Applied to a Job

I recently went through four rounds of interviews for a position at a company and on June 12, they asked me to provide references, which I did right away. I informed my references to expect a call or email from the HR team. On June 17, I was notified that HR had reached out to my references to schedule a time for a call. I followed up with my references on June 18 to ensure they received the communication, and both confirmed they did. One of my references mentioned they provided their availability for this week (June 22-26), but the other didn't confirm if they responded. I'm feeling a bit anxious that they might have overlooked the email and not followed up. I haven't heard anything from either my references or HR since then. I'm wondering when would be a good time to check in with my references to make sure they completed the reference check, as I'm worried they might forget. I also want to know who I should contact about this—my references directly or HR? I don't want to seem like I'm micromanaging my references, but I also don't want to annoy HR. I'm a recent graduate, so I'm feeling a bit out of my depth here.

I'm currently a Computer Science student at Simon Fraser University, and I have two semesters left until I graduate. I've been actively searching for IT internships and have applied to over 200 positions, but so far I've only landed one group interview. I'm feeling a bit discouraged and would appreciate any advice or tips on how to improve my chances of securing an internship before graduation.

I received a callback from a company I met at a career fair back in February. After a decent interview in March, I didn't hear back until the end of April. They requested additional information for my application for the University Check-In position, which I provided through their website. Since then, I haven’t received any further communication, and my application status still says 'under consideration.' As a new graduate navigating the job market, I'm feeling a bit lost and confused about this process. Is this typical? I’ve been continuing my job search in the meantime.

Applied at FedEx for Unknown

Applied at Culver's for Team Member

Applied at Mojo for Unknown

I’ve been laid off for 60 days now after spending 6 years as an account executive at a major SaaS company, and I’m starting to feel the pressure. My COBRA benefits are about to expire in a week, which means I’ll have to pay out of pocket for health insurance. This is particularly stressful since my wife is currently dealing with complications from a recent miscarriage. I had a feeling that the layoff was coming, so I started my job search back in February. I’ve been reaching out to companies where I have solid connections, hoping they could help me land interviews. I went through 7 rounds with one company but didn’t make it past the final interview. Another company ghosted me after 3 rounds, and I’m currently in the second round with a different organization, but I’m not feeling very optimistic about it. I’ve received a lot of messages from recruiters on LinkedIn, and while some conversations have been promising, one opportunity fell through because we weren’t aligned on compensation. I’m trying to figure out how to ramp up my job search. I’ve utilized AI tools to identify additional companies where I might fit, but without personal connections, it’s tough to turn those leads into real opportunities. I have 12 years of experience, 8 of which are in the SaaS industry, and I’d prefer not to settle for just any job. I’m hoping to find a role that I’d be genuinely happy in, especially since I’m looking forward to starting a family soon. However, I’m aware that my financial runway is only about 5 months long before I really need to find something. I’m seeking advice on how to intensify my job search and avoid feeling forced into a position that doesn’t meet my expectations.

I was laid off in January 2025 due to business closures while working as a manager at a movie theater. I also have experience as an art teacher and in the entertainment sector in LA. After my layoff, I took it easy for a while to finish my degree, but I still applied to over 200 jobs of various types. I collected unemployment and did some volunteering, but now that it's 2026, I've ramped up my job search and recently hit 300 applications. It's been incredibly frustrating to receive little to no feedback. I understand the job market is tough for everyone, but I can't help feeling annoyed and disheartened. I've had to move back home and, on top of that, I've taken on the role of a maid for my brothers and father. My dad has even stopped talking to me, which makes it harder as I try to explain the current job market to him. His disappointment has really taken a toll on my confidence. I'm reaching out for any sliver of hope or help because I'm not sure how much longer I can keep going like this.

A few weeks ago, I was on the job hunt and came across a dog adoption store that seemed like a great fit. I called to inquire about job openings, and the employee I spoke with was really friendly. She told me they were hiring and suggested I apply on Indeed, even though I had already submitted my application through their website. She mentioned that she had a good experience applying on Indeed and recommended I do the same, especially since the manager was on vacation until Monday. Taking her advice, I applied on Indeed, highlighting my previous experience as a sales associate, pet caretaker, and front desk staff. I also crafted a thoughtful message summarizing my background with pets, including my experience with dogs, cats, and even a bunny. I felt confident about my application. However, when I checked back on Monday, I saw that my application had been viewed, but I was marked as not selected. I couldn't help but laugh at the situation. I followed all the advice given to me, presented my experience well, and still got rejected. It’s frustrating to think that my application might have been overlooked automatically without proper consideration. But I guess that's just how the job search goes sometimes.

I had an interview scheduled with the VP of a tech company for a senior product manager position. This was a significant opportunity for me as I've been looking to advance my career after being laid off from my previous role at a startup. I prepared extensively, researching the company's recent projects and the VP's background. The interview went well, and I felt confident about my responses and the rapport I built. I'm now waiting to hear back about the next steps in the hiring process.

I recently went through a background check for a job I applied to as a marketing coordinator at a mid-sized tech company. Unfortunately, I found out that the results were not as favorable as I had hoped. There were some discrepancies related to my previous employment dates and a minor legal issue from several years ago that I thought was resolved. Now, I'm feeling anxious about how to address these issues during the interview process. I'm considering being upfront about the discrepancies and explaining the context behind them, but I'm unsure how to frame it positively. I want to show that I've learned from my past and am committed to moving forward. Any advice on how to tackle this conversation effectively would be greatly appreciated.

I recently interviewed for a job and am currently waiting to hear back about an offer. Unfortunately, I had to recreate my resume from memory because the file was corrupted and lost. In the process, I realized that I made some mistakes with the dates. My previous job actually ended on April 30th, but I mistakenly listed it as June. Additionally, I noted that I started my current job in August when it was actually October. I've been in this role for five years now, so I didn't think to check my bank statements from six years ago for accurate dates. I'm concerned about whether these inaccuracies will be an issue during a background check and if I should clarify this if I receive an offer.

After months of applying for jobs manually, I finally decided to invest in paid resume tools. I was spending about 45 minutes on each application, meticulously matching my resume to the job descriptions. Out of 80 applications, I only received around 12 responses, which was incredibly frustrating. The time I was wasting was just too much, so I caved and tried some paid options. I did the math and realized that if a service costs $20 a month and saves me half an hour per application, I need to be applying to at least 15-20 jobs in that month for it to be worth it. I tracked my cost per response and found that while the manual method was free, it was exhausting. The paid service reduced my cost to about $1.50 per response, but only because I was applying to over 25 jobs a month. I still believe that manual applications are better when targeting my top three companies, especially when writing custom cover letters. However, when I’m in 'spray and pray' mode, trying to get past the ATS, the paid tools saved me roughly 10 hours a week. One important note: don’t expect these tools to guarantee interviews. They help you get past the initial filters so your skills can shine, but the interview itself is still up to you.

I recently landed my first full-time job after graduating with a B.A. in anthropology last month! Initially, I was feeling pretty hopeless as I applied for numerous entry-level research and outreach positions, but I wasn't getting any responses. Even a referral to a local nonprofit from my environmental studies advisor didn't lead anywhere. The job I accepted isn't exactly what I envisioned; I'm essentially working as a customer service representative. However, I'm excited because I'm representing a company in one of my fields of interest, and the pay is decent for my area. Plus, there's an internal career advancement program that I'm eager to take advantage of. My goal is to either move into a more fulfilling role in a few years or use this position to fund a Master's degree. Overall, I see this as a significant win, especially considering my unique background with my chosen first name and ethnic-sounding last name. I did turn down an offer from Dunkin Donuts, which I only applied to out of desperation. Looking forward to what the future holds!

I applied to 40 jobs this month and have been completely ghosted by all of them. It's honestly frustrating and feels surreal. I've tailored each application specifically to the roles I'm interested in, yet I haven't received a single response—no acknowledgment, not even a generic rejection email. It's like I'm shouting into a void. I've been wondering if the job market has changed drastically, or if I'm just unlucky. The silence from every company is disheartening. I’ve been using various job platforms to broaden my search, but it seems like I’m hitting a wall everywhere. I can't help but question if these job listings are even legitimate or if they’re just 'ghost jobs' meant to inflate numbers. Is anyone else feeling this level of ghosting lately? It seems like companies might just be collecting resumes without any real intention to hire. I’d love to hear if anyone else is experiencing the same thing.

I've been on the job hunt for nearly two years now, primarily in New York City, and I'm feeling really frustrated. Despite holding a B.A. in Psychology and recently earning my CMAA (Certified Medical Administrative Assistant) credential, I haven't had much luck. My background is mainly in human services, with some experience in administration and hospitality, but I've been applying to healthcare administration and court/legal administration roles for months and hardly receive any callbacks. I'm eager to transition into healthcare or the court system as a court analyst or aide, but it seems like I'm missing something. I'm open to having someone review my resume or provide any tips that could help me improve my chances. I also noticed that many positions prefer bilingual candidates, which I am not, and I wonder if that’s affecting my applications. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I've been working at an aerospace company for the last 4-5 years, and honestly, it's been a rough ride. The treatment I've received has left me feeling undervalued and anxious. I've been trying to navigate this situation, but the advice I've been getting from people around me feels so generic and unhelpful. They keep saying things like 'just find another job' or 'don't resign on the spot,' but with the job market being so tough right now, it's not that simple. I've been applying to various positions, but all I've gotten back are rejections and ghosting, which only adds to my anxiety. My parents, who come from a South Asian background, don't really understand what I'm going through, which makes it even harder. I'm planning to go back to therapy this week, but I feel stuck and hopeless. It's frustrating to hear the same old advice when I'm looking for something more tailored to my situation. I'm really at a loss about what to do next. Should I keep waiting for a better opportunity, or is it time to consider a more drastic change?

Today, I experienced a frustrating moment in my job search. I applied for a senior developer position at a mid-sized fintech company this morning, and I was promptly rejected by their AI system in just 42 seconds. I submitted my application and went to grab a coffee, only to find a rejection email waiting for me on my phone before I even took a sip. The automated response cited that I lacked specific experience with 'NexusFlow,' which was a hard requirement for the role. The irony? I was part of the core team that developed NexusFlow at my previous company. I spent three years working on it, and my contributions are documented in the code and project files. Yet, because I didn't use the exact phrasing the AI was looking for, it decided I wasn't qualified. It's honestly laughable how these companies are struggling to find talent while relying on poorly calibrated algorithms that miss out on the very people who created the technologies they use. I didn't even get a chance to speak to a human being—just a quick trip to the digital trash can. I guess I should have focused more on optimizing my resume for an algorithm rather than on the actual development of the tool.

I applied for a mid-level cloud engineer role at a mid-sized tech platform last week, and the initial automated response seemed promising. Yesterday, a recruiter reached out via email, but instead of scheduling a quick fifteen-minute screening call, she attached a massive PDF document containing a mandatory technical evaluation task that I need to submit within forty-eight hours. The task requires me to design a highly available, multi-region AWS infrastructure architecture from scratch. They want full network diagrams, cost optimization estimates, a detailed disaster recovery strategy, and even working Terraform scripts to provision the environment. This isn't just a simple quiz; it's a full-scale architecture blueprint that would take me about twelve to fifteen hours of solid engineering work to complete. What frustrates me the most is that I haven't even spoken to a real person at the company yet. They are asking candidates to invest a significant amount of time doing free consulting work before determining if my background aligns with their needs. I replied to the recruiter, stating that I would be willing to do a live design session or a small technical test after an initial interview, but I can't justify creating a complete production roadmap for free. The recruiter responded with a generic message saying that the assignment is non-negotiable. I decided to archive the email threads and close the tab. The entitlement of tech companies in this market is outrageous. They know people are desperate for roles and are trying to extract free labor from applicants. Instead of working on their assignment, I’ll spend my evening developing my own lab environment.

I just landed a job yesterday, and I couldn't be more excited! I've been searching for a position since late last year, and it has truly been a rollercoaster ride. I faced numerous rejections, and often, companies didn't even respond to my applications. Last week, I received an email inviting me for a Zoom interview with a prefab housing company. They informed me that I was qualified for the next round, which involved an interview with the Head of HR, followed by the President of the company. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, and I signed my contract the Friday before I started. Yesterday was my first day, and it went really well! I met some nice coworkers, and I feel like I have a great team and boss. Today is my second day, and I’m feeling optimistic. Wish me luck!