I started a part-time program management position three weeks ago and I'm already contemplating quitting. Before this, I was a stay-at-home mom with my toddler and took this job as my severance pay was running out and my daughter was starting daycare. However, the role has not been what I expected. It was advertised as a support position, but I quickly realized I’m expected to manage independently, making decisions that I don’t feel qualified to make. On my first day, I found out that I wouldn’t have a proper handover from the previous employee, who went on maternity leave just before I started. This has left me scrambling to catch up and understand her decisions, with no guidance from anyone else. My manager has been on PTO since my second week and won’t return for three weeks, leaving me without support. I’ve reached out to him for help, but he admitted he doesn’t know much either. My husband believes we can manage on his salary while I figure things out, but I’ve never quit a job this quickly before and I’m worried I might be making a hasty decision. I’d love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

Today was a tough day at work. My company went through a round of layoffs, and while I managed to keep my job, I can't shake the sadness I feel for my coworkers who were let go. It was unexpected for many of them, and I know some were at significant life milestones—like getting married or having a baby on the way. Just last week, I was getting to know some of them better, and now they’re gone. The job market is rough right now, and I can't help but feel for them. If I were in their shoes, I know I would be in a very dark place mentally. It would honestly be crippling for me. Some of them have started adding me on social media, and seeing their profiles makes me feel even worse. They were genuinely good people, and it’s heartbreaking to see them in this situation. I’ve always been told not to trust companies too much, and now I see why. Our management assured us that if layoffs were coming, we would get plenty of notice. Looking back, that seems laughable. I do understand the company is struggling financially, and they’re losing money every month, so I can’t blame them too much. But it still feels wrong. When I reach out to those who were laid off, all I can say is, 'I’m sorry this happened, and I hope you’re doing okay.' It feels inadequate, like I’m apologizing for something I didn’t do. I want to say more, but there’s not much else to say.

I’m organizing a hiking group for those who have been laid off or are currently job searching. This Monday, July 13, I’ll be leading a hike at Wildcat Canyon in El Cerrito, CA. It’s a great opportunity to clear your head and connect with others in similar situations. We’ll be hiking a 5-mile loop with a 1,070 ft elevation gain, starting at 10:30 am. If you're interested in joining, let me know!

I recently found myself in a tough situation and need to secure a well-paying job within the next year to keep my pets. A few weeks ago, my life took an unexpected turn, and I had to put my pets in a foster situation. My goal is to find a job that pays around $50,000 to $60,000 a year, as I need to pay off debts and find an apartment that costs about $1,300 in rent. I'm open to almost any job, except for trades and coding, as I want to avoid physically grueling work. I'm looking for options that require only a few months of schooling or minimal experience. So far, I've only been close to securing jobs that pay around $20 an hour, which isn't enough. Any advice or suggestions on career paths or certifications that could help me achieve my goal would be greatly appreciated.

I’m a 26-year-old male living in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex, and I’ve been struggling to find a job. I’ve applied to numerous positions across the city but have received little to no responses, and the few I did get ended in rejection. My background includes security experience and retail roles at Home Depot and AT&T. I’m particularly interested in customer service positions, but I’m feeling lost on how to improve my chances of landing a job. I would really appreciate any advice or tips on what steps I should take next. Thank you!

I’ve been feeling completely overwhelmed in my leadership role lately. A few weeks ago, the position I had been working towards was suddenly taken away, but I’m still expected to handle all the responsibilities that come with it. I'm leading initiatives, training new hires, interviewing candidates, solving escalations, and supporting multiple teams. The only thing that changed is my title, which has left me feeling lost and unappreciated. The workload has intensified significantly over the last few weeks, and I find myself balancing my own caseload while also taking on additional tasks. I’m constantly in back-to-back meetings, redesigning workflows, and handling escalations from every direction. The pressure is unreal; by the end of the day, I feel completely drained, like I could just collapse. I’ve noticed that my memory has started to falter, and I often forget why I walked into a room. In meetings, I get so anxious that I stutter or stumble over my words, which is not something I’ve ever experienced before. The emotional toll of leadership is heavy; I’m expected to motivate my team and keep everyone optimistic, even when I’m struggling to find that optimism myself. I’m grateful to have a job, but that doesn’t negate the burnout I’m feeling. I think about work constantly, even during my supposed off-hours, and I feel like I’ve lost a part of myself outside of work. I’m reaching out to see if anyone else has been in a similar situation, where you have all the expectations of leadership without the title or recognition. Did you manage to find a way through it? Did you set boundaries, leave the role, or find a position that allowed you to lead without sacrificing your well-being?

I recently faced a frustrating situation where a job offer I received was rescinded after I was informed that I did not pass the drug screen and background check. I am confident that I am clean and do not engage in any substance use; I don't smoke or drink. I had signed all the necessary documents and was excited about the opportunity, but just a few days later, I received an email stating that the offer was withdrawn due to these tests. It left me completely bewildered. I'm considering reaching out to the company that conducted the background check to see if I can obtain a copy of the report, as I suspect something may have gone wrong there. It's incredibly disheartening to think that my clean record might be misrepresented.

I had a Zoom interview this morning for a position at a corporate office. During the interview, I was offered a follow-up in-person interview for tomorrow, but I was told I would receive a confirmation email with the time and location. It's now the end of the day, and I still haven't received that email. I did some research and found the office location, and I know a time was mentioned during the interview, but nothing official has come through yet. I reached out to the recruiter for clarification, but I haven't heard back. I'm torn on whether I should just go to the office tomorrow without the confirmation. It's frustrating not having that official communication.

I was laid off today after nearly 20 years in the tech industry as a software developer. I’ve been in this field since the early 1990s and spent about 16 of those years with a fantastic privately-owned company. The CEO, who was also the owner, treated us well, and even though we were paid below market rates, I loved my job and the people I worked with. Unfortunately, everything changed when the company was sold to private equity about three years ago. Just 12 hours ago, I received the news via a Zoom meeting, joining many of my colleagues who have faced layoffs in waves over the past 36 months. I can’t shake the feeling that a storm is brewing in the tech industry. I have a strong suspicion that when the AI bubble bursts, it could be more catastrophic than the dot-com crash or even the 2008 financial crisis, as the hype is now deeply rooted in various sectors including tech, finance, and energy. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time for me to step away from the tech industry and explore what’s next. I still have many working years ahead of me, and I’d prefer to invest that time in building a new path rather than waiting for the next corporate restructuring or acquisition. My experience in tech has been invaluable, but it has also made me realize the importance of moving on.

I recently went through a lengthy interview process for a role that I was really excited about. I spent over a month interviewing with the company, which included six different calls—both phone and Zoom—two projects, and a panel presentation. After each round, they moved me along quickly, and I received nothing but positive feedback. I even found out they did a reference check with a former boss who spoke highly of me, and it seemed like they liked me during that call as well. I truly thought I had it in the bag, but today I received the disappointing news that I didn’t get the job. It’s such a bummer, and it still feels surreal. I’m just here to vent and process this letdown. I’m ready to move on to the next opportunity, and I wish everyone else luck in their job searches too.

I just got let go from my job at a local market after only a few days. I thought I was doing well, but the community there primarily speaks Spanish, and while I'm Latino, I've struggled with my Spanish skills. I was hopeful that my efforts would be enough, but I was called into my boss's office and informed that I was being let go because a customer complained about my language skills. I was devastated; I really wanted to keep this job. I had been feeling insecure about my Spanish for a long time, and this felt like a huge blow. I did receive pay for the time I worked, but it doesn't lessen the hurt of being let go from a position I thought I could handle. I had been so excited to finally have a job after applying to many and facing rejections. Now, I feel defeated and unsure of what to do next.

I recently applied for a position at owner.com and I'm curious about the hiring process. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with their application timeline. I've read on Glassdoor that it typically takes about four weeks to move through the process once it begins. I'm eager to know how long it usually takes to hear back after submitting my application and if anyone has insights on the first interview stage.

I got fired today without any warning, and I’m still reeling from it. The emotions are all over the place—betrayal, hurt, anger—you name it. I’ve cried multiple times because I loved working with the kids and it breaks my heart that I didn’t get to say goodbye to them. The way they handled my termination was unprofessional and just plain messed up. I was a full-time college student doing this job for extra income, but it turned into a nightmare. They had us working 17 hours a day but only paid us for 7, which was exhausting. I was barely eating, struggling to get in 700 calories a day, and I was only getting about 4-5 hours of sleep. I can’t seem to shake this awful feeling off my mind. I know I’m not alone in this, but it still feels so heavy. I plan to update this entry tomorrow with more details about what happened. Right now, I just need to process everything.

I recently faced a tough situation where I was let go from my previous role due to performance reasons. I genuinely believe the decision was not handled correctly and that I didn't deserve it, but I know I need to address this in upcoming interviews. I'm currently applying for positions at a large-scale company, and I'm struggling to find the right way to explain my departure without raising red flags. I've drafted a response that I plan to use: "I was let go because I wasn’t meeting the expectations of the role. Looking back, one thing I’ve taken from it is around my independence. I valued stakeholder input a lot, especially on work that touched a broader group. While I ensure I get input from stakeholders at the beginning of a project to gain direction, I’ve gotten much better at owning the smaller decisions and only bringing things forward once I’m confident they’re fully thought through. That’s actually the same strength I built at [First Job], where I used consumer insights and data to give leadership clear, targeted recommendations instead of generic ones. That’s exactly the kind of work I’m energized by, and why I’m excited about this [Position], I’d get to keep building on that strength, and expand it with data-driven, targeted strategy at [New Company]." I’m worried about being too honest but also don’t want to risk lying and getting caught later. I’ve seen mixed advice online about how to handle this, and I'm looking for feedback on my approach.

I recently faced a tough situation after being denied unemployment benefits in California. I’ve been working at UCLA for about three years, and this summer was the first time I was put on furlough with zero hours. Previously, I had worked through the summers without any issues. The university informed us about the furlough before the summer started and assured us that we would have our jobs back afterward. However, the Employment Development Department (EDD) denied my claim, citing that I have 'reasonable assurance' of returning to work, which makes me ineligible for benefits during this period. I understand their reasoning, but it feels different this time since I’ve never been completely cut off from hours before. Going three months without any pay is really challenging. I’m trying to figure out my next steps—has anyone else been in a similar situation? Should I consider appealing the decision, or is it likely a lost cause due to the 'reasonable assurance' rule?

Applied at Moda Health for Provider Configuration Analyst

Applied at Amdocs for Unknown

Applied at Wilkinson Gary Iron and Metal, Inc. for social media manager

Applied at hospital for Unknown

I was recently laid off from my job as an HVAC technician after nearly a year with the company. I started as an apprentice right out of trade school, and things seemed promising at first. My boss had promised me a company van after three months of training, but the reality was quite different. I was often tasked with teaching new hires while still being underpaid and overworked. The pay structure was frustrating; we were only compensated for travel time once we arrived at the office, which was an hour away from our first job site. This meant I was often working long hours without adequate pay, and my checks rarely reflected the overtime I was putting in. Things took a turn when my boss hired a dispatcher and another tech who received immediate benefits, while I and my coworkers were left struggling. Eventually, two of the original techs left due to the poor pay and lack of support. My boss kept promising raises but never followed through, and when I was let go, I was denied unemployment benefits. I had taken a month off for state baby leave and returned to find myself fired due to vague reasons like 'poor skills' and having three warnings. Meanwhile, the dispatcher, who was also underperforming, received unemployment benefits. It felt incredibly unfair, especially since my boss seemed to prioritize family members over actual performance. Now, I’m considering the possibility of legal action, as I feel there was a lot of unfair treatment and mismanagement. I’m not sure if it’s worth pursuing, but I’m feeling lost and frustrated after everything that happened.