I've been working at my current company for just over two years, and it's been a real rollercoaster. Initially, things were going well, but over time, the workload and expectations became increasingly unreasonable. My work quality started to decline, which was frustrating. Recently, I was assigned a massive project that I believe should have been handled by an external contractor, but of course, they decided to cut costs instead. This only added to my stress and burnout. I've expressed my concerns about being overwhelmed to my manager several times, but his responses have been lackluster at best. He acknowledged my struggles but ultimately just told me that we all have to deal with it. This week, I was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) due to my declining work quality, which feels incredibly unfair given the circumstances. I've been putting in late nights and working weekends, and this is the thanks I get? I have a decent amount of savings, which I jokingly refer to as my 'fuck you money,' and I'm seriously considering just walking away and telling my management exactly what I think of them. However, I know that doing so could jeopardize my chances of getting a good reference, and my manager did say he'd provide one even if the PIP leads to termination. So, I've been holding back my anger and trying to remain professional. I'm torn between wanting to vent my frustrations and knowing that maintaining professionalism might be the smarter move for my career. Should I just keep my head down and start looking for a new job while I navigate this PIP?

I was recently laid off after 25 years with the same company in the media and newspaper industry. I know this industry has been struggling for a while, but it was my entire career. I started in customer service, worked my way up to management, and most recently managed offshore teams after much of the company was outsourced. Now, my position is being replaced by AI, along with many others in the company. I'm feeling completely lost. As a single woman in my late 40s with a teenage son and a mortgage, I don't have a degree and haven't applied for jobs or gone through interviews in decades. I truly don't know what to do next. I recognize that many others are in similar situations, but navigating this feels overwhelming and hopeless.

I recently shared my resume online, hoping to find job opportunities or get some advice on improving it. I'm currently in a tough spot, desperately searching for a job. I received some helpful feedback, suggesting I move my education section to the bottom of the resume and tighten up the bullet points for my work experience. They emphasized that resumes should tell a story about my career progression rather than just listing job descriptions. Some comments also pointed out that my resume could be visually improved, recommending I use powerful verbs and make it more concise. Overall, I'm eager to refine my resume and find new job prospects.

I recently completed a first-round interview for a marketing position at a casino. At the end of the interview, the recruiter mentioned that a federal background check would be conducted before hiring, and I agreed to it. Now, I'm feeling a bit anxious about what this background check might entail. I'm aware that they typically look into criminal history and credit reports, but I'm curious if there's more to it. One of my concerns is that I might have guessed some of the employment dates on my application. For instance, I wrote down 'March 1, 2010' as the start date for one of my jobs, but the actual date was 'March 17, 2010.' I'm worried that this discrepancy could raise some red flags. Additionally, since I am currently employed, I'm anxious about the possibility of the background investigator contacting my current employer. I hope that doesn't happen, as I want to keep my job while exploring this new opportunity.

I spent nearly a year looking for a job in finance, from July 2025 to June 2026. It was a long and challenging journey, marked by a total of 6 rounds of interviews for one position, only to face rejection in the end. I found it frustrating that after so many interviews, the company still couldn't make a decision. During this time, I submitted around 150 applications, but only managed to secure 8 interviews, none of which went beyond two rounds. I understand that my target roles might be less common, but it still feels disheartening. I'm trying to stay positive and keep the faith as I continue my search.

I currently work six days a week in a grocery store dairy department, and I'm feeling completely lost about my career path. The job market seems dire, and when I consider my past experiences and what I'm capable of, it feels overwhelming. I tend to take initiative—if I see something that needs to be done, I do it. I move boxes, organize stock, and follow through on whatever my managers ask of me. However, I come home exhausted every day, feeling like I'm just going through the motions. The truth is, I don't enjoy worrying about other people's tasks or coordinating with multiple people. Social dynamics are not my strong suit, and I find no joy in it. I feel stuck in my current role with no clear path for advancement that excites me. I long for appreciation for my hard work, but that doesn’t translate to better financial stability or personal fulfillment. The thought of applying for new jobs is daunting; I dislike the competitive nature of it all and have no clear direction on what I want to pursue. Past experiences have shown me that working with others often derails my focus. It feels like I've already mapped out the next thirty years of my life, and I absolutely hate that feeling.

I'm currently a college student entering my fourth year this August. This summer, I decided to take a few classes to improve my GPA and prepare for actuarial exams. I've always worked, and last year I moved back in with my mom after living independently while juggling three jobs. I expected to easily find a summer job given my extensive experience in entry-level positions like cashiering, serving, and even managing a store. However, I've applied to hundreds of minimum wage jobs and haven't received a single interview. I've tried calling and visiting local businesses, but most just ask me to drop off a resume. This is frustrating because I've never had to go to so many places without getting any response. I’m available to work 30-40 hours a week now and up to 20 hours during the school year, which I’ve communicated in my applications. I’m starting to wonder if my experience is working against me, as I've read that employers might see candidates with too much experience as having higher expectations. I’ve never held a salaried position, so I’m confused about why I’m struggling to get interviews. If anyone has insights or advice on this situation, I would really appreciate it!

I had an interview for a position last Friday and the hiring manager assured me I would receive an email with the decision by 5:00 PM the following day. Now it's Saturday, and I haven't received anything. I'm starting to feel anxious about being ghosted. It seems pretty common for companies to not follow through on their promises to provide updates. I can't help but think that I probably didn't get the job or that they're still considering other candidates. Has anyone else experienced this? It's frustrating to be left in the dark after being told to expect a response.

I experienced a significant layoff on May 1st, and it was an emotional roller coaster for me. I had dedicated so much to the company, working 60-70 hours a week and taking on new responsibilities as we grew from a startup of 32 employees to over 400, only to face five rounds of layoffs, with the final blow coming from a merger. I felt crippling grief, depression, and anxiety, and honestly, I spent two weeks in bed trying to process it all. After that, I decided to tackle my job search by reworking my resume and cover letters for every application. It felt insane to review my resumes from the past 30 years, but I really needed to refine everything I had done since my layoff. In just the past 48 hours, I was amazed at how going through this process helped me understand my professional journey. I created a 'Single Source of Truth' resume, which wasn't meant for applications but rather to help me accurately build tailored cover letters and resumes for specific roles. Completing that document brought me to tears; it was the first time I felt I could clearly articulate my career progression. Taking a step back to analyze my job titles and experiences was challenging, but it was a necessary exercise that most people never undertake. Now, I'm just hoping for another interview opportunity!

I recently had a frustrating experience with a job scam that has left me feeling quite disheartened. As a student in India studying UX/UI design, I was excited when I was approached by an American company called New Leaf Custom Homes based in Dallas, TX. They promised to pay me $500 for some design work, which I completed diligently. However, when it came time for payment, the person I was communicating with suddenly blocked me. I thought it might be a misunderstanding, so I tried reaching out again using a different number, only to be blocked once more. It became clear that this was not a mistake. I'm really struggling to find stable work here, and I was counting on that money. I'm now looking for advice on what steps I can take to recover my $500. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I recently started interviewing for a new position, and the company has requested my salary slips for the past three months as part of their hiring process. However, I work at a small startup that only provides pay slips after I serve my notice period. I'm feeling anxious about this situation because I'm worried that the potential employer might reject my application simply because I can't provide the salary slips immediately. I know that other companies usually have these documents readily available through their HR portals, but mine does not. I'm considering whether I should ask my current employer if they can provide the slips earlier, but I'm not sure how to approach that. I've heard that in many places, companies are legally obligated to provide pay slips, so I'm wondering if this could be an issue. For now, I might consider providing bank statements that show regular payments from my employer, but I would need to black out any sensitive information. Any advice on how to handle this situation would be appreciated.

I’m currently working as a courtesy clerk at Kroger, and I’m feeling really frustrated with my job situation. I’m only 16, and I’ve made it clear to my managers three times that I don’t want to work more than 30 hours a week. Despite that, they keep scheduling me for about 40 hours, which is really overwhelming. The management is terrible, and I’ve seen five new hires quit already, which says a lot about the work environment. I just want to have more freedom and not be tied down to such long shifts. I’m actively searching for other job opportunities, so if anyone has any recommendations, I’d really appreciate it!

I recently experienced a frustrating situation with my partial unemployment claim while working part-time in New York. I typically work about 14 hours a week, certifying that I worked between 11-16 hours, which counts as one full day in the unemployment system. However, this week I had to visit urgent care due to a viral throat infection, and my doctor advised me to take four days off to recover. My return date is set for Monday. When I went to certify my benefits this week, I entered 0 days worked instead of my usual 1, which triggered a 'break in claim' alert. The system seems to interpret this as me being let go or having quit my job, which is incredibly confusing since I’m still employed and just took a sick leave. Now, I’m faced with additional verification requirements and questions that don’t apply to my situation. The system is asking me to select a reason for no longer working with my employer, but I’m still employed! I don't understand why the unemployment system operates this way, as it feels like it assumes people can never miss work for legitimate reasons without it implying they've lost their job. It's frustrating to navigate this when all I need is to recover and return to work.

I was laid off about a month ago from Goldman Sachs, where I worked as a Software Engineer. Since then, I've been actively searching for new opportunities, but the job market has proven to be more challenging than I anticipated. I have around 2 years of experience in software engineering, having also worked at Citi. My expertise lies in backend development, distributed systems, automation, and data platforms. I'm proficient in Java, Spring Boot, Python, SQL, PostgreSQL, Angular, and cloud-native development. I'm currently looking for Software Engineer or Backend Engineer roles with 0-3 years of experience and would greatly appreciate any leads, referrals, or advice. I'm open to opportunities in product companies, fintech, startups, and enterprise software. If anyone has any suggestions or knows of openings, please feel free to DM me, and I can share my resume.

I'm feeling overwhelmed with my job search right now. I've faced so many rejections lately, and it's really taking a toll on my mental health. I don't know how to cope with this constant feeling of hopelessness. I'm reaching out for advice on how to handle the emotional impact of job searching, especially since I've been struggling with it for a while now.

I'm feeling really lost at 26 with my degree in mechanical engineering that seems to hold little value. I graduated with a 2:2 from a decent university, but my journey has been far from straightforward. I struggled with mental health issues that led me to drop out of a master's program and take a long break at home, where I've been for over a year now. I have no paid work experience, but I've done quite a bit of volunteering, including roles as a hiking leader and conservation leader at university. Despite my efforts, I feel like I have nothing attractive to offer potential employers. I don't drive, I'm out of shape, and I worry that my degree is essentially worthless now. I'm currently with NHS Step On, but I'm having a hard time finding opportunities. I'm considering starting in retail or admin, or maybe even looking into apprenticeships, but I still feel drawn to engineering and conservation. It's frustrating not knowing where to turn next, and I could really use some advice on how to move forward.

I took a career break three years ago from my role as a mechanical designer to fully immerse myself in studying data analytics. I dedicated around 10 hours a day to learning technologies like Python, SQL, and n8n. I had enough savings to support myself initially, but after a year of intense study, I started applying for jobs and attending interviews. As my finances began to dwindle, I took on temporary jobs in bartending and warehouse work to make ends meet. Unfortunately, the AI boom significantly impacted the job market, leading to a reduction in junior positions, and I struggled to find a role in data analytics for over a year. Now, I've decided to return to mechanical design and I'm currently trying to figure out the best way to explain this career gap on my CV.

I was recently let go from my job as a pizza delivery worker after I reported some of my coworkers for stealing. The whole situation was frustrating and felt really unfair. The delivery system at my workplace was poorly designed, where we would receive orders on paper chits, deliver the pizzas, and then drop the chits into a box with our initials on it. At the end of the shift, the boss would count the chits to calculate our earnings. The problem was that my coworkers were pocketing cash from orders and not submitting the corresponding chits, which made it look like they were making less money. I was honest and submitted all my chits, which resulted in me having the highest commission. This didn't sit well with the boss, who thought I was taking too many deliveries and being unfair to the others. I tried to bring the issue to the boss's attention, suggesting he change the system to prevent theft, but instead, he told my coworkers that I accused them of stealing. The next shift, after I delivered 18 pizzas, I was shocked to find that I only had 2 chits while the others had nearly 20. I realized they must have thrown away my chits. When I confronted them, they turned the blame on me, and the boss ended up firing me. At least I walked away with about $400 in cash from the deliveries I made, but the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth.

I had an interview at the YMCA on May 10 for a part-time position, which I was really excited about because I loved the environment and the mission of the gym. After the interview, the hiring manager rushed me to send over my references that same day, which made me a bit uncomfortable as I wanted to check with my contacts first. Nevertheless, I sent them over. She mentioned she would call my references the following day, but that didn’t happen. As the weeks went by, my references were left waiting, and I found myself emailing her multiple times for updates. It took her a while to finally reach out, and when she did, it was after I had already accepted another retail job out of concern for my finances. Four days after I accepted the retail position, I received a text from her saying not to leave her and that she was still working on things. I expressed my continued interest, but there was still no formal offer. Eventually, I got an email with a 'conditional offer letter' that stated I was expected to work 0 hours a week, with hours varying based on the department's needs. This feels very insecure to me, especially since I need at least 15-20 hours of work weekly. The whole process has been frustrating, and I'm unsure if I should just forget about this opportunity or hold on to it. It’s a part-time job at the YMCA, not some corporate gig, so I’m really questioning the reliability of this offer.

I have a quick call scheduled with a hiring manager I reached out to on LinkedIn after they accepted my connection request. I found them through a job description and decided to cold-text them, which I know is a bit unconventional. They agreed to a quick chat, but I’m feeling really nervous about it. I’m used to traditional interviews, so this feels different and a bit awkward to me. I’ve tried reaching out like this a few times before, and it often gets uncomfortable when I run out of things to say. I want to make a good impression and not just feel like I’m selling my CV. I plan to start with a brief introduction and ask about the team and what they’re looking for, but I’m unsure of what else to discuss. I’ve read that it’s important to be genuinely curious and to keep the conversation flowing rather than just going through a list of questions. I’m also worried about how to wrap up the call without coming off as pushy. I really want this job, but the nerves are definitely kicking in. If anyone has tips on how to handle this type of conversation, especially how to end it on a good note, I would appreciate it!