Applied to a Job

I recently graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering, and I'm feeling really lost. It's been tough because all my classmates have secured jobs, and I'm the only one left without an offer. Since May 8, 2026, I've applied to over 300 positions and only managed to land about 5 interviews, but none of them turned into job offers. I can't help but feel like a failure. To make matters worse, I never really wanted to pursue engineering; I chose it for the financial security it supposedly offers, but now I feel trapped in a field I despise. The pressure from my Indian family and friends is overwhelming, as they express disappointment in my situation. I'm dealing with a mix of career pivot anxiety and unemployment anxiety, and it's all becoming too much. I'm reaching out to see if anyone else has experienced something similar or has any advice on how to navigate this challenging time.

I recently graduated high school in May 2026 and have been actively applying for jobs in Bakersfield, California since then. Despite my efforts, I haven't had much luck landing a position yet. With August here, I'm wondering if it's a good time to continue applying or if I should wait until September when more positions might open up as people leave for school. I've mostly focused on entry-level roles in retail and food service, and while I've had a few interviews, none have resulted in a job offer. I'm looking for advice from anyone familiar with the hiring landscape in Bakersfield or who has been in a similar situation. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I'm feeling really frustrated with the job market as a recent graduate. I've put in a ton of effort to prepare myself for this moment. Over the past few years, I've become quite skilled in competitive programming, achieving over 2350+ on LeetCode, becoming a Codeforces Expert, and earning a 6★ on CodeChef. I've also tackled over 1300 data structures and algorithms problems and learned a variety of technologies including JavaScript, React, Node.js, Express, MongoDB, SQL, Git, and C++. I've even built full-stack projects to showcase my abilities. Despite all this preparation, the hardest part has been actually landing interviews. I've spent months applying through various channels like company portals, LinkedIn, job boards, and even leveraging referrals, but most of my applications go unanswered. A few that do get a response often end in rejection before I even get a chance to speak with anyone. I’m not expecting companies to hire me solely based on my coding skills; I just find it disheartening that all my hard work hasn’t translated into any interview opportunities. I’m really curious to hear from hiring managers and other recent graduates about what they think has changed in the hiring landscape. Has competitive programming lost its appeal for freshers? Do projects, internships, and referrals hold more weight now? Or is the job market just so saturated that even qualified candidates are getting overlooked? It feels like something is genuinely broken in this job market.

I’m feeling really stuck in my job search and could use some guidance on what positions I should realistically be looking for given my background and current situation. I’m a single mother in my early 30s raising two-year-old twins on my own in South Carolina. My partner passed away last year, so I don’t have anyone to help with childcare or emergencies, which makes my need for a stable job even more pressing. Currently, my children receive a childcare scholarship that will end in October, and since the state has paused new applications, I’m anxious to find stable employment before I potentially lose affordable childcare. Ideally, I’m looking for a remote job, but I’m also open to hybrid or quiet office positions as long as the schedule is predictable and the pay is sufficient to cover childcare costs. I can’t accept jobs with unpredictable shifts or strict attendance policies that penalize me for my kids being sick. I have a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and an associate degree in General Studies. My work experience includes high-volume data entry, billing, HR assistance, customer service, and handling confidential information. I’ve worked on tasks like reviewing records, correcting discrepancies, and maintaining audit-ready documentation. I also have certifications in background screening, compliance, cybersecurity, and data analytics, among others. I’m looking for structured work with clear procedures, a predictable Monday to Friday schedule, and minimal direct interaction with the public. I’ve applied for various roles in compliance, HR support, data entry, and healthcare administration, but I keep facing automated rejections or positions that require more experience than I have. I’m not expecting an easy job just because of my situation; I’m willing to learn and prove myself. I just want something sustainable that won’t jeopardize my job when my kids need me. I’d really appreciate any advice on less-obvious job titles, industries, or organizations that might be a good fit for me.

I have been job searching for the past six months, submitting around 230 applications, and I feel completely defeated. Despite having a few positions under consideration, none have materialized into offers yet. I've been actively networking at events, trying to make connections, but it feels like nothing is working out. My parents are disappointed in my progress, and I can’t help but feel the pressure. I spend my days applying for jobs without any breaks, and it’s consuming my thoughts, even invading my dreams. I’m at a loss for what to do next and just want this struggle to end. I really hope someone will give me a chance soon.

Applied at KPMG for Unknown

I was recently laid off from my job and received a small severance package. It's been three months since I started applying for new positions, but I haven't had any luck landing a job yet. My partner is also not working, so we are currently taking care of our two toddlers. I'm trying to figure out when I should start applying for benefits for our family of four and what types of benefits are available to us here in Scotland, UK.

I was fired twice within a year, and I'm starting to question if leaving a toxic job was worth the ongoing insecurity. My first job was with a local city government in a healthcare IT role. Overall, it went fine, with only a couple of minor errors that were easily corrected. However, I was feeling uneasy about the budget discussions happening two months before I was supposed to become a permanent employee. I started applying for new jobs, and just three days before my permanent status, I was let go. They claimed I didn’t work hard enough, and I left with my head held high, even though they didn’t bother to escort me out properly. After that, I thought I could start fresh with a new job. The first month went well, and my first employee evaluation showed no issues. But in the second month, my boss became frustrated with me for asking questions about my tasks, and then also for not asking enough questions. I tried to communicate my discomfort with some of the processes, and despite my efforts to address a production issue I caused, I was still blamed for it. I had a compliance ticket related to SOX that I was dinged for because the process had changed midway, but the auditor was understanding. Things took a turn when I had jury duty. I provided my boss with the court-ordered letter and went to fulfill my civic duty. I received frantic messages from my boss about a schedule, which I didn’t have since I was at jury duty. Fast forward to last Tuesday, and I was fired again. I used to be confident in my career path in IT, having worked as a contractor and a system admin for years. However, it seems like every job I take is poorly managed. I miss the days when proactive management was the norm and when people were trained and appreciated for their hard work. Now, it feels like there are too many in IT who lack the passion and understanding needed for the field. I’ve never had formal certifications or a four-year degree, but I have a wealth of experience. Unfortunately, I often feel overshadowed by those who do have degrees. I’ve decided to take some time off to focus on getting certified and to finally have the credentials to match my experience.

A few months ago, I made the tough decision to quit my job as a Part Time Manager at Claire's. Initially, I enjoyed my role, despite the challenges of changing signs every night. However, after the company went through bankruptcy and was bought out, the work environment turned toxic. Management was poor, and many employees were leaving. I found out from friends that I was severely underpaid at $12/hour for my position, especially when I learned that others were making more for less work. Despite my store manager's encouragement to pursue a promotion to Store Manager, I was ultimately not hired after being led to believe I would be. This was the final straw for me, and I submitted my one-week notice. My boyfriend supported my decision to focus on my hobby instead, but since quitting, I've struggled with feelings of inadequacy and a lack of purpose. I've been trying to make money from my hobby, but it's been slow, and I've also started doing DoorDash to make ends meet. However, my phone service issues complicate things. I feel like I've lost my routine and am not accomplishing anything meaningful. Now, I'm looking for new jobs, but I feel stuck. I want to earn more than $14/hour, work part-time, and preferably find something remote or within a 30-minute drive. I don’t have a degree, and I’d love weekends off, but I’m starting to wonder if my expectations are too high. I feel like I might have to lower my standards and consider full-time work or even go back to the $12/hour range. I'm reaching out for advice on whether I'm being too picky or if I'm missing something in my job search.

I recently landed my second job using a data-backed approach to my job search, and I wanted to share my experience in hopes it helps others. I'm a data science graduate from the class of 2022. I was previously employed at a firm on the West Coast but was laid off in early 2024. After that, I spent nearly a year applying to jobs and faced a lot of rejections, which was pretty devastating. It wasn't until recently that I realized I had been applying blindly without leveraging my data science skills effectively. To improve my job application success, I developed a testing methodology that involved running a regression model to identify key factors influencing successful applications. I defined a successful job application as receiving a reply after submission. I hired two interns to help apply on platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed, and I also utilized four automatic application tools for sites like ZipRecruiter and Glassdoor. Each of us applied to about 40 to 50 jobs daily, tracking our progress with unique emails. I used the free version of Breezy HR ATS to analyze which resume formats were most effective. Through my research, I discovered that tailoring a resume to a specific job role significantly impacts ATS rankings. I used an NLP web scraper to identify popular resume formats in the industry and created three versions: UniTalent, LaTeX, and RenderCV. Over 120 days, we collectively submitted about 28,844 applications, categorized by posting time: jobs posted within 24 hours, those over a week old, and those over a month old. Our overall response rate was about 5.8%, with 1,670 positive responses. The results showed that tailored resumes with relevant keywords performed best, and timing was crucial—applications submitted within the first hour of posting had the highest response rates. Interestingly, I found that the format of the resume also played a significant role in the response rate. The UniTalent format yielded the highest number of positive responses, followed by LaTeX and RenderCV. This experience has taught me a lot about the job application process and the importance of using data to inform my approach.

I recently completed an assessment interview for a position that I thought I had messed up, but surprisingly, it went better than expected. The hiring manager even asked me to give him a call to discuss onboarding preparation, which we touched on briefly. The recruiter also reached out to me regarding the next steps. Now, I’m gearing up for the final round, which is an executive interview with a senior leader. I’m feeling really nervous about it. I’m trying to balance my hope for the position while also staying focused on preparation. I’m curious for insights from anyone who has been through similar high-level interviews. What do they typically assess? Is it more of a conversational style, or should I prepare for another in-depth interview? Any tips on how to get ready would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

I recently left my job because my manager wasn't treating me or my coworkers well, and I've been on the hunt for part-time positions for about a month now. So far, I've only heard back from Walmart, which is great news. However, my older brother, who works there full-time, is really against me taking the same role in online pickup and delivery. He gets visibly upset when I mention my interview with them, claiming that the manager is bad and that I wouldn't enjoy the job. This has left me puzzled because we generally have a good relationship at home. I decided to hold off on accepting the job offer because I don't want to cause tension between us, but I'm starting to wonder if I'm making the right choice. I could really use some advice on why he might be reacting this way and whether I should just go for the job regardless.

After three and a half months of applying for jobs with no responses, I am thrilled to share that I am finally employed! I applied for a position at a local hospital in early July, which stated that no experience was necessary. Almost two weeks later, I received a text and an email from their AI hiring assistant to schedule a phone interview. I picked the earliest slot available, which was a week later. The phone interview went well; the recruiter walked me through the job specifics to ensure I understood the role, including the location, hours, and pay. They also asked a few standard interview questions. At the end of the call, I was scheduled for an in-person interview and informed about the expected timeline for a decision. The in-person interview took place just two days after the phone interview, and it followed a similar format—confirming job details and discussing duties. The recruiter mentioned that they typically make hiring decisions within 48 hours. My in-person interview was on a Thursday, and by the following Monday, I received a call with a job offer! I connected with the recruiter on Wednesday, signed the offer letter, and now I have a start date. I feel a mix of nerves and excitement, but mostly gratitude. I won't have a car after this month, which adds some stress to my situation, so I'm currently searching for an apartment near my new job that will accept my offer letter as proof of income. Thank you to everyone who has supported me during this journey!

I have been working in IT Support in Saudi Arabia for about a year, but my contract was not renewed due to the downturn in the market caused by the war situation. My company gave me a few months to find another job, but despite applying to numerous positions on LinkedIn, Gulf Naukri, and other job portals, I didn't receive a single interview call. I tailored my CV for different roles and shared it with friends and relatives in Dammam, Jeddah, Mecca, and Riyadh, hoping for leads. I even joined WhatsApp groups for job seekers, but nothing seemed to work. After months of searching, I started to doubt my abilities. Eventually, I received a job offer through a reference, but the new company wanted me to work under my previous employer's sponsorship, which is not legal. They kept delaying the transfer of my sponsorship, while my previous employer pressured me for confirmation. The stress took a toll on my health, and when I informed the new company I couldn't start due to illness, they canceled my offer. I feel like I did everything possible, but nothing worked out.

I've been actively job searching since last November and finally made it to the final round of interviews for a position I've been really excited about. This week, I have my fifth and final interview, and the posted salary range for the role is between $90k and $110k. I'm feeling a bit anxious about the salary discussion that might come up. Should I aim for the lower end of the range just to secure the job, especially since I know there are other candidates in the running? I’ve read mixed advice online about salary negotiations, with some people saying they regretted lowballing themselves, while others mentioned offers being rescinded during negotiations. I want to be prepared, but I also don’t want to jeopardize my chances of getting the offer.

I recently applied for a tour guide/animal care position that I was really excited about. The application process moved quickly, and I was interviewed within two days. The recruiter mentioned that my application looked great and seemed optimistic about my interview. However, after two weeks, I received a rejection letter stating they were moving forward with other candidates who were a better fit. The recruiter did encourage me to apply for other openings in the future, but the email felt a bit generic, so I'm unsure how sincere that was. Now, I see that the same position has reopened on their website. I'm contemplating whether I should reapply so soon after being rejected. I'm also considering how to approach this—should I revamp my resume or keep it the same? Should I email the recruiter to inform her of my reapplication, or just submit another application quietly? I'm really eager to get this job and would appreciate any advice on how to increase my chances.

I was laid off from my graphic design job in December 2025 after over four years with the company. Since then, I've been struggling to find a new position. I've applied to countless jobs, including entry-level positions at local restaurants, but I haven't had any luck at all. It's frustrating to think that at 30 years old, I'm unable to secure even a barista job at Starbucks, despite having a degree, a portfolio, and four years of design experience. I've exhausted my unemployment benefits and I'm feeling lost about what to apply for next. I've considered toning down my resume for food service jobs, as some suggested, but I'm still not getting any callbacks. The job market feels incredibly tough right now, especially for graphic designers, and I'm starting to wonder if I should pivot to something else.

I've been on the job hunt for four long years now, and it's been incredibly frustrating. Despite sending out countless applications to places like McDonald's, Walmart, Target, and many others, I've received nothing in return. I'm not aiming for a high-paying job; I just want something minimum wage to get started. The only interview I ever had was at Chuck E Cheese, and I never heard back from them. I can't help but feel like I might be blacklisted, especially since my father has a history of being fired from jobs. I don't have any work experience to speak of, and I didn't participate in extracurricular activities in school due to financial and transportation issues. To improve my chances, I'm planning to enroll in a community college to learn welding later this month. I'm hoping that acquiring a skill will finally help me secure a job. If I could just get hired somewhere, it would be my very first job. I'm really just looking for someone to give me a chance.

Applied at Baptist Health South Florida for Scheduler

Applied at Costco for Unknown