Applied to a Job

I've been actively applying for jobs through Brassring, thinking I was a strong fit for several positions. However, I've faced challenges getting past the initial screening process. I'm curious about the common pitfalls others have encountered when using this platform. For instance, do PDF resumes cause issues? Also, I'm trying to understand if the hiring teams set specific keywords for their searches or if it's solely based on the job descriptions provided. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I’m currently navigating the job search process for the first time and have an interview tomorrow for a position that I think I might get. The company has been accommodating by switching the interview to an online format at the last minute, which I appreciate since I would have had to drive two hours otherwise. However, I’m not overly excited about this opportunity due to some administrative issues I've encountered, like them calling me by the wrong name in emails and scheduling conflicts. Plus, the hours for this role seem a bit unusual. I have three interviews lined up in total. This one is the middle option in terms of pay, but I have another interview scheduled for Sunday and Monday, which is a two-day process, and a third one on Tuesday that I’m particularly interested in because of the higher pay and the kind of work they do. The third company mentioned they might ask for five references, which indicates a longer timeline for an offer. I’m trying to figure out how to handle potential job offers. If I receive an offer from the first company, how long can I realistically take to respond? I don’t want to miss out on opportunities if the third interview doesn’t pan out, but I also need to secure a job. I’m curious if the third company would consider whether I have other offers, and if I could ask for any preliminary decisions based on my interview performance. I’m applying for academic research roles, so the environment is a bit different from corporate settings. Also, I’ve heard mixed opinions on whether reference checks are just a formality or if they truly weigh into the decision-making process.

I've been on the job hunt for over a year now since graduating with my master's in legal studies. My goal was to land a position in risk and compliance, but I've faced rejection after rejection. So far, I've applied to 37 companies and 53 different roles, including compliance, risk management, administrative positions, and even paralegal jobs, but nothing has come through. My siblings suggested that networking might help, so I've been trying to reach out, but I rarely hear back from hiring managers or HR. I have work experience, having held jobs throughout college while managing my rent and expenses, but it feels like my degree, which I obtained later in my 30s, might be working against me. I've been told that companies often prefer candidates with prior experience in risk or compliance, which I lack. I’m considering having my resume evaluated since I’m not getting any responses at all. Any advice on how to improve my chances would be greatly appreciated.

I recently faced a layoff from my job as a medical scribe at a third-party company in an ER, where I had worked for two years. After the layoff, I managed to get a transfer to a clinic within the same company, but they can only offer me two days of work each week. This limited schedule isn't enough to cover my bills, so I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for partial unemployment benefits in California. Currently, I'm in training at the clinic, but the process has been slow, and I’ve only been able to work once a week. I was told that I might be able to pick up more shifts at other clinics after my training, but that could take another month or two. In the meantime, I'm actively looking and applying for more jobs to improve my situation.

I’ve been working in Public Relations for the past 4-5 years, primarily focusing on B2B tech companies. Even during my college years, I sensed that this career path wasn’t the right fit for me, but I ended up in it anyway. Now, I’m eager to switch careers before I feel too entrenched in this industry. I'm exploring other communications roles, particularly in internal communications, and have also applied for event coordination and executive assistant positions. I believe I have transferable skills for these roles, but I’m having a tough time getting responses from employers. I’d really appreciate any advice from those in hiring or admin roles on how to navigate this transition in the current job market.

I recently had a frustrating experience with Waffle House. I applied about two weeks ago and quickly got an interview invitation. However, when I arrived for my scheduled interview, the manager was absent, and an employee conducted the interview instead. I was told I passed and would move on to onboarding. After that, I received onboarding paperwork, hiring confirmation emails, and a training date. I completed all the necessary steps, thinking I had secured the job. However, when I showed up for training, I discovered that the manager who had been communicating with me was not even affiliated with the location I applied to. The training details she provided were for a different Waffle House. The manager at my actual location was rude and dismissive, and despite showing him all my documentation proving I was hired, he claimed he couldn't find my information. Later that day, I received an email stating they were not moving forward with my employment. This entire process felt like a waste of my time and energy. I had already completed onboarding and was given a training date, only to be rejected without any clear explanation. It was disrespectful and disorganized, especially for a job that pays $13.50 an hour, which I needed. I did everything right, and it was incredibly frustrating to be treated this way. The job market is tough enough without employers adding to the chaos.

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!