Feeling

I was laid off from my Mechanical Engineer position in 2025, and since then, I've been trying to upskill and improve my chances in this tough job market. However, despite my efforts, I feel like nothing is working, and the pressure is really getting to me. I've been spending a lot of time at home, cleaning and trying to keep busy, but the silence can be overwhelming. I recently came across a post that suggested AI might be rejecting applications based on profile pictures, and it really hit me hard, plunging me into a deep depression for a couple of days. I’m currently dealing with low iron levels, which makes waking up feel exhausting, but I'm getting iron infusions to help boost my energy. I’m trying to stay active by exercising and spending time outdoors, but the stress of not having a job is weighing heavily on my mental health. I feel like I need to secure employment before the holidays, or I’m not sure what I’ll do. I hold a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, have professional experience, and have even pursued additional certifications. I’m willing to invest a significant amount of money into further training or even a new career path, like cybersecurity, but I’m terrified of making the wrong choice. I see my job search like a game of checkers, where each move needs to be strategic, and I can’t afford any setbacks right now. I’m reaching out for guidance from anyone who has navigated this job market successfully. Should I stick with mechanical engineering, enhance my technical skills, or consider a shift into project management or another field? I’m ready to work hard, but I need direction to ensure my efforts aren’t wasted.

I recently interviewed for a field-based engineering consulting position with a startup that requires up to 50% travel. The role involves spending two weeks on-site and then two weeks back in the office. During the interview, the CEO mentioned that for an upcoming trip, they had booked an AirBnB with an extra room available. While the salary is appealing—around $125,000 with overtime, meals, and accommodations covered—I'm hesitant about sharing living space with colleagues. I value my personal space and need time to recharge after long 10-12 hour workdays. The thought of being in close quarters with coworkers, especially after spending all day together, feels overwhelming. I can socialize, but I also need time alone to unwind. I'm wondering if this is a common arrangement in the industry and how to approach the job offer. Should I request private accommodations or is this just how things are done now? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I have an upcoming interview at McDonald's, and I'm feeling really anxious about it because I have ADHD. I struggle with processing long sentences, and it feels overwhelming when I have to think on my feet. In my previous interview, I messed up because I couldn't keep up with the questions. This time, I want to prepare better and not make the same mistakes. I need to find a way to simplify my answers to no more than 7 sentences, as that's what I can handle. I'm looking for strategies or tips on how to communicate effectively during the interview without getting overwhelmed.

I recently faced a challenging situation that led to a medical-related break from my career. My partner's serious health issues required my attention, prompting me to relocate to a new country to support her. Unfortunately, the stress from these circumstances strained our relationship, and we ultimately decided to part ways. After taking some time to focus on my own health—both physically and mentally—I'm now ready to re-enter the job market. I have five years of experience in global risk management within financial services, including roles in credit risk, portfolio control, and product management. My background also includes a year and seven months as a student researcher, where I focused on policy impacts during my internship, which was unavailable due to COVID. Additionally, I spent over a year in private equity, working on risk and compliance for EU-based credit funds, and I had a brief stint in fintech to secure my resident permit before my partner's health issues arose. Now, I'm unsure how to navigate my return to the workforce after this gap. I'm seeking advice on how to effectively present my situation on my CV and what steps I should take to get back into the job market. If anyone has gone through a similar experience, I would greatly appreciate your insights on how to approach this transition.

I just finished my trial run for a stock replenishment job and ultimately decided to turn it down. They seemed really eager to have me on board, but I knew deep down that I wouldn’t enjoy the job at all. As I travel home, I can’t shake the feeling that I might have made a mistake, especially given how tough the job market is right now. I’ve been struggling to find opportunities, and even getting to the trial was a challenge. I chose to prioritize my mental health over the paycheck, which feels like a risky move for someone in my position—without qualifications and feeling lost about my career path. I had initially planned to take the job, endure it for a few months to pay off my debt, and then leave. However, I didn’t want to give the manager false hope. She seemed genuinely nice and mentioned her past experiences, which made me feel even worse about potentially disappointing her. Another big factor was the commute; it would have taken me 50 minutes from my dad's house and up to 2 hours from my mum's. Since my parents are separated, I switch between their homes weekly, and the travel to work during my trial was already exhausting. The train station was a nightmare, and I can’t imagine doing that every day for five days a week. If it had been part-time, I might have been able to manage it, but full-time just felt impossible. Now, I’m left wondering if I made the right choice by prioritizing my mental health over financial stability. I feel like a failure for turning down the opportunity, but I also know I need to take care of myself. Should I consider looking into online courses to explore other career options?

I currently work as a shift manager at a restaurant in NYC, and I'm feeling overwhelmed and unappreciated. Most of the time, I'm managing the entire shop by myself because the general manager rarely shows up and takes time off without notice. Recently, we had our portable air conditioner removed, which has made working conditions unbearable. With no other cooling options, I've almost passed out twice while working, and I even fell due to dizziness. I started this job with high hopes, but now it feels like I'm doing the work of a manager without the pay or recognition. I'm only earning minimum wage, and I feel like my potential for advancement is being stifled because they don't want to hire someone else to take my place. I used to go above and beyond, but the stress is no longer worth it. I'm considering quitting but I'm worried about losing my unemployment eligibility in New York since I don't have another job lined up. I'm looking for advice on how to quit without being fired for misconduct. Should I just start slacking off until they let me go? I want to make sure I can still collect unemployment benefits.

I recently received two shortlisted notifications from Genpact while job hunting on naukri.com. The first was for a Record to Report role, which I got 6 days ago, but I haven't heard back from them since. The second shortlist came in yesterday for a Specialist - FPNA position, and I'm still waiting for any communication regarding that as well. I'm feeling a bit confused about what these shortlists actually mean and what my next steps should be. Any advice would be appreciated!

I recently had a virtual interview for a casual role that typically hires teenagers. I was caught off guard by the interviewer's questions, which were focused on specific scenarios. For example, he asked how I would handle a customer who disliked the lighting in a photo, how to sell a broken product, and what to say if a machine went down for an hour. I expected the interview to be straightforward, with questions like why I wanted the job, so I felt unprepared for these situational questions. I'm left wondering if these questions are common for this type of role or if I just didn't perform well.

I was recently let go from my job in Michigan, where I was earning around $3,000 per month. Now, I'm facing a tough situation because my unemployment benefits are only going to provide me with $1,200. I'm really struggling to figure out how I'm going to pay my bills with such a significant drop in income. I’ve been advised that to qualify for the maximum weekly benefit, I would need to have earned at least $12,927 in my highest-earning quarter during my base period. I'm worried I may not have met that requirement, which adds to my stress.

I was laid off from my position at a tech company just three days before I planned to quit. I had already accepted a new job offer and was eagerly waiting for my RSU vesting date. Unfortunately, the company decided to do a mass layoff today. On the bright side, the RSUs for everyone who was laid off will have accelerated vesting, so I will still benefit financially from that. It's a strange situation, but I guess it worked out in my favor.

I've been on a relentless job search for over six years now, and I've submitted more than 3000 applications without much success. It's been incredibly disheartening. Although I managed to get a couple of jobs during this time, I struggled in both roles and ended up getting fired. It's been a year since my last job, and I'm feeling completely defeated. I've applied for every position I could find that seemed suitable for someone with my background, including volunteering, but nothing has panned out. I've also reached out to temp agencies and job providers, but they haven't been helpful either. I graduated from university, but I feel like that has done more harm than good, and I've even left it off my resume at times. My work experience is minimal, totaling about four months across my two previous jobs, and I don't have any references due to how those roles ended. I do have a few certificates for certain fields, but they haven't made a difference in my job search. At this point, I've decided to give up on finding a job. It seems clear that I can't hold one down, and employers don't seem interested in hiring me. I know that giving up will likely lead to a bleak future, but I just can't muster the energy to keep trying. I wanted to share my experience and vent a little, but if anyone has any reasons for me to keep pushing forward, I'm open to hearing them. Just a heads up, though—I'm feeling pretty fed up with the usual advice I've seen, as it often feels contradictory.

I've been a freelance writer for the past five years, primarily working with magazines and online publications. For a while, my work was quite stable, but over the last two years, I've noticed a significant decline in opportunities, especially in the last six months. Many publications are shutting down or cutting budgets, which has drastically affected my income and overall livelihood. Although I'm not technically laid off and don't qualify for severance or unemployment benefits, the impact on my finances feels just as severe. I'm reaching out to see if there are other freelancers, particularly in writing or media, who are facing similar challenges. I'm currently trying to find new clients, but it feels like the competition is intensifying, and my usual client base is shrinking. It's a scary and disheartening situation, and I'm looking for any tips or strategies to regain some stability in my work.

I've been feeling overwhelmed lately with the job search process. It seems like I'm not alone in this struggle, as I've seen many people on social media expressing frustration about filling out countless job applications and sending out thousands of resumes without any success. It feels like a nightmare that just doesn't end. I've been trying to figure out how to improve my chances, and I've come across some advice that suggests focusing on a smaller number of applications and tailoring my resume to each job. It's clear that many people just send out the same resume to every position, which probably isn't effective. Some comments I've read suggest that the job market is tough, but it might also be about how we approach our applications. I wonder if I need to rethink my strategy and put more effort into making my resume stand out. It's disheartening to see others succeed while I feel stuck, but I'm determined to keep pushing through this challenging time.

I’m starting a new job next Monday after leaving my last position due to a toxic work environment. It’s been about four weeks since I quit, and I’ve spent a lot of that time doubting my abilities and feeling stressed. Fortunately, I received an offer from a new company about three weeks ago, which I believe will be a great fit for me and comes with a significant pay increase. I know I should probably see a therapist to help rebuild my confidence and address my feelings of depression, but I’m really anxious about starting this new role and not wanting to mess things up. The previous job really affected my self-esteem, and I was often made to feel incompetent. Any advice for managing these feelings before my first day would be appreciated.

I was recently laid off from my position as an SEO specialist, which was a tough blow. However, I refused to let this setback define me. I spent countless hours during my unemployment teaching myself Blender, a skill I had always wanted to learn. After a lot of hard work and dedication, I am thrilled to share that I landed my dream job in the creative field. If you're going through a tough time, just keep pushing forward — you can achieve great things!

I've been feeling a lot of anxiety about my job lately. I work in marketing at a mid-sized tech company, and I can't shake the feeling that I might get laid off soon. The current economic climate has me on edge, and after reading some posts about layoffs, it's hard not to worry. I find myself constantly thinking about my performance and whether I’m safe in my role. It's really affecting my mental health, and I just want to know if anyone else is feeling this way.

I'm currently facing a tough decision at my retail job where I've worked for about 11 years, with the last 5 being full-time. I have great benefits, but the job requires me to work weekends and holidays, which is typical in retail. While I don't hate my job, it has been tolerable largely because my employer has allowed me to leave an hour early on Thursdays for an after-work activity that I love. This activity has been a crucial part of my life for over 2 years, and I genuinely believe it keeps me happy and motivated. Recently, my boss informed me that I need to choose between continuing to leave early and participating in this activity or switching to open availability, which means no set schedule and working any day of the week. If I opt for the early leave, I would be demoted to part-time status, losing my health insurance, PTO accrual, and other benefits like dental and vision coverage. This decision is incredibly difficult for me. On one hand, staying full-time means maintaining my benefits and moving up to a higher PTO accrual rate next year, but I feel like I'd be sacrificing my happiness and the sense of community I've built with my athletic team. On the other hand, going part-time would allow me to keep doing what I love, but at a significant cost. I'm feeling disrespected by the company's new strict policies and am torn between my loyalty to my team and the perks of full-time employment. I would love to hear what others would do in my situation.

I recently returned to my old job at Company 1 after spending two years at Company 2, and I’m already regretting it. It’s only been a month, but the issues I faced before are even worse now. I feel really frustrated because I had a much better work-life balance at Company 2. I’m starting to wonder if I’m stuck here for a certain period or if it’s completely out of the question to ask for my old position back at Company 2. I’m feeling lost and unsure about my next steps.

I recently received a contingent offer for a position that I absolutely love and aligns perfectly with my career goals. However, I have some concerns regarding a question they asked during the offer process. They requested that I disclose any instances of being discharged or asked to resign from previous roles. I was indeed discharged from my last job due to what they termed 'communication issues' while working remotely. At the time of my application, I was still employed, so this didn't come up during the interviews. I did provide the necessary information to them, but now I'm worried that this might jeopardize my offer. I explained that the issues I faced were specific to the remote work environment and that I believe this won't be a problem in the new in-office role. I'm unsure if I'm overthinking this situation or if it could genuinely affect my chances of securing the position. I've received some advice suggesting that full disclosure is crucial, and I should emphasize the change in my working environment to alleviate any concerns. I just hope that my past doesn't overshadow my potential in this new opportunity.

I had a recruiter screen today for a technical role in San Francisco, and during the conversation, the recruiter asked about my salary expectations. I mentioned that the job posting had a wide range, and while it was generally within my target, I didn't specify a number. She responded by saying, "let me know if that changes or if you get clarity there." Now I'm feeling anxious because the lower end of that range is way too low for me. I'm worried they might lowball me with an initial offer since I didn't provide a specific figure. I'm considering emailing her to clarify my salary expectations. Should I go ahead and do that?