Today, I want to share my experience after being laid off from my position. I know firsthand the feelings of uncertainty, frustration, and discouragement that come with job searching. It's been a tough journey, and I understand how hard it can be to stay hopeful when it feels like every door is closing. However, I firmly believe that our skills and worth have not vanished just because we lost our jobs. We are not obsolete; we still have so much to offer. I want to remind everyone that we are not alone in this. I'm walking this path with you, and I choose to hold on to hope. Let's keep encouraging one another because we never know which opportunity or act of kindness might lead to a brighter tomorrow. Our stories are far from over.

I recently interviewed for a position and felt like I did okay, not great but decent enough. However, I woke up today to find that the same job has been reposted on LinkedIn and the company's website. This has left me feeling anxious about my chances of getting the role. The interview was on Thursday, and the interviewer mentioned I would hear back by the end of next week. Now, seeing the job reposted makes me wonder if I really fumbled the interview. I've received mixed feedback from others, with some saying it's not a good sign while others suggest it could be a standard practice for the company to refresh their listings. I'm trying to stay hopeful but it's hard not to feel discouraged.

I recently applied for a non-technical role at HackerEarth and received an automated test invitation via their platform. I'm uncertain if this test is a general screening for all applicants or if it's specifically for my role. I'm looking for insights from anyone who has applied for non-tech positions at HackerEarth or similar tech companies. Any clarification on their hiring process would be greatly appreciated!

I recently received a job offer for a drilling position with APICO in Khorat, Thailand. The compensation looks attractive, and I’m excited about the prospect of working abroad. However, I have some reservations as things seem a bit off. I've exchanged emails and even printed out contracts, but I haven't shared any personal information yet. They’ve mentioned topics like passports and insurance, which raises some red flags for me. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has experience with this company or the drilling sector in Thailand to help me make an informed decision.

I recently accepted a job offer with a new employer, set to start on October 26. I had planned everything out, thinking the background verification would be completed quickly, allowing me to resign from my current job and finish my notice period before starting the new role. However, the background check took longer than anticipated. On October 14, I submitted my resignation after receiving a verbal go-ahead from the recruiter regarding the background check. Unfortunately, I didn't clarify that I would be resigning right after our conversation. Now, my current employer has confirmed that my last working day will be October 30, which conflicts with my new employer's expectation for me to start on October 26, four days before I finish at my current job. I’m considering asking my new employer to postpone my start date to November 2, but I’m worried about how this might be perceived. I’ve already accepted the offer and started the onboarding process, but I haven’t yet discussed the potential delay with the recruiter. I’m committed to joining and not reconsidering the offer, but I realize I should have confirmed the timing before resigning. I’m reaching out to HR professionals and hiring managers for advice on how to approach this situation. Specifically, I’d like to know how they would handle a request to postpone a start date by a week, if this could raise concerns about my reliability or commitment, and if it’s realistic to worry about the offer being withdrawn over this adjustment. Additionally, should I explain the background check delay or simply state that my last day at my current job is October 30?

I was laid off from my job about five months ago, and the job search has been really challenging. I haven't shared this news with my parents or friends, as I'm trying to handle it on my own. To manage my finances, I've been budgeting strictly and focusing on essentials. I've taken to cooking most of my meals at home, but I treat myself to eating out occasionally. To keep my mind occupied, I've been working on personal projects and have decided to step back from social media and streaming, as they feel draining. Instead, I find myself reading posts on Reddit now and then. For entertainment, I go out for walks, and I sometimes spend time just wandering around the mall. I'm trying to stay positive through this tough time.

I have faced two layoffs in less than five years while working in the higher education sector. The first layoff occurred in 2022 at a for-profit university, which was attributed to the impacts of COVID-19. Most recently, I was laid off from a public state university just three weeks ago. These experiences have prompted me to rethink my career trajectory and consider opportunities outside of higher education. Although I am a certified teacher, I have no desire to return to full-time teaching. After trying my hand at substitute teaching for the past few weeks, I realized it’s not the right long-term fit for me. I'm now actively seeking a career pivot and have an interview lined up for a non-profit role on Monday, fingers crossed!

I reached out to the recruiter to check on the status of my interview, hoping for some good news. Unfortunately, I received an automated rejection letter yesterday. I'm feeling really down about it and frustrated with the whole job search process right now.

I recently faced a tough decision regarding my job situation. After working for a large healthcare organization for 2 and a half years on a contract that was set to expire in March 2027, I found myself without any benefits, vacation, or sick days—just my hourly wage plus a small vacation pay. I loved my role, but the lack of job security and the way the position was funded led me to seek other opportunities as I was starting to feel burnt out. I applied for several positions in my community and eventually secured a short 5-month contract with my municipality. This role offers health benefits after three months, which was a significant factor for me. Even if I only stay for the contract duration, I would still receive two months of benefits. I went through a lengthy interviewing and onboarding process for this position. Just as I started at the municipality, I received a job offer from a community legal aid provider. This position is a multi-year contract, offers paid time off, but lacks benefits. The legal aid job is very close to my dream job, while the municipality role is something I have experience in and can perform well. However, I have mobility limitations that make walking and standing for long periods painful. The municipality job requires a lot of physical activity, whereas the legal aid position would mostly be in an office setting. The pay for both jobs is similar, so that isn't a deciding factor. Additionally, there’s a possibility of going back to the healthcare organization in March on another contract, which complicates my decision further. My husband believes I should leave the municipality for the legal aid job, but I'm hesitant to burn any bridges professionally. The potential for a permanent position at the municipality is appealing. Now, I have to quickly decide whether to stay at the municipality until March, enjoying the benefits but with no job guarantees after that, or to leave for the legal aid provider, which offers job security for several years but no benefits. I would appreciate any neutral advice or input on this dilemma!

I quit my software developer job of three years about five months ago because I was feeling burnt out. I thought taking a break would help me recharge, but instead, I’ve been dealing with family issues and the stress of being unemployed has made me feel worthless. I really enjoyed my time at my previous job, which was fully remote and at a top 100 company, and now I’m regretting my decision to leave. With the job market being affected by AI, I’m worried that finding a similar role will be nearly impossible. I feel like I need to start job hunting soon since I don’t want to have a long gap on my resume, but I just don’t have the motivation to do so. It’s frustrating to think I left my job for nothing, especially since I thought I would be able to take this time to recover. Financially, I’m okay, but I’m really concerned about my career moving forward.

I recently found myself in a tricky situation regarding unemployment benefits. I had accepted a job offer (let's call it Job A) but soon realized it was unsuitable for me. Luckily, I received another job offer (Job B) that I was excited about, but it wouldn't start for another week. I was wondering if I could back out of Job A and still claim unemployment for that week before Job B started. After seeking advice, it seems that backing out might not be the best idea. Many suggested that doing so could trigger a review by the unemployment agency, which could lead to my benefits being denied. The consensus was to tough it out at Job A until Job B begins, or just take the week off without pay if I hadn't officially started at Job A yet. It’s a frustrating situation, but I want to make sure I navigate it correctly.

I just found out today that my hours at the bakery where I work have been significantly reduced due to financial issues. Starting Monday, I’ll only be working two days a week instead of the five days I was previously scheduled for. I’m considering applying for partial unemployment but I'm unsure about the timing. Should I wait until I receive my first paycheck reflecting the reduced hours, or can I apply now? I'm also curious about what information the EDD will require from me to process my claim. Is it just my word about the hours being cut, or do they need to see my pay stubs? This is my first time dealing with unemployment benefits, so I’m feeling a bit lost.

This week, I experienced a layoff that I both anticipated and didn't see coming. Over the past few months, our unit had gone through some significant leadership changes, and I had a sense that things were unstable. However, during a recent team meeting, my manager assured us that our team would not be affected, which made me let my guard down. I thought I had some time, maybe until the end of the year, to figure things out. But then, during my usual 1-on-1 this Thursday, I logged in to find my manager and another person waiting for me. It was a shock. I still don't know if my entire team was let go or if it was just me; my manager seemed unaware as well. I had been in my role for less than two years, having started in May. I genuinely enjoyed my job, and for the first time in a while, my mental health felt stable. Looking back, I realize I had been aware that this position might not be my long-term career. There was a clear ceiling, my role was limited in scope, and I wasn't involved in the major projects of my team. I was comfortable, and I had planned to move on in a few years if I didn't receive a meaningful raise. I never expected it would happen so soon and that I would lose control over the situation. On the bright side, I have two years' worth of savings plus a decent severance package, so I should be financially secure for a while. However, the thought of job hunting again fills me with dread. Since starting this job, I've often woken up in the middle of the night, panicking at the idea of going through the interview and onboarding process again. Right now, I feel sick and hopeless about what comes next.

I recently had a conversation with a recruiter about a position I'm interested in, and I shared my salary expectations. The job posting mentioned a pay range of $45–$50/hour, so when asked, I said I was open to that range, considering the commission and bonus structure. However, I'm now feeling uncertain about whether I hurt my chances of negotiating a better salary. The position actually has a higher hourly rate but offers lower commission than what I’m used to. I believe I’m very qualified for the role, but I’m second-guessing myself. I wonder if I should have specified a narrower range, like $48–$50, instead. If HR comes back with an offer of $45/hour, I’m not sure how I can negotiate closer to $50 after indicating I was open to that initial range. Has anyone else been in a similar situation and managed to negotiate successfully?

I was recently let go from my management position due to what my employer labeled as "unsatisfactory performance." Initially, I struggled in the role, but I made significant improvements over time, as noted by my peers. Unfortunately, I faced some hostility from a few coworkers who seemed to take issue with me, which made the situation even more challenging. After my termination, I applied for unemployment benefits but was denied due to claims of misconduct. I filed an appeal, clearly outlining how my performance issues do not equate to misconduct. Just a week later, while waiting for my hearing date, I received a call from my former employer. I chose not to answer, as it felt suspicious and I wasn't in the right mindset to defend myself. Now, I'm unsure if I should respond to them or just wait for the hearing. Any advice on how to handle this situation would be appreciated.

I’ve been feeling uneasy about my part-time tutoring job at a learning center in the southern US. While I’ve been searching for a full-time position in my field, my boss initially promised to gradually increase my hours. However, I’ve been stuck with only 10-12 hours a week, which isn’t enough for me. When I’ve asked for more hours, my texts seem to go ignored. Last week, during fall break, I was scheduled for 6 hours, but when I showed up, I found my regular students were with another tutor. This week, I was only scheduled for 4 hours. It feels like my boss is intentionally reducing my hours. Additionally, he only pays for the exact hours scheduled, and I’m expected to arrive early without compensation. I’ve also stayed late when parents were late picking up their kids, but I don’t get paid for that either. The time sheet is even off by 30 minutes, which seems suspicious. I suspect he’s trying to push me out, especially since he’s hired new tutors who I believe are being paid less than I am. I’ve been a reliable worker, but I’ve started coming in right on time instead of early, and I think that might have upset him. There was also a minor issue about the center being left unlocked, which wasn’t my responsibility, but I feel like it’s being used against me. I texted my boss to ask about the reduced hours, but he hasn’t responded. I’m seriously considering giving my two weeks’ notice, even without another job lined up.

I recently left a secure $200k guaranteed sales management position to join a residential HVAC startup that offered equity and the chance to build and lead the sales department. Initially, I was optimistic about earning between $200k and $250k a year, but the lead volume has been significantly lower than expected. My starting draw was $8k a month, and now they've proposed a $52k base salary plus commissions, which feels frustrating, especially since other partners are earning much more guaranteed pay. I do hold 2.5% equity in the company, with the promise of an increase, but there's no written guarantee for that. Now, I have an offer from a well-established commercial mechanical company, where I would be selling preventative maintenance contracts. This role comes with a $150k guarantee for the first year and the potential to build a recurring income through renewals, service, and replacement sales. However, I would be starting to build my client base from scratch. With a new baby at home, the idea of a more predictable schedule is becoming increasingly appealing. I’m also feeling burnt out from the residential kitchen-table sales approach. The only thing really keeping me at the startup is the potential equity and leadership opportunities. Has anyone else faced a similar decision? Would you choose the stability of a commercial role over the uncertain upside of a startup?

I was recently let go from my position as a waiter at a restaurant that is part of a larger restaurant group. I joined less than two months ago during a mass hiring event, where we were all promised full-time hours due to our financial obligations. However, I quickly found myself on a zero-hour contract with only 5 hours over the course of two weeks, which was alarming. I reached out to the General Manager via email, expressing my concerns and asking if the situation was personal. She assured me that it wasn’t and promised to help me secure more shifts, even offering to arrange hours at other locations within the group. Just a week later, I was shocked to be let go for 'poor performance.' During my time there, I had received no constructive criticism, was given VIP tables, and was recognized for my quick training. I always arrived early and never called in sick. In the meeting where I was terminated, I wasn't provided with any specific examples of poor performance, which made the situation even more confusing. I suspect my termination was a result of the restaurant being overstaffed and my previous complaints about hours. Now, I'm left wondering what my next steps should be, especially since this restaurant group is well-known in the city and I fear that being labeled as 'not good enough' will hinder my chances of finding another job. I'm already in a financial bind due to the lack of hours, and I'm not sure where to turn for help.

After a year of unemployment, I am excited to share that I received a temporary job offer that could potentially turn into a permanent position. I start on Monday! This past year has been filled with a lot of uncertainty and challenges, but I managed to stay strong through it all. I know how tough the job search can be, so I want to encourage anyone else who is looking not to be too hard on themselves. Even though other aspects of my life are currently difficult, this job opportunity gives me hope for better days ahead.

After my recent layoff from a tech company where I worked as a project manager, I’ve been reflecting on how easy it is to fade into obscurity. I’ve noticed that once you step away from the corporate environment, people really do forget you quickly. Many of the colleagues I thought were friends have moved on, and it’s become clear that a lot of those relationships were more about convenience than genuine connection. It’s a bit disheartening, but I’ve come to realize that unless you’ve built authentic relationships outside of work, it’s almost immediate how quickly you become an afterthought. I’m finding a strange sense of freedom in this new phase of my life, and it’s surprisingly easy to embrace the quiet.