I recently interviewed for a farmers market vendor position at a well-known local artisan bakery. The interview went smoothly, and they even mentioned the possibility of weekday shifts at one of their shops, which I was really excited about. However, they informed me that the next step involves an unpaid trial shift to assess my work and fit with the team. This trial shift requires me to arrive at 4 AM to help load the truck, set up the market station, work at the market, and then tear down everything afterward, totaling around 10 hours of heavy labor. I'm feeling uneasy about this arrangement. It feels like I'm being asked to work for free, which seems excessive, especially given the early hours and physical demands. I also have concerns about liability if something were to happen during this unpaid shift. I genuinely like their products and was looking forward to the opportunity, but this request has left me with a bad feeling. I even reached out via email later that evening to clarify if I understood correctly. Is this kind of unpaid trial shift typical for positions like this in the bakery or market vendor industry?

I was recently laid off from my role as a Training Supervisor after just four months at the company. It all started with a meeting involving senior leadership, where we were informed that changes were coming. I had been optimistic about my position, especially since I had developed a good rapport with my new boss, who understood my background. I was working on a project that was ahead of schedule when I received the news that my experience didn’t align with the requirements of the role. Despite my confidence in my abilities and the support of a manager who was surprised I didn’t secure another position, I found myself without a job. In just ten hours, everything changed. I’ve decided to shake off the disappointment and have updated my resume to start the job hunt once again.

I recently experienced a layoff announcement from Bending Spoons, where I worked as a product manager. The CEO's message felt more like a product launch than a communication about job losses. He announced that a significant portion of the workforce would be let go, then quickly shifted the focus to product upgrades and the supposed benefits of smaller teams. It was disheartening to see such a lack of empathy for the real people affected—many of whom have dedicated years to building the very products he was celebrating. The comments from others echoed my feelings; it was demoralizing to witness such a corporate spin on a serious issue. Some colleagues pointed out that this kind of communication is becoming all too common, prioritizing marketing over the well-being of employees. It's frustrating to see how companies can discard their workforce without acknowledging the human impact. I'm now navigating my next steps in the job market.

I've been unemployed for nearly two years now, and it's been a tough journey both financially and mentally. I constantly find myself questioning my self-worth, especially as I approach the two-year mark. It's really taken a toll on my confidence. To make ends meet, I've been doing gig work, which helps a little, but it's not a stable solution. I'm curious if anyone else has been in a similar situation and how they managed to stay afloat. Also, for those who eventually found work after such a long gap, what strategies finally worked for you? Was it networking, a change in your approach, or something else entirely? I'd love to hear your experiences, including what didn't work for you.

I just cleared my background check and drug test for a new job, and I officially put in my one week notice at my current position. Everything is set for me to start my new role in the coming weeks, and I couldn't be more excited! My manager was understanding and said there are no hard feelings, which is a relief. I plan to use my remaining two weeks to take a vacation, even though it's on my own dime. This current job has been quite stressful for me, and I realized that not all money is worth my health. I’ve been here for less than a year and was a top performer, but I'm ready for a fresh start and to learn from my experiences. Counting down the days until I can move on!

I recently landed a new job after being out of work since May, but the salary is $28k less than what I was earning before. It's frustrating because now that I've accepted this position, I'm starting to get more interview opportunities. I’m contemplating whether it would be wrong to leave this new job quickly if I get a better offer. I've seen a lot of opinions on this, and many people suggest that I should prioritize my own financial well-being and not feel guilty about switching jobs for a higher salary. It’s a tough decision, but I want to make sure I’m making the best choice for my career.

I’m currently in the interview process for a Project Manager role at a non-tech company. So far, I’ve completed two rounds of interviews, and I just found out that the next step involves a full day shadowing from 9 to 5, followed by an interview and a presentation. After this round, there will be one more interview to complete the process. I’m really curious to hear what others think about this type of interview process, especially the shadowing aspect.

Today, I found myself in a bit of a dilemma regarding my current job at XYZ Corporation. While I generally enjoy my role as a marketing associate, I decided to apply for another position out of sheer curiosity. I honestly didn't think I'd get far in the process, but to my surprise, the company has started reaching out to my references. One of those references is my current supervisor, who is currently on vacation. Now, I'm trying to figure out the best way to inform her that I listed her as a reference. I want to make it clear that I'm not unhappy in my current role; I'm just exploring my options. I plan to say something like, "Hey boss, just a heads up that I put you down as a reference for an external opportunity. You might get an email about it. I’m happy here, but I’m curious about what else is out there for my career. Let me know if you have any concerns!" I hope she understands my position and sees it as a professional development move rather than a sign of dissatisfaction.

I was laid off at the end of March when my position was eliminated, and I spent the next six months searching for a new job, three of which I was unemployed. It felt like a daunting task, especially with the constant rejections I faced. However, I finally landed a new job last Tuesday and have officially completed my first week as a full-time employee! Although I accepted a slight pay cut because I really wanted the position, the benefits are great, and my commute is less than 30 minutes. Plus, I have a better title! The layoff felt overwhelming, but I found a job that not only covers my bills but also advances my career. I focused on applying to smaller organizations, which I believe made a significant difference. Now, I'm part of a team of only 16 full-time staff, and I sensed during the interview process that they weren't flooded with applications like larger companies. I feel a strong sense of job security here, as many of my colleagues have been with the company for over five years, and my role as a senior manager is quite unique, making me indispensable. This has been one of the toughest times in my life, and I empathize with everyone going through similar struggles. I truly believe that others will find their opportunities too. If anyone needs support or advice, feel free to reach out to me. I'm sending my best wishes to all of you!

I’m currently working as an IT Developer at a small company in Quebec with about 20 employees. Recently, I've found myself in a challenging situation where I'm being pushed to take on non-technical tasks that go beyond my original contract. Initially, I was hired to handle development work, but due to high turnover, I've ended up covering not just development but also sysadmin and business intelligence responsibilities. Despite this increased workload, leadership has declined to offer me a raise. Now, they want me to take on digital marketing and data entry tasks as well. I’ve responded in writing, stating that these non-technical tasks are outside the scope of my role. However, the response I've received has been flattery, suggestions to 'just try it,' comments about AI capabilities, and a lack of communication from my manager. I’ve been actively searching for a new job for the past six months, but I haven’t had any luck so far. I’m wondering if anyone else has faced a similar situation and how it turned out for them. Is framing it as 'outside my role' the right approach? Are there any potential risks I should be aware of, such as impacts on employment insurance or the possibility of dismissal for cause?

Applied at Microsoft for DevOps Engineer

Applied at LGCNS for DevOps Engineer

I’m a 33-year-old female who has been working at my current company for the past 5 months. Unfortunately, my experience has been quite tumultuous. I've faced serious issues, including sexual harassment, which I reported to the owner and HR, but nothing was done about it despite having footage. I was then transferred to a new location where another manager exhibited aggressive behavior, verbally and physically assaulting staff. I brought this to the owner's attention as well, but he initially hesitated to take action, showing sympathy for the manager who was close to retirement. It took the involvement of higher-ups and the support of a few other managers to finally get him terminated. Now, we have a third new General Manager at the new location being built, and his attitude has changed dramatically. He’s expressed his dislike for closing shifts, which is a requirement in our line of work, and has received complaints from staff. I brought these concerns to the owner again, and after I mentioned that I was putting in my one-week notice, he suddenly offered me a raise and the option to move to another location or stay where I am, which is only a temporary setup. He insists that I’m too valuable to lose and wants to know what it would take to keep me. I’m really torn about this decision. While the prospect of more money is appealing, I feel like serious issues are consistently ignored and swept under the rug. I'm not sure if staying is the right choice.

I've been working as a bookkeeper at a small company for just over two years. I got the job because I knew one of the owners from our social circle, and they needed someone to handle the books. Initially, my role was pretty casual—just writing checks and entering expenses. But when the previous bookkeeper left, I stepped up to take on more responsibilities. At first, my coworkers were supportive, and even the owner who has now turned into a nightmare was helpful. However, things took a turn for the worse after about a year. The owner, who I considered a friend, has become increasingly hostile towards me. Two months ago, he went on a rant about how he wanted to fire me and called me horrible, which I found out through mutual acquaintances. He didn’t go through with it, likely due to pushback from the other owner and our vendors, but the situation has only deteriorated since then. I’m still showing up and doing my job, but it feels like I'm fighting an uphill battle against someone who holds all the power. The lack of HR support is a significant issue since the company is so small—just three employees and the two owners. I feel trapped in a toxic environment that’s really affecting my mental health. With the job market not being what it used to be, I’m worried about my options. I could survive on my pension, but that’s not a long-term solution. It feels like I’m stuck between dealing with this nightmare or quitting, and neither option seems good.

I recently accepted a job offer and started working as a [specific role] at [company name]. During the in-person interview, one of the employees asked me, "Are you comfortable being yelled at?" This immediately raised a red flag for me. On my first day, I learned that the only other person in my role had just given her two weeks' notice and would be leaving in two days. She mentioned that if I didn’t have bills to worry about, I should consider quitting. She was very helpful before leaving, explaining that she was leaving because she often faced yelling for issues beyond her control, which I witnessed myself on my first day. I also got a strong sense of misogyny in the workplace. To make matters worse, my boss has terrible communication skills; the team didn’t even know I was starting that day. I found out that in the past year, three people in my position have quit due to the toxic environment. They were supposedly looking to hire four people for this role, but I was the only one brought on board. Another team member is also actively searching for a new job. While I’ve heard that the company itself is great, this specific site has a bad reputation. I even overheard some negative comments about the employee who just left. I know no work environment is perfect, but the constant yelling and backbiting is exhausting. Plus, the commute is over an hour, which adds to the stress. I’m curious if anyone else has been in a similar situation. Did you stick it out? Did you regret it? What would you have done differently?

I was wrongfully terminated back in March and filed for unemployment, successfully receiving the first week. However, my account was locked for fraud because my social security card didn’t match my married name. After updating my card and uploading it, I filed claims for two more weeks but didn’t get paid due to the ongoing fraud flag. I assumed those weeks went through, but my account was eventually closed due to inactivity. When I called to resolve the issue, I was told I couldn’t open a new claim with the fraud flag still on my account and was advised to wait until it was cleared to file weekly claims. They mentioned that it was likely still locked due to an appeal decision, which I won in June, but my account remained locked. In person, I brought my social security card to ensure it was uploaded correctly, hoping it would unlock my account so I could claim those past weeks. Fast forward to now, October, and my account was finally unlocked at the end of last month. When I called to input my weeks retroactively, I was told by a supervisor that it wasn’t possible, despite my explanation of the situation. We went back in person, but they said it had been too long and without proof, there wasn’t much they could do. I only have a screenshot showing my account was inactive and proof of my job applications. I’m feeling overwhelmed and anxious about this whole situation. It’s been a significant stressor in my relationship since we really need the money. I’m reaching out for advice on what steps I can take next to get paid. Are we just out of luck, or is there something I can do?

I recently started working in the healthcare field after moving to the Northwest following my contract as an Assistant English Teacher with JET in Japan. My time in Japan was rewarding, but I faced mental health challenges due to isolation. Upon returning, I began searching for a job that would help me transition to a more stable living situation. I applied to numerous positions and attended job fairs, eventually landing two healthcare jobs. I accepted a position with a union company that offered decent pay and benefits, and another with a family-run business that I felt comfortable with. My plan was to prioritize the union job for the benefits while taking on shifts at the family company. However, after just over a month at both jobs, I realized I needed to quit the union position. The work has been incredibly stressful and anxiety-inducing for me. I struggled with the personal care aspects of the job, which made me feel uncomfortable and overwhelmed. An incident where I was exposed to a contagious disease without proper protection left me traumatized. Additionally, dealing with difficult clients in their homes, especially one who yelled at me for not working overtime, was emotionally draining. I’ve had customer service experience before, but the dynamic of being alone in a client’s home made it much more challenging. I found myself constantly anxious about making mistakes and the potential for negative interactions. Ultimately, I’ve decided to quit the union job and focus on the family business while I continue my job search. I know it’s not ideal to leave a position after such a short time, especially with paid training coming up, but my mental health is my priority. I’m hoping to find a role that aligns better with my skills and comfort level.

I recently found myself in a challenging situation after accepting an internal promotion at my company, where I've been working for less than a year in an operations role. I enjoyed the fast-paced environment and the variety of tasks, but after a few months in my new position, I started feeling burnt out. The training I was promised has been delayed, and I've been left to study independently without much support. Additionally, my relationship with my new supervisor isn't great, and the office atmosphere feels isolating. I often find myself eating lunch alone, which is a stark contrast to my previous role. Given these circumstances, I've applied for a retail operations/logistics coordination role at an apparel company that I admire. The job responsibilities align closely with what I enjoyed in my previous position, and the compensation is better. I have an initial interview with HR soon, and I'm concerned about how to explain my desire to leave so soon after my promotion. I'm wondering if HR professionals would see this as a red flag or if they would appreciate my honesty about the mismatch. I want to convey my reasons without badmouthing my current employer or appearing to give up when faced with challenges. Any insights from those who conduct interviews would be greatly appreciated.

I have a long history in the tech industry, but after surviving multiple layoffs, I had to take some time off for personal health reasons. When I was ready to get back to work, I took a minimum wage job to help me get moving again while I figured out my next steps. I thought this would be a good way to ease back into things, but I now realize that it might not look great on my resume. I was in a fog mentally and needed something mindless to do, which is why I chose this path. Now that I'm back to feeling more like myself, I'm worried about how this unskilled job will affect my career continuity and my chances of getting past applicant tracking systems (ATS). I'm looking for advice on how to move forward from here.

I recently made a risky career switch from my stable job as a marketing coordinator at a well-known company to a role in tech sales. I was excited about the potential for growth and higher earnings, but now I find myself regretting the decision. The learning curve has been steep, and I’m struggling to keep up with the fast-paced environment. I feel out of place and unsure about my future in this field. I’m reaching out to see if anyone has advice on how to navigate this situation and possibly transition back to a role more aligned with my skills and experience.