Thinking

I recently faced a tough situation with my job in California. My employer reduced my hours drastically from full-time to just 37 hours every two weeks, which has made it impossible for me to cover my bills. After a month of this, I realized I need to relocate back to my family, who live 175 miles away, where there are better job opportunities. However, I’m concerned about how this move will affect my unemployment benefits. I know I need to inform the EDD about my relocation, but I’m worried that since I would be effectively quitting my job, they might disqualify me from receiving benefits. I’ve heard from others that moving for a job can lead to losing benefits, and I’m feeling anxious about the whole situation.

I recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, but due to a brain tumor that affected me for the past seven years, I have no job experience. I've been applying for various positions like restaurant manager, assistant manager, server, car salesman, and roles at Walmart, but I've faced multiple rejections and have been ghosted by employers. I'm in urgent need of a job, preferably one that offers health insurance, as my medication costs around $2,000 a month. I haven't disclosed my disability in applications, even though I know discrimination is illegal, because I fear it might affect my chances. I've been advised that my resume looks good, but the lack of work experience is a significant barrier. I do have some volunteer experience, but it seems to be overlooked. I plan to stay in this job for a year or two while I prepare for law school. I often get asked why I'm not pursuing a job related to my degree, and I struggle to provide a convincing answer. I'm considering whether to remove my degree from my resume for some of these positions. Any advice on job options or how to address the degree question would be greatly appreciated!

I recently applied for an internal job at my current company and I'm feeling a bit anxious about the timeline for interviews. The job posting closes on the first day of a trip I have planned, and I'm unsure if I should bring my work laptop along in case I need to interview while I'm away. I'm considering reaching out to the hiring manager to ask about the interview timeline and format, but I'm worried about how it might come across. I don't want to seem presumptuous by asking if I might be shortlisted, nor do I want to sound unavailable by mentioning my trip. I'm trying to find a way to phrase my questions that feels casual and logistical, rather than pushy. Any advice on how to approach this would be appreciated!

I'm currently 15 years old and trying to land my first job. Recently, I applied at Culver's and even went through the interview process. However, since then, I haven't heard back from them. During the interview, I faced some odd questions that seemed irrelevant, but I answered them as best as I could. The interviewer mentioned they would reach out if they had any updates, but it's been radio silence since then. I have some cooking skills, like making breadsticks, pizza, and burgers, and I also completed an internship at a Marathon gas station before applying. I'm feeling a bit discouraged and unsure of what to do next in my job search.

I recently accepted a job offer and signed the official documents on Monday. However, just a day later, I received a call from another company after a quick 15-minute phone interview. They want to schedule an official interview for Thursday or Friday, and this position could pay $5,000 more and is only about 20 minutes from my home. The job I accepted is about a 40-minute commute, which feels daunting since I've been working remotely for the past six years. The downside to the potential new job is that it seems like there might not be much room for growth, which could make it a short-term gig of 1-2 years. On the other hand, I'm excited about the culture at the job I accepted, and they asked about my growth plans during the interview, which I found encouraging. However, I'm concerned that the long commute might wear on me, and I might not last long unless they allow for a hybrid work model, which they mentioned could be possible for exceptions but is primarily on-site. Now I'm in a bit of a dilemma. If I get an offer from the other company after I've already started at my new job (my start date is August 3rd), how can I navigate the situation without burning bridges? Also, if the other company offers me the job before my start date, am I allowed to back out of the first job? I live in South Carolina, which is a right-to-fire state, so I assume I can withdraw without needing to provide a reason since the contract states they can rescind the offer for any reason.

I recently received a job offer for a position that initially sounded promising. I have a strong background in high-end hospitality, so when I was asked about my salary expectations, I felt nervous and ended up lowballing myself at $28 per hour. They offered me a salary of $58,000, which later turned into an official offer letter for $60,000, including a $2,000 bonus. However, I noticed that the role was labeled as 'office manager' in the offer letter, while I had initially applied for a finance coordinator position. After researching the office manager role on their website, I found that the minimum salary was $55,000 and the cap was $75,000. The next morning, I decided to reach out and ask for a salary of $65,000, explaining that I had received a counter offer and expressing my commitment to the company. To my surprise, they agreed to start me at $60,000 with a promise to increase it to $65,000 after three months. I accepted the offer and thanked them for their consideration. Now, I'm thinking about how to ensure that this raise is handled professionally. I’ve already requested that our conversation be documented in an email for clarity and to have a dated performance review at the 90-day mark. I want to avoid any misunderstandings, as I've had experiences in the past where agreements were forgotten. I’m feeling optimistic about starting this new chapter!

I've been on the job hunt for the past two months and it's been incredibly frustrating. I've applied to numerous positions through company websites, but I've only received two responses: one was an automated rejection and the other was a phone screening that ended with the recruiter ghosting me. I spend a lot of time tailoring my resume and cover letter for each application, but it feels like my efforts are just disappearing into a black hole. I'm not even getting automated rejections for most of my applications, which is disheartening. Has anyone else experienced this lack of feedback? I'm starting to wonder if my applications are even being seen.

I recently received two job offers, which is both exciting and a bit overwhelming. I have a contingent offer from Company A that I've already signed, pending a background check and some internal processes. The compensation is solid, featuring a 3% 401(k) match, 20 days of PTO, and all federal holidays. The only downside is the 2-hour daily commute, but I'm already used to that from my current job. Today, I also got an offer from Company B, which I applied to around the same time. This offer hasn't been signed yet, and it pays about $5,000 less annually, with only 15 days of PTO, a 1% 401(k) match, and a commute that's half as long. Both roles are similar in title and seniority, so it's a tough decision. I'm considering how to approach Company B if Company A finalizes everything. Should I negotiate for better PTO or salary with Company B, given the shorter commute? And if I end up going with one company over the other, what’s the best way to professionally withdraw from the offer without burning any bridges?

I recently had a disappointing experience while interviewing for a position at Dollar Tree. I had just worked for about a month at Target, which was my first official job aside from school job training. I resigned from Target for emotional reasons, and when I went into the Dollar Tree interview, I was caught off guard when the interviewer mumbled, "I’m looking for someone with a littttllkeee more experience..." I was shocked and thought to myself, "Then why did you call me for an interview?" I tried to stay calm and mentioned that my school job training had provided me with relevant experience, but she quickly cut me off, shook my hand lightly, and said she had other applicants to consider. I left feeling less confident, especially when I got home and saw that my application status had changed to "no longer considered" just ten minutes later. It feels so frustrating that employers expect candidates to have experience but are not willing to give anyone a chance to gain that experience. How are we supposed to get more experience if we can't even get hired in the first place?

I had an interview last Thursday for a position in another country with my current employer, and it went really well. The recruiter mentioned that I was essentially hired on the spot since it’s just a transfer between locations. They said the HR team would reach out to me soon to guide me through the relocation process. However, it's been a few days, and I haven't heard anything yet. I'm feeling a bit anxious about it, as moving to another country is a huge step, and I want to know what to expect next. I'm contemplating reaching out to the recruiter to check on the status, but I'm unsure how soon is too soon without seeming impatient. I just want clarity on the next steps so I can start making necessary arrangements.

I’m currently exploring the TOP program in Massachusetts to extend my unemployment benefits while pursuing a certificate at North Shore Community College. I’m eager to find out if I can submit my own program for approval or if there are specific courses that are already TOP approved. I've been searching online but only found the application itself, which isn't very helpful. I reached out to the MassHire office for guidance, but I’ve only gotten voicemail so far and haven’t received a callback. I’m a bit anxious about the eligibility cutoff dates, as I want to ensure I’m not too close to the end of my claims period.

I recently quit my contract position at an engineering firm, and now I'm second-guessing my decision. While the work itself was fine, my boss created a toxic environment by constantly hurling insults and getting personal. It became unbearable, and I dreaded going to work every day. I’m worried that I might not be eligible for unemployment since I technically quit, and my resume is starting to look concerning with four jobs in three years. One was for about a year until the owner retired, and the others were contract roles. I fear it might come off as job hopping. I'm trying to figure out how to explain my situation to potential employers and how to present my experience in a way that doesn't raise red flags.

I recently started a new role as a Business Analyst at my current company, but I'm not really enjoying it. The work feels very slow-paced, and my commute has become quite long—almost an hour since the headquarters moved to Rhode Island, while I live in Massachusetts. I've been offered an interview with a company based in Massachusetts, which would cut my commute down to just 20 minutes. The pay range is significantly better, and the work aligns more closely with my interests, plus they offer two days of remote work. I'm currently 6 weeks pregnant and haven't disclosed this to my current employer yet. I'm feeling conflicted about whether it's wrong to accept a new job and then disclose my pregnancy shortly after starting. Massachusetts offers up to 26 weeks of paid family medical leave with job protections, which is reassuring. I just want to make the best decision for my career and my growing family.

I was recently asked to resign from my position because my employer is transitioning to a different Employer of Record (EOR) or contractor. They mentioned that I would be onboarded through this new platform afterward. I'm feeling uncertain about whether I should actually resign or if there are implications for my rights and compensation. I don't have much experience in these matters, so I'm looking for advice. Some people suggested that I should let them terminate me instead or ensure everything is documented. Others pointed out that my rights might depend on my location and any contracts I've signed. I’m considering stating that my resignation will only be effective once I'm officially hired by the new contractor. This whole situation is quite confusing.

I just found out that I've been placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) at my current underwriting job, which has been a poor fit for my marketing background. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed as I have 5 business days to decide whether to opt in or opt out of the PIP. If I opt out, I would receive 60 days of pay while not working, followed by 12 weeks of severance. I've already started updating my resume and applying for new positions because I've been eager to leave this job for a while now. My main concern is how this decision will affect my job search. Some applications ask if I've been involuntarily terminated, and if I accept the severance, I would have to answer yes to that question. I'm worried that this could automatically disqualify me from certain opportunities or significantly reduce my chances of getting hired. On the other hand, if I choose to stay on the PIP and manage to find a new job within those 60 days, I could quit before the severance kicks in, which might look better professionally. I’m really torn and would appreciate any advice on how to navigate this situation.

I’ve been on the job hunt for the past four months, and honestly, it feels like I’m just wasting my time. I keep applying to positions, but I keep hitting a brick wall with rejections or just being ghosted. It’s frustrating because I have a lot of other responsibilities to juggle, like taking care of my kids, supporting my wife, and managing my schoolwork. I’m really struggling to find the time and energy to keep applying non-stop. Am I the only one feeling overwhelmed by this? I’d love to know how much time others are spending on job applications each week.

I recently graduated with a Computer Science degree and have been actively applying for tech jobs, but I've had little success so far. Currently, I'm working in a non-tech role that pays between $120,000 and $150,000 per year. However, the hours are long, and I spend about 8 hours a day commuting, which has taken a toll on my mental well-being. I don't enjoy this job, and I feel there's no real opportunity for career growth. I'm contemplating whether I should quit my current job and dedicate a few months solely to my job search in tech. I have enough savings to support myself during this time, but I'm uncertain if this is the right decision, especially considering the current state of the tech job market. I would love to hear thoughts from others: should I stay in my current job while continuing to apply, or take the leap and focus full-time on breaking into tech? I also have a spouse and a child to consider, which adds to my dilemma.

I had my first interview today after being laid off from my job of 12 years back in April. It was for an Implementation Specialist position, and I was feeling a mix of excitement and nerves since so much has changed over the years. The interview was just a 20-minute first-round call, which was quite different from my past experiences where I would go in for a traditional interview and get the job right away. I wasn't sure what to expect, so I sought advice on potential questions I might face. I learned that these initial calls are typically short and mainly serve to confirm my qualifications and ensure there are no glaring discrepancies in my resume. I was advised to prepare for common questions, like describing a problem I encountered at work and how I resolved it, as interviewers often want to see how candidates think on their feet. Overall, it was a learning experience, and I hope to build on it for future interviews.

I recently applied for a position at Golden Entertainment, a gaming company that posted a job opening in my town. After being let go from my previous job, I've been actively searching for new opportunities and checking their website daily. I was excited to see this listing and quickly submitted my application, highlighting my 12 years of relevant experience in the industry. To my surprise, just four hours later, I received an email from their HR representative praising my resume and stating that I was a perfect fit for the role. However, she informed me that they had already made an offer to another candidate but would keep my resume on file for future openings. What’s been bothering me is that the job listing is still active on their website, which my friend mentioned could be a tactic for tax purposes. This has left me feeling anxious and paranoid, wondering if my previous employer might have influenced their decision against me. I’m trying to stay hopeful and continue applying elsewhere, but I can’t shake the feeling that I might be missing out on a chance at Golden. Should I take the HR lady's word that they filled the position so quickly, or should I just move on? Any advice would be appreciated!

I recently interviewed for a position at a company where I felt the interview went well, despite lacking some of the qualifications they were looking for. I was really motivated and didn't expect to get that far in the process. They told me I would receive feedback by the end of the week, but after a week of silence, I finally got a rejection email. They cited my lack of qualifications as the reason for not moving forward and mentioned they had already chosen another candidate. What really threw me off was that shortly after my rejection, the job was reposted on multiple platforms, including their own career portal. It felt strange to be told they were moving forward with other candidates while simultaneously seeing the same job opening up again. It made me wonder if I was just interviewed to meet a quota rather than being genuinely considered for the role. Has anyone else experienced something similar? It feels a bit disheartening.