I’m 32 years old with two degrees—a Bachelor’s in History and Philosophy from Rutgers New Brunswick. I thought getting any office job would be straightforward, but I quickly learned that most companies are looking for candidates with degrees in business, marketing, or IT. After applying to hundreds of jobs and receiving no callbacks, I ended up working part-time as a low voltage electrician for my dad's business. In 2021, I discovered coding and enrolled in a web development bootcamp, but still received no job offers. I decided to go back to school for an Associate's in Computer Science, which I completed 1.5 years ago. Unfortunately, I still can’t land interviews for junior software developer or IT roles. I had one offer for an AI developer position, but the funding fell through, and they later offered me a part-time role that hasn’t materialized. It feels like there are no entry-level jobs available anymore, and I’m stuck living at home, burdened by student loans, while my peers seem to be thriving. I never expected to be in this situation despite my efforts, and I’m feeling really lost and frustrated.

I’ve been feeling really uncertain about my job situation at the retail company where I’ve been working since January. After covering shifts frequently, I took a week off for my birthday last month. Since then, I haven’t received any updates on my roster or been contacted for shifts, and it’s now been over a month since my last shift. I’ve checked the roster app, and my logins still work, which makes me think I’m not officially terminated, but I’m confused about my status. They’re still hiring new staff, which adds to my anxiety. I’m hesitant to reach out to my managers because of a past negative experience where one seemed displeased with me for not being available on Easter. My social anxiety makes it really hard for me to communicate with them. I’m considering looking for a new job, but I’m worried that if I reach out and they start scheduling me again, I’ll be stuck in a situation I don’t want to be in. I’m just feeling lost and unsure of what to do next.

I have to quit my job after just a month and three weeks, and I feel really bad about it. I'm 18 years old and just received my results yesterday. I didn't get the grades for my firm choice university, but I did for my insurance choice, which is over 30 miles away. I had applied to that university without knowing I would have a job at this point, so now I have to leave my job. The notice period is only a week, but with moving in and starting mid-September, I need to leave soon. I plan to hand in my notice next week. Honestly, I don't enjoy the job; it's very stressful with long shifts, and I've barely had any work days. They mentioned I was failing my probation, so I don't think my departure will be a huge loss for them. I can't help but wonder if I should feel bad about leaving. Everyone at work has been really nice, but the job itself is overwhelming. I needed the money to help support myself while at uni, but I’m starting to prioritize my education. I’m looking for tips on how to navigate this situation, especially on what to say in my notice since this is my first job.

I recently went through a challenging experience with a company where I interviewed for an HR Operations Specialist role. I received a verbal offer of $72K on a Tuesday, which was exciting. However, the very next day, the company posted a new position for an HR Program Manager, which seemed to be a restructured version of the original role I applied for. By the following Tuesday, I was informed that the verbal offer had been rescinded due to this restructuring. The recruiter mentioned that the new role aligns better with my background and is located where I want to work. She also hinted that it might offer a higher salary, but she didn't have the budget details yet. Currently, she is waiting to hear back from the HR leader, who is traveling, about whether there’s interest in discussing the new position with me. I feel that the new job description fits my skills in program and project management, cross-functional coordination, and process improvement much better than the original role, which was more focused on HRIS and payroll. I'm curious if it's common for companies to consider candidates they previously selected for a new role after a restructuring, or if they typically treat it as a completely new hiring process. I'm trying to gauge what usually happens in these situations.

I received a job offer on August 5 for a position with a start date of August 31, pending a background check. The background check was completed on August 8, but since then, I've experienced a period of radio silence. As this is my first professional job, I’m feeling quite anxious and unsure if this lack of communication is typical. I’m trying to prepare myself by learning about the job requirements and enhancing my skills, but I can’t shake the worry that I might be getting ghosted. My application status has moved to completed in the Workday portal, which adds to my anxiety. I know I might be overthinking things, but with the current job market, I’m concerned about waiting too long and missing out on other opportunities.

I just landed my dream job after a grueling 9-month job search, and I'm feeling a wave of imposter syndrome wash over me. My first day is in two weeks, and as it approaches, the anxiety is building. I've wanted this opportunity for so long, yet now that it's almost here, I'm starting to dread it. It feels surreal to finally be back in the workforce after such a long break. I'm trying to focus on the excitement of starting this new chapter, but those cold feet are definitely creeping in. I'm taking advice to plan my outfit and think about what I'll bring for lunch to help ease the nerves.

I recently moved to a new state with my employer, hoping for a fresh start and a better cost of living. Initially, things seemed promising, but soon enough, the same issues I faced before resurfaced: favoritism, petty workplace politics, and unrealistic expectations. To make matters worse, I had to start over at the bottom of the seniority list, losing all the advantages I had built over nearly 10 years with the company. I've been passed over for promotions three times, despite performing the same duties successfully at my previous location. On top of that, my employer has had recurring payroll issues, leaving employees without pay for weeks, which has even damaged my credit score. I've been actively trying to leave, but the job market is incredibly discouraging. I keep seeing postings that require extensive experience and education but offer laughably low pay, like $7.25 an hour. This makes me feel trapped; although I earn a decent salary now, finding a new job that pays similarly without a significant pay cut seems nearly impossible. Has anyone else faced this situation? Have you managed to leave a long-term employer without sacrificing your income, or does it feel like the job market is just unrealistic right now?

I recently applied for a SOC intern role at a startup, but they offered me an interview for a DevOps/IT Support intern position instead. I saw it as a chance to practice my interview skills, especially since I hadn't done much in DevOps before. I spent three days studying the theory and felt fairly confident going into the interview. However, during the practical round, I struggled with a task that required setting up a custom VPC for EC2/RDS. I had only worked with the default VPC before, and I completely fumbled it. After the interview, I took the time to actually build the correct setup, including custom VPC, subnetting, route tables, and security groups. Now, I'm considering reaching out to HR to let them know I've closed the gap in my knowledge and to ask if there's still a chance for me to be considered. I'm curious if anyone has had success in similar situations or if it's typically a dead end after a poor performance in an interview.

I recently graduated with my associate's degree in business administration and I'm planning to transfer to a university soon to pursue my bachelor's. I've been working at a car dealership for a year, but I'm really tired of the inconsistent schedule and weekend shifts. I'm not in sales, but I feel like I need a change. I've been trying to apply for jobs with the city, but I lack the work experience they typically require. I'm eager to start a career, especially since I'm the first in my family to achieve higher education, but I feel lost on how to navigate this process. I don't have anyone in my circle who can guide me, so I'm seeking suggestions or tips on how to get my foot in the door with city jobs.

I recently learned that my company is planning more layoffs before September 1st. As an employee, this news is quite unsettling, and it raises concerns about the future of our team and the overall health of the company. It seems like a desperate move to boost the stock price, but I can't help but wonder if this will actually have the desired effect. Many of my colleagues are worried about job security, and there are discussions about whether the government should step in to hold the company accountable for these decisions.

I recently faced a challenging situation at my last job where I was let go due to my boss's erratic behavior. I know it’s important to avoid speaking negatively about past employers in interviews, but the reality is my boss was quite difficult to work with, and I’ve heard from former coworkers that his behavior has only worsened since I left. I’ve been applying for new positions, including retail jobs, and I’ve been indicating on my applications that I left voluntarily, stating that the responsibilities of my role changed significantly and I was seeking a position that better matched my skillset. However, I'm concerned about how to handle questions regarding my departure in interviews. I want to present my situation in a way that’s honest yet professional. I’ve considered framing it as a desire for a more positive work environment or to expand my skills, but I’m unsure if interviewers will press for more details. I’m looking for advice on how to navigate this topic effectively in my upcoming interviews.

I'm a 27-year-old female currently living in North Africa, and I'm feeling quite lost in my job search. My family situation is toxic, which adds to the stress. I've been actively applying for remote jobs and opportunities abroad, but so far, I haven't had any luck. I hold a bachelor's degree in marketing and have freelanced in graphic design for three years, but finding clients has become increasingly difficult. I'm open to pivoting to a new career path, but I'm genuinely unsure of what direction to take. If anyone has been in a similar situation, I would really appreciate your advice.

It's been 7 months since I was laid off from my first corporate job in January, where I had worked for nearly 4.5 years and received promotions along the way. After submitting over 100 applications from February to mid-April, I heard nothing back, which was incredibly disheartening. In May, I landed a contract-to-perm position, but the environment was toxic; the team made fun of candidates and I was let go just 2.5 weeks in despite positive feedback about my performance. June, July, and the beginning of August were filled with interviews—at least two each week. I reached the final round with several companies, but ultimately, they all passed on me. Now, as August is halfway gone, I'm feeling defeated. I wanted to prove that I could find the right fit, but it seems like no one is interested in what I have to offer. I'm considering going back to serving tables, which feels like a step back, especially with my wedding in less than three months. My savings are dwindling, and I worry about disappointing my fiancé, even though he understands the situation isn't my fault. I feel like I'm just taking up space in our home, contributing only from savings. I'm reaching out for advice or even just some shared experiences. Anything would help right now.

I was recently laid off from my position at a tech company, where I had been working as a software engineer. I met all my performance goals and even exceeded some of them, but my employer justified the layoff by claiming I wasn't improving in performance. This left me confused, as I received no clear explanation and no communication after the layoff. It's been a week since it happened, and I'm still trying to process the situation and understand what went wrong.

I was recently laid off from my IT role at a large company due to a reduction in force (RIF) after being with them for about a year and nine months. My severance offer is four weeks of pay along with roughly two months of health, dental, and vision coverage. I initially reached out to HR to request additional severance, but they rejected my request within an hour. I haven't signed the separation agreement yet and I have a consideration period to make my decision. Now, I'm contemplating hiring an employment attorney to review the agreement and possibly negotiate with the company on my behalf. I'm particularly interested in hearing from others who have been in a similar situation. Did you have success in negotiating after HR had already said no? Did the involvement of an attorney change the company's stance? How much additional severance did you manage to secure? Also, what were the costs associated with hiring the attorney—did they charge hourly or work on a contingency basis? I'm not claiming that my company did anything illegal; I'm just trying to assess whether it’s worth the investment to have legal representation in this negotiation. I would really appreciate insights from anyone who has gone through a similar experience, especially those from a U.S. corporate layoff.

I'm currently at a crossroads regarding a Marketing Return Offer I received after my summer internship with a national security company. As a rising college senior majoring in Marketing, I enjoyed the work and the team, but the fully remote setup left me feeling isolated. I craved the in-person interactions and social events that my friends experienced during their internships. Now, I've been offered a full-time position starting in the fall after graduation, which provides job security and familiarity. However, I don't feel passionate about the national security industry; I'm more drawn to consumer-focused fields like hospitality, fashion, and travel. I had an open conversation with my manager about my interests and the possibility of exploring different industries. She was understanding but emphasized that I should only accept the full-time role if I'm committed to the company. I have about 1.5 months to decide, and I'm torn between two options: accepting the offer for security but risking regret over not pursuing something more aligned with my interests, or declining it and facing the uncertainty of unemployment post-grad while hoping to find a role in my dream industries. I know many students take the safety net of a return offer and later renege, but I worry about the commitment factor my manager mentioned. I value my relationship with my team and want to maintain good terms regardless of my decision. I'm also concerned about the potential for 'golden handcuffs' that could keep me in national security longer than I'd like. Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated!

I have been unemployed for 1.3 years and am actively seeking work. I am open to various job opportunities, but I want to clarify that I will not consider any illegal work or roles involving driving, cleaning fluids, or personal support work that includes cleaning bathrooms. I am okay with light cleaning tasks, though. My previous experiences primarily come from student placements, with only two roles being actual student jobs. I'm eager to find something that fits my criteria.

I was laid off during the summer from my position, and since then, I haven't received about four months of unpaid wages along with my severance, which remains unpaid as well. This situation came to a head just as I was about to confront my employer about the missed paychecks. To make matters worse, I discovered that the CEO has been misclassifying me and my colleagues as 1099 employees when we should have been W-2s. As a new immigrant, I'm feeling quite lost about my next steps. Fortunately, my immigration status isn't tied to this job, but I still need to take action. The CEO has been using company funds for personal expenses, including paying his girlfriend's salary while neglecting to pay me. He has also been buying her expensive gifts and has been involved in questionable financial practices, including using his personal bank account for company expenses. Despite the company's financial troubles, he keeps assuring me that he will pay me soon and even mentioned a potential new project that he claims he needs me for. I have some leverage since I'm the only one who can assist him with this project due to my connections. However, I want to protect myself legally. The company is based out of state, but the CEO is in California, and I reside in Texas. I've asked him for a written payment plan, which he seemed surprised by. I do have a signed employment contract and a layoff notice that acknowledges my hard work and states that my termination was without cause. I'm running low on savings and can't afford a legal consultation right now, so I'm seeking advice on what my first steps should be.

I've been working in startups for the past five years, and it feels like my resume is starting to look like I'm just job hopping. I've held three different positions during this time, but each change was due to the typical instability of startups—things like needing to run leaner, cash flow issues, or even the company shutting down entirely. It's frustrating because I feel like I'm doing what I need to do to maintain my career and keep a roof over my head, but I worry that potential employers will see my job history as a red flag. I'm looking for advice on how to better present my experience on my resume to reflect the reality of working in this environment.

I recently discovered an issue with my effective date on the company portal, which is showing as March 2024 for my current role. I started working for the company in 2013, and after the acquisition in 2023, I transitioned to my new position around August 2023. I'm currently waiting for HR to respond to my inquiry about correcting this date. The timing is crucial since I have an offer letter coming in soon and I'm also in the running for a second offer next week. My resume lists my current position starting in 2023, but this 6-month discrepancy could be significant. I'm worried that this might affect the background check process. If HR can't resolve this, I'm not sure what my next steps should be. I don't have substantial proof of my start date other than a salary increase, and the nature of my previous role makes it clear I couldn't have been in that position until March 2024. I'm seeking advice on how to navigate this situation and whether I can adequately explain the discrepancy if it arises.