I'm currently in a 6-month introductory period at my job, and I'm in month 5 right now. I've used some PTO that I had accrued from a previous department, including 4 sick days and 1 vacation day, mainly due to my kids being sick. However, I've also been tardy 4 times, just 1-2 minutes late each time. Recently, I had two meetings with my direct supervisor regarding my tardiness, and the head of HR was CC'd on the email about our last meeting. These discussions caught me off guard because my department seems to be held to a stricter standard than others; there are four other groups in my department, and I often see them arriving 10 minutes late without any repercussions. Despite the tardiness, I’ve been receiving positive feedback from coworkers and supervisors about my work performance, and my three-month review went well. I even brought up my tardiness in the review, and my supervisor dismissed it as a non-issue. However, the tone of the meetings about my lateness was very different from how my supervisors usually communicate with me, which has left me feeling anxious about my job security. I'm seriously considering asking my supervisor or HR for more clarity on my future here. I don't want to be unemployed or unprepared, so I'm thinking about starting my job search now, just in case.

I'm currently searching for a new job as I'm feeling quite exhausted from my time DoorDashing. I'm looking for any advice or tips on how to transition into a more stable and fulfilling role. If anyone has suggestions or experiences to share, I would really appreciate it!

I recently completed my full-time education but unfortunately, I don't have any GCSEs or qualifications in the UK. I've been actively applying for both part-time and full-time positions over the past few days through Indeed and by visiting places in person. So far, the only response I've received is from a single restaurant that reviewed my application. I've noticed that many restaurants prefer candidates who already have experience as servers or some background in the hospitality industry, making it quite challenging for someone like me to break into this field. I'm looking for advice on how to make my application stand out to potential employers and any tips on how to find jobs in the hospitality sector despite lacking previous qualifications.

I recently got accepted for a job position in the cloud tech industry after being unemployed for over a year since graduation, and I was initially thrilled about it. The role is close to home and aligns with my career goals, which made it even more exciting. However, I made the mistake of checking the company’s reviews on Glassdoor, and now I'm feeling apprehensive. The company has a rating of around 3, which is decent, but many reviews mention issues like poor work-life balance, nepotism, and bad management. Some even suggest avoiding the company altogether, claiming that the positive reviews are fake. This has left me worried about accepting the position out of desperation, fearing that I might end up overwhelmed and stuck in a bad situation with no way out. I’m curious if these kinds of reviews are typical for small companies and how much weight I should give them in my decision-making process. Has anyone else had a similar experience stepping into a less-than-ideal work environment right after college? I’m just trying to figure out if I should trust my instincts or if I should take the job and keep looking for something better while employed.

I've been working at my current company for 2 years now, starting as an intern before transitioning to a full-time role after graduation. Initially, I thought it would be a safe choice given the tough job market, but the reality of the job has been far from ideal. My internship experience was lackluster, with minimal guidance and a lot of time spent alone in the office. My manager often disappears for days, leaving me without communication or support. As a result, I've had to teach myself a lot, and while I've managed to complete the simple tasks assigned to me, I've found the work unfulfilling. I did receive a small pay increase and benefits as a full-time employee, but my workload hasn't changed much since my internship. I've taken on a few additional tasks, but they don't keep me engaged or motivated. I know many would appreciate having a job right now, but I'm feeling increasingly unmotivated and it's affecting me. I'm at a crossroads and wondering if I should start looking for a new job or stick it out a little longer.

I recently faced an unemployment claim denial in Wisconsin after missing the deadline to file my weekly claims. I had been consistently filing on Saturday evenings, but the DWD website was down for maintenance on multiple occasions. While I intended to file after the maintenance, I ended up forgetting due to the demands of caring for my newborn. This happened for four consecutive weeks, and when I realized the issue, I immediately resumed filing. I understand I missed the deadlines, but I appealed the decision because I feel the circumstances weren't fully considered. I'm looking for advice from anyone who has gone through a similar appeal process in Wisconsin. What can I expect during the phone hearing? What kind of questions do they typically ask? Will they only focus on the missed deadlines, or will they take my situation into account? Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

I was recently let go from my remote job at a tech company just before my planned move out of state. The termination happened at the end of March, and it was attributed to performance issues, which I believe were tied to my recent short-term disability leave for a mental health crisis. I had been on disability from the end of January until early March, and just two weeks after returning, I faced issues for packing up my things instead of making calls, which was part of my job. I filed for unemployment and was initially approved for benefits, but my employer appealed the decision on the 13th day after approval. Now, I have a hearing scheduled in about a week. They cited my performance improvement plan (PIP) and my recent job performance as reasons for my termination. I’m feeling overwhelmed as this is my first experience with unemployment, and I’m seeking advice on how to present my case effectively. I want to know what documents I should gather and how to argue that the PIP alone shouldn’t disqualify me from receiving benefits. It seems like the employer is trying to contest my claim, even though I was approved initially. Any insights on how to navigate this situation would be greatly appreciated.

I received a surprising piece of mail the day after I was laid off from my position at Xbox. It was unexpected and added a mix of emotions to an already tough situation. Some of the comments from others in similar positions suggested that they received less favorable mail, like COBRA letters, which made me feel a bit better about my own situation. One commenter even suggested I should sell the item I received, which is something I'm considering.

I graduated in 2025 with an engineering degree and managed to secure a Software Developer role at a large enterprise company right out of school. I worked incredibly hard, dedicating myself to competitive programming and complex system design during my college years to stand out in a tough job market. Once I started my job, I gave it my all—building high-throughput event pipelines, designing multi-agent AI workflows, and optimizing core libraries to improve our delivery speed. I thought that my efforts would ensure some level of job security. However, with the current tech landscape and frequent restructuring, it feels like none of my contributions matter. The anxiety surrounding potential layoffs and shifting corporate priorities is exhausting. I’ve realized that despite optimizing systems and saving the company money, I’m just another number on a spreadsheet to upper management. Now, the thought of re-entering the job market as a junior/mid-level engineer with only about a year of experience is daunting. The competition is fierce, and the interview processes seem broken. This constant uncertainty is starting to dampen my passion for engineering. I’m reaching out to see how others are coping with this mental strain. For those who faced layoffs early in their careers, how did you stay motivated to keep practicing coding and system design when the outcome feels so unpredictable?

I recently found out that Microsoft is laying off around 4,800 employees, which is about 2.1% of their global workforce. As part of this layoff plan, they are offering severance packages that include up to 39 weeks of base pay for most US employees. I’ve seen reports that this is similar to a voluntary retirement package they offered back in June, but this time it’s not optional. The minimum severance is 60 days, which is required by federal law. While layoffs are never easy, I can't help but think that packages like this can make the transition a bit smoother for those affected. It’s a solid offer, and I hope it helps those who are impacted find their next opportunity.

I graduated in 2022 with a BS in Math from a top public university, but I've been struggling to find work for the past four years. My mental health issues affected my grades, which prevented me from securing internships during my studies. Despite my coding skills and coursework in CS and Stats, I've been mass applying to jobs—over 10,000 applications so far—and have only landed a handful of interviews. I've applied for every job I could find, including basic retail, food service, and office positions, but I haven't had any luck. I've even reached out to temp agencies without success. Networking has also been challenging; my family is from a low socioeconomic background, and they don't have connections to help me. I'm considering grad school, but I'm worried about the financial burden, my grades, and being seen as overqualified for entry-level positions. I'm looking for any advice on how to improve my situation.

I’m currently 29 and still interning, which has been weighing heavily on my mind. I’ve always struggled with knowing what I wanted to do with my life, leading me to pursue multiple degrees without a clear direction. I started interning at 23, first in PR for a startup, then in marketing for a large corporation, but neither felt right. After switching to IT and taking a year off to travel and gain new qualifications, I landed an internship at a prestigious company. Now, I find myself surrounded by younger interns, many of whom are in their early 20s, and I can’t help but feel embarrassed about my age. I’ve stopped mentioning it to avoid awkward questions about my background and education. It’s tough to connect with the other interns, especially when I sense a shift in their attitude towards me once they learn my story. I feel lonely and ashamed, questioning whether I’ve wasted my 20s while my peers advance to senior roles. I’m looking for advice on how to cope with this situation and whether others would find it strange to work with someone nearly 30 who is still interning. I just want to feel like I’m on the right path.

I recently received over 400 rejections while applying for jobs with my current resume, and I'm feeling pretty discouraged. I'm looking for advice on how to tailor my resume more effectively. I've been told that my formatting might be an issue, as it seems to be cluttered and difficult to read. Some suggestions included adding more blank space and adjusting the text size. Additionally, I've been advised to limit the number of bullet points for each role to 3-5 key accomplishments instead of listing everything I've done. I understand that I need to highlight the most relevant experiences based on the job descriptions I'm targeting. For example, as an accountant, I should definitely include 'closing the books' in my bullet points since it's a common requirement in most job listings. I'm eager to refine my resume and finally land a job.

I just had a major freakout before my interview at McDonald's. I was so excited to finally get a chance, but then I discovered that my mom used AI to create my resume without me knowing. I only realized today, right before the interview, that it says I'm still in grade 10 when I'm actually in grade 11. Plus, it has the wrong phone number because I’ve never had a cellphone before. I can't change anything because my printer is out of ink, and I'm feeling super stressed. I’ve worked hard to get to this point, and now I feel like AI has messed it all up for me. I just hope I can explain the mistakes if they come up during the interview. This whole situation is just so frustrating!

I finally got an interview after months of being stuck in a dead-end, understaffed, and underpaid job. This opportunity feels like a massive step up in terms of both salary and career growth. I'm really hopeful that I can leave my current toxic environment soon. I know many of us are in similar situations, and I wish everyone the best in their job searches. As long as there's hope, I believe we can move forward!

Today is a tough day for my family as my dad is divorcing my mom. I'm feeling the weight of responsibility because it's just me, my mom, my grandma, and my brother at home. I need to find a high-paying job to support everyone, but I have zero experience beyond working construction, which I really disliked, and stocking shelves at Walmart. My brother gets a monthly check from the VA, but he spends it quickly on drinking and smoking, leaving us in a tight spot. My mom is disabled and can't work, and my grandma is 85 years old. I'm lost on what to do next. Are there online jobs that pay well or any free classes to help me get an education? I just don't see how we can survive on my brother's check alone.

I’m currently navigating a tricky situation with my job history and need some guidance. My background is primarily in accounting and administrative roles, where I’ve excelled. However, I recently attempted to transition into the insurance industry, and it has been a poor fit for me due to my learning disability, which makes analytical tasks and the licensing exam particularly challenging. Here’s a brief overview of my job timeline: - In October 2025, my last stable job ended. - Late 2025 to early 2026, I took on two short-term insurance roles, each lasting less than a month, but they didn’t work out. - Currently, I’m in a new insurance position that I’ve held for about a month, but I must pass the licensing exam soon or face termination. Given my disability, I’m not optimistic about passing. I’m actively looking to return to a more structured accounting or administrative role before my current job ends. I have a few questions: 1. How should I present my recent job history on my resume? Should I just list my last stable job from October 2025 and claim I’ve been selective about my next role, or should I combine my current and past short-term jobs into a single entry labeled "Temporary/Contract Assignments"? 2. When applying for new jobs, should I include my current employer? If I leave them off, would that be considered dishonest? 3. I’m worried about background checks. If a potential employer uses a screening service and checks my payroll records, will omitting my short-term positions jeopardize my chances of getting hired? Do background checks just verify what I list on my resume, or do they check everything? I’m trying to maintain my employment while searching for a more stable position, but I’m concerned that my impending termination and short job stints could hinder my chances of getting back into a solid administrative role. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I volunteered at a charity shop for 8 months, hoping it would lead to a job opportunity. Initially, I was just looking for something to do to improve my mental health while job searching. I enjoyed the work and the social aspect of it. A few months in, I learned that a paid position was opening up due to an employee leaving, so I applied, thinking my experience would give me an edge. I had been doing many of the tasks already, like cashing up and handling admin duties, and I emphasized this during the interview. However, after the interview, I was rejected by the manager's manager. They cited my lack of questions at the end of the interview as a sign of curiosity deficiency, which baffled me since I had been volunteering there for months and had no questions left to ask. I also struggled to provide a specific example for one of their questions about excellent customer service. I'm feeling really down about this. I thought I had a good chance at the job, and it was a blow to my self-esteem to be turned down after all that time and effort. It feels like my dedication meant nothing to them, and I'm struggling to understand why they would choose someone else over a current volunteer who knows the ropes.

I recently hit a staggering milestone of submitting 6,700 job applications without receiving a single response. It feels like the job market is completely dead for me. I've been questioning whether my application materials are the issue or if I'm applying for positions that I'm not actually qualified for. Despite the overwhelming number of applications, not even a single interview request has come my way. I’ve considered sharing my resume for feedback, but I’m skeptical about the responses I might receive. It’s disheartening to hear that some people think it’s a personal problem rather than a market issue. I'm starting to wonder if I need to rethink my strategy or even consider temporary work just to get by.

I recently found myself unemployed in Massachusetts and was selected for the RESEA program. I completed the initial Career Center Seminar, which turned out to be manageable; it mainly involved watching a few videos. However, I'm feeling quite anxious about my upcoming 1:1 meeting with a RESEA specialist. I received an email with the date of the meeting, but it stated that I would get the specific time on the same day, which is frustrating. I need to arrange childcare, and not having a clear time means I have to block off the entire day, potentially wasting my time. Additionally, I was given instructions to print my job search history, but the option they mentioned doesn't seem to exist, making the paperwork feel pointless. I'm really annoyed because this process seems to be taking away from the time I could be using to actively search and apply for jobs. Has anyone else gone through this? I'm curious about how long the RESEA meetings typically last and what time they usually schedule them.