixed messages from my team, which was incredibly frustrating. Now, I've been informed that I have a new supervisor and they have set completely new expectations for my role. I'm currently hoping to start a new job next month, but I'm uncertain about whether I should give my current employer a two-week notice or wait. I've received advice suggesting that I should hold off on giving notice until I have a firm, signed offer and a confirmed start date from the new position.

I recently applied for a position at a local boba shop by sending my resume via email, as instructed on their website. Since I don't have prior job experience, I'm feeling a bit uncertain about the application process. I came across some advice on social media suggesting that many applicants miss out on jobs because they don't follow up with a call after applying. Now, I'm regretting that I didn't include a more personal message in my email—just my resume was attached. I'm considering whether I should call the shop to inquire about my application status or if that might annoy them. I'm not sure what I would even say if I did call. I've read mixed opinions on this; some say it's better to drop by in person and show interest, while others warn that calls can be unwelcome. I could really use some guidance on the best approach here.

I am currently facing a difficult situation at my job as an administrative support member on a small sales team. My senior lead has a strong personal dislike for me, which I believe is leading to my potential termination. Last year, I was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PiP) without prior warning, and while some of the issues were valid, many stemmed from my coworkers' mistakes that my manager seems to overlook. Despite my efforts to improve and adapt to the team's dynamics, I feel like an outsider, especially since most of my colleagues are long-time employees. I’ve worked hard to understand our internal processes, but I still struggle with some tasks that I haven't been adequately trained on. Recently, I faced a significant challenge with a process that was not even included in our training manual, which resulted in complaints from project managers. My boss told me I haven't improved, yet he only provided a few examples of my mistakes over the last three quarters. I find it frustrating that my coworkers continue to make the same errors I was penalized for, and I am left with a disciplinary record for issues that are still occurring. I want to leave this job on my own terms, ideally after securing a new position, but I am anxious about the possibility of being terminated instead of laid off. This experience has been emotionally taxing, especially considering my chronic back problems that limit my job options. I feel trapped in a toxic environment that combines micromanagement with inadequate training and discriminatory treatment. I just want to be treated fairly and given the same opportunities as my coworkers.

I had a job interview three weeks ago and I'm still waiting for a response. They haven't sent me any email indicating that I wasn't selected, so I'm holding onto the hope that I might still be in the running for the position. It's been a bit nerve-wracking, but I'm trying to stay positive.

I'm seeking career guidance after graduating in 2024 with a degree in Management, specializing in Finance. Due to health issues, I couldn't start working right after graduation, but now that my health has improved, I'm eager to kick off my career. I'm interested in roles like consulting, business analysis, financial analysis, and management trainee programs that offer good growth and salary prospects. I'm feeling a bit lost on where to apply and which career path suits my background best. I would love to hear suggestions on: - Entry-level roles I should target with my Management + Finance degree. - Companies that are good options for fresh graduates. - Effective websites, job portals, or apps for finding job opportunities. - How to explain my gap in employment due to health reasons. - Certifications, skills, or projects that could enhance my employability. - Any actively hiring fields in consulting, finance, or business. Any advice, personal experiences, or resume tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I recently applied for a full-time Service Crew position at a McDonald's outlet after hearing about the opportunity from a friend who works there. I'm currently 21 years old and have been jobless for a year, facing multiple rejections in my job search, which I believe might be influenced by my speech impediment during interviews. I'm eager to improve my communication skills and build my confidence. I've reached out to the main recruitment hotline for updates on available positions but haven't received a clear response yet, leaving me uncertain about the waiting time. I also have a family member who previously worked at McDonald's, so I'm somewhat familiar with the work environment and genuinely interested in joining the team. I don't have a Food Hygiene Certificate at the moment, but I'm willing to obtain one if necessary. I'm looking for insights from anyone who has gone through the McDonald's hiring process. Specifically, I would like to know how long it typically takes to hear back after applying, what the interview process entails (group or one-on-one), the types of questions or assessments I might face, and any tips to enhance my chances of getting hired. I'm ready to work hard and learn, just trying to navigate this process better while I wait.

I recently experienced the June layoffs at my company, and it felt like a blood bath. The atmosphere was tense as many of my colleagues were let go unexpectedly. I was fortunate to keep my position, but it was a shocking experience to witness so many talented individuals being affected. It has made me reconsider my own job security and the future of the company.

I'm currently working at Barclays as an AVP, and I've been facing a lot of uncertainty due to ongoing layoffs in my project. Thankfully, I've managed to survive the latest round of layoffs this year, but there's a looming possibility of more layoffs happening every year or even every six months. In the meantime, I've been exploring internal job opportunities and recently cleared interviews for a position in another project. However, the role is quite different from what I'm doing now; it's more focused on manual checks, validation, audit, governance, and mappings, essentially a data analyst role, whereas I currently work as a technical lead. I'm feeling torn between taking this less engaging role for the sake of job security or staying in my current position with the hope of not being affected by future layoffs, especially since there's a chance I could get promoted to VP if I stay. To make matters more complicated, the higher-ups in my current role have started micromanaging, keeping tabs on things like GitLab commits and time in the office, which is making the work environment feel increasingly toxic. I'm looking for advice on whether I should make the switch or stick it out.

I've been actively job hunting lately and have tried a variety of methods to find opportunities. I typically use job boards like LinkedIn and Glassdoor, but I find the application processes can be frustrating. For instance, I recently applied to a store associate position at Target, and the application required me to create an account, complete a lengthy questionnaire, and even record a virtual interview. After all that effort, I didn't even receive a response, which was disheartening. I'm starting to prefer direct applications on company websites or leveraging my network for referrals, as those seem to yield better results. I'm curious to hear how others approach their job searches.

I recently faced a significant career shift after spending five years with my previous employer, who terminated my employment. Thankfully, I had already secured a new job before that happened. However, I rushed into accepting the first suitable offer without thoroughly evaluating the role. Now that I'm at this new startup, I've realized that many of my assigned responsibilities are outside my previous experience. The company is still in its growth phase, and there isn't a well-established team for me to lean on for support. My direct manager is the CEO, which adds to the challenge. On my first day, I was given a hefty list of tasks and projects. I've tried to organize them and align priorities with my manager, but I often find myself struggling to get the guidance I need. The expectations feel overwhelming, especially since some tasks require expertise I don't yet have. I plan to discuss the possibility of getting additional support or hiring someone to help, but I'm not optimistic about that request being approved. I'm particularly anxious about my probation period. I worry that I might not meet the expectations set for me, and if that happens, I understand if the company decides I'm not the right fit. However, I can't help but question why I was hired for a role that demands a different skill set than what I possess. I acknowledge that I made a hasty decision in accepting this position without fully assessing the situation. I'm seeking advice on what to do if I don't pass my probation. Should I pursue a master's degree while job hunting, focus solely on job searching, or complete a master's first before applying for jobs? Any insights or experiences would be greatly appreciated.