Applied to a Job

I graduated this past spring with a B.S. in Business Administration, concentrating in Finance. Since then, I’ve been actively applying for entry-level finance, analyst, and administrative roles, but I haven’t had much luck securing a position. My long-term goal is to work in municipal finance or corporate finance, and I’ve recently been focusing more on local government positions as I seem to get more responses there, even if they are rejections. Over the past year, I've had about four interviews with various cities, but none have led to a job offer. One internship I applied for had around 200 applicants, and while I did get an interview, I wasn’t selected. I was even open to taking an unpaid finance internship with another city, but it ultimately came down to me and another candidate, and she got the role. This experience has led me to question whether I should continue pursuing entry-level roles or consider going back to school. I’ve noticed that many finance leadership positions in government highly value or prefer candidates with a CPA. In fact, I've interviewed with city managers who hold CPA licenses. I’m now contemplating applying to graduate programs for a Master’s in Accounting for Fall 2027, potentially at USC or similar schools. My goal would be to complete the necessary accounting coursework and sit for the CPA exam. I believe this could help me gain the credential, build a stronger foundation in accounting, and open doors to internships or opportunities that might be harder to access otherwise. So, I’m at a crossroads: should I keep pursuing entry-level roles to gain experience, or should I return to school for a MAcc and CPA?

Applied at Alliance Health for Executive Assistant

Applied at The Core Tech for Unknown

I’m currently in the job search phase and feeling pretty frustrated. I’m 17 and trying to find my first job, but it seems like everyone around me has already landed a position. I've sent out over 30 applications, but I've only managed to secure three interviews. Unfortunately, two of those ended in rejection, and the third one ghosted me completely. It was especially disheartening because the interviewer seemed to like me, and I followed up multiple times only to be told that my name would be passed to the hiring manager, but nothing came of it. I’m really feeling the pinch financially and just want to find something to get started.

I recently started working at a local catering and carryout company, where I've been for a little over two months. Initially, I really enjoyed the job; the customers were great, and my coworkers were awesome. However, the past month has been incredibly challenging. My boss has been yelling at me over minor issues and things that aren't even my fault. It's frustrating because he also yells at my manager, who is really cool and supportive. One of the biggest issues is the loneliness of the job. I run the entire store almost by myself, only getting about an hour of help from my manager before I'm left alone for 3-6 hours. During that time, I handle everything from cashiering and food prep to cleaning and restocking, all for just over $10 an hour after taxes. Today was particularly exhausting. I was supposed to learn how to open the store on a day we were closed, but instead of a quick one-hour training, my boss lectured us for five hours, which could have been much shorter if he let us work. My manager and I have both noticed how difficult our boss makes things, and we're just trying to get through it together. I'm actively applying to new jobs and plan to look for delivery driver positions when I turn 18. I'm even considering putting in my two weeks' notice early, which could risk my co-op in school, but I can't keep doing this. Hearing about my classmates' easier jobs makes me realize how tough my situation is.

I'm 22, soon to be 23, and I just graduated with dual bachelor's degrees in finance and management from two prestigious universities in different countries through an international program. Despite having three internships and being actively involved in student organizations, I feel lost compared to my peers, many of whom have secured jobs or are pursuing their passions. Currently, I'm working a part-time job for just 12 hours a week, which isn't enough to ease my anxiety about the future. I'm applying for full-time positions and studying for additional certifications like the FMVA and CFA, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm wasting my parents' money on something that might not lead to a job. I'm genuinely worried about whether I'm falling behind in life at my age.

I got the job!!! After a long 10 months of applying and facing numerous rejections, I’m thrilled to share that I accepted a new job offer. I’m transitioning from retail management to an administrative role in manufacturing. Throughout this journey, I applied for 53 positions, which led to one intake, one interview, and ultimately one job offer. I knew that if I could just get to the interview stage, I would have a strong chance. The role I accepted is exactly what I was looking for, with great pay and significant growth potential. I’m really looking forward to this new chapter in my career!

I had two interviews last week, and they couldn't be more different from each other. I've been job searching since April 2026 after a reduction in force at my job of 12 years in healthcare IT, where I worked as an implementation specialist and sometimes as a project manager. After a long period of silence in my job search, I finally received responses from two companies and interviewed with both. Both positions are remote, but they offer vastly different experiences. **Job 1** is a management role outside of healthcare, but it comes with a starting salary that is $10k-15k less than what I was making. A significant downside is that they require the camera to be on 90% of the time, even when I'm not on calls with clients. It feels like constant surveillance, which is quite off-putting. **Job 2**, on the other hand, is within my industry but is not a managerial position. The starting base pay is $30k less than my previous salary, but the camera policy is much more relaxed—only on for big all-hands meetings. I'm torn between these two options and would appreciate any thoughts or advice on what to consider if I receive offers from either.

I recently faced a tough situation at my fast food job where I've been employed for 15 months. My manager told me to remove the establishment from my resume and to take him off as a reference because I've called out sick six times. I typically work between 1 to 4 shifts a week, and I feel like that’s not an unreasonable number of sick days, especially considering my friends think I don’t call out enough. I'm really confused about whether six sick days is too much and if my manager has the right to dictate what I include on my resume while still expecting me to work there. I'm also wondering if I can ask a different coworker to be my reference without facing any backlash from him. On top of this, I've been job hunting for over six months and had eight interviews this month but haven't landed anything. The demand for entry-level customer service roles in my area is really high, and I'm not looking to switch to a different type of work.

Today, I officially became displaced from my role due to company restructuring. My department was asked to apply for new positions with increased responsibilities but no additional pay, and most required returning to the office. After evaluating the new roles, I decided they weren't for me, so I applied for just one position that I knew I likely wouldn't get, hoping it would trigger a layoff to secure my unemployment and severance benefits. Thankfully, my plan worked, and I wasn't offered the position. Recently, we received an email stating that backfill positions will be posted soon, and HR will be reaching out to discuss next steps for displaced employees. I'm anxious about this meeting—will they try to push me into one of those backfill roles? I want to know if I can refuse without risking my benefits. I hope I'm just overthinking it and that the meeting is actually about my layoff.

I took 5 days to respond to a job opportunity that a recruiter reached out to me about. They followed up after 2 days, and I finally replied expressing my interest. I’ve been juggling a sub gig and didn’t plan on looking for something new until December, which is why I delayed my response. I do have relevant experience, but I’m worried that my late reply might make them think I’m not really interested. I’ve seen some comments suggesting that this could hurt my chances, and now I’m feeling anxious about the whole situation.

I experienced a significant setback after losing my house in the 2025 Eaton Fire in Altadena, CA. The aftermath of the fire forced me to focus on my family's recovery, which ultimately led to my layoff. With over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications, I believed I could contribute meaningfully to organizations assisting in our community's recovery. However, my efforts to secure a position were met with disappointment. Despite sharing my personal story to highlight my connection to the community, many organizations either ignored my applications or left me waiting for months without updates. In some cases, they even altered job descriptions mid-process, which felt particularly disheartening. It's frustrating to see these organizations, who claim to support our community, opting to hire outsiders who lack a genuine understanding of our needs. I hope to find a role with an organization that truly values local experience and commitment.

I want to share my journey after being laid off unexpectedly at the end of April 2026. I was fortunate to receive three months of pay and benefits according to my contract, but I started job hunting immediately and faced a long stretch of silence. It became quite stressful, especially since I am the main breadwinner in my family. My husband and I made some tough decisions to cut back on expenses, like canceling our home phone and cable, and adjusting our energy usage to save money. I work in a niche industry where everyone is somewhat connected, and although I had planned to move away from my previous line of work, I decided to apply for roles in that area since they typically pay well. I was initially hesitant, but after some reflection and prayer, I accepted that I might need to go back to that field. To my surprise, I received a full-time job offer that included benefits and a pension, and it paid almost the same as my previous job! I felt a wave of relief wash over me, and I wanted to share this because I know how tough it can be. If I can find hope and a job after such a challenging time, I truly believe others can too. Don't lose hope and consider unconventional paths if you need to!

Applied at Chipotle for Dishwasher

Applied at McDonald's for Unknown

Applied at Walgreens for Unknown

I’m feeling really frustrated with the job search process right now. It seems like everyone thinks that finding a new job is as simple as walking into a store and asking for an application. But the reality is so much more complicated. I recently saw a job posting that said "INQUIRE WITHIN," so I thought I’d go in and talk to someone directly. Instead, I was directed to their website, which started a long and tedious application process. First, I had to create an account with a password I know I’ll forget. Then, I uploaded my résumé, only to be asked to manually enter my entire employment history again—everything was already on the résumé! After that, I had to fill out a lengthy questionnaire that felt like it took forever. Once I submitted everything, I realized I still hadn’t spoken to a human being. Now, I have to wait for an AI resume-screening bot to decide if my application is even worth considering. This whole process is exhausting, and it feels like I’m just going in circles. When people tell me to "just get another job," they make it sound so easy. But it’s really about searching through listings, creating countless accounts, filling out repetitive forms, and often getting ghosted. It’s disheartening to think about how much effort goes into applying for jobs these days.

I recently interviewed for a teller lead position at PNC after the branch manager encouraged me to apply. After the interview, I was offered a salary of $48,000 along with some benefits. I have limited banking experience but have about three years in management and cash handling. After researching the salary range in my area, I found that the average was between $50,000 and $52,000. I decided to negotiate, asking the recruiter if the salary was flexible. He said I could try, but when I asked for $50,000, he outright denied it, stating that $49,000 was the average for my area. I then requested that they at least match the $49,000, and he agreed to talk to his senior about it. However, after two days of silence, he informed me that another candidate had emerged and they would be interviewing him soon. I was left wondering if I had made a mistake by negotiating. I would have accepted the initial offer of $48,000 if I knew it would lead to this situation. I even followed up with an email asking if they would still interview other candidates if I accepted the offer, and he confirmed that they would. It’s frustrating to think that my attempt to negotiate may have cost me the job.

I graduated last summer with a degree in technology and information management, but I'm currently stuck working in retail. I've been applying for entry-level IT systems specialist positions, but unfortunately, I keep getting rejected. I'm feeling frustrated because I thought my degree and customer service experience would be enough to land me an interview. I'm eager to find a job where I can actually use my degree. If I can't secure an IT specialist role right away, I'm looking for advice on other entry-level jobs I could apply to that might eventually lead me into the IT field.

I recently came across a job opportunity for a Brand Data Contributor at Devfarahead.org while searching for work-from-home positions. I’ve been actively submitting my resume and was surprised to receive a text about this role. The pay seems unusually high for the type of work involved, which raises my suspicions about the legitimacy of the offer. I'm feeling cautious and suspect it might be a scam, so I’m reaching out to see if anyone has any real information or experiences with this company.