Feeling

I was laid off in October 2023 and spent 22 months searching for a job without much success. I applied to countless positions, constantly worked on improving my resume, and refined how I presented my experience. Despite not having any connections or referrals, I eventually secured a job by simply submitting my application to a company that happened to be looking for someone with my skills. It was a matter of timing and luck, and while I believe networking is important, my experience showed me that it is possible to find a job without relying on LinkedIn or extensive networking.

I recently received a message on LinkedIn from a recruiter who is not based in the U.S., but they mentioned some companies here. I'm currently working as a Software Implementation Specialist and have been on the job hunt for quite some time. The recruiter has asked for my resume multiple times after I inquired about the details of the position they mentioned. I'm feeling uncertain about the legitimacy of this opportunity and whether I should proceed or be cautious. It's tough to navigate the job market and determine what's real and what's just a scam.

I'm 33 years old and have been working hard in risk management and banking for over 8 years, yet I find myself stuck at a salary of $60k. I've consistently performed well, taken on more responsibilities, upgraded my skills, and sought professional growth, but it feels like I'm not making any progress. While my peers are advancing in their careers, buying homes, and earning six figures, I'm applying to numerous jobs and wondering what I'm doing wrong. I'm reaching out to those who have successfully changed their career trajectories to ask for advice. Was it networking, changing industries, obtaining certifications, or just persistence? Or is the job market really this tough right now? I'm open to honest feedback and willing to learn, but I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels despite following what I thought were the right steps.

I have an upcoming interview for a position where the recruiter has no idea about the salary budget. They mentioned that the client is "open to negotiation," but I can't shake the feeling that it might be a trap. I'm feeling a bit anxious because I want to be flexible, but I'm also worried about either pricing myself out of the role or undervaluing my skills. There are three other candidates in the running, so I really want to navigate the salary expectations question carefully. I’m considering suggesting that we hold off on discussing salary until they can provide some insight into their budget. I want to focus on understanding the role better and ensuring it's a good fit for both sides before getting into numbers.

I recently had a tough conversation with my boss after three years at the company. He bluntly told me that I am of low value to the organization, which was a hard pill to swallow given my dedication and effort. My role involves finding work from clients to bill my hours, and if I'm not billing, it’s considered downtime. They expect me to juggle multiple roles — salesman, engineer, and technician — all while traveling, but the pay and benefits don’t reflect this workload. Lately, there’s been a shortage of work, and the shift in my boss's tone has been noticeable. Instead of congratulating me on my contributions, I now receive constant reminders that I’m not meeting expectations. The job is incredibly stressful, as I troubleshoot issues on-site for clients. I’ve noticed that while turnover used to be high, people are now sticking around due to the current economic climate. I’m feeling stuck and frustrated. I almost sent an email to quit out of anger, but I wonder if that’s what they want. I’ve realized that I haven’t built many transferable skills in these three years since I focused on learning the company’s proprietary technology. To counter this, I’m using my free time to learn about IT and programming in hopes of transitioning to a new role, but the outlook feels bleak right now.

I've been navigating a tough job market lately, specifically looking for per diem work. I recently had two interviews for such positions. One of the companies requested an outrageous number of references—four in total, with three needing to be managers. They gave me a tight 24-48 hour deadline to gather them, which felt overwhelming, but thankfully, my contacts came through for me. Unfortunately, after that, HR went silent on me. The second opportunity is asking for five references, including two managers, which seems excessive for a per diem role. I'm feeling frustrated and a bit overwhelmed by the demands. I really don't want to keep bothering my references for what feels like overkill. Despite the hassle, I’m considering taking the job if offered, even though I know it won’t significantly boost my income since I might not get called in often. I’m wondering if anyone has experience asking HR to lower the reference requirements? It seems like a reasonable request given the nature of the job.

I was made redundant 5 months ago, and I'm fortunate to have received two job offers that I'm currently weighing. Both roles have their pros and cons, and I'm really struggling to decide which one to accept. **Role 1 (already started):** - Salary: £37k - Work arrangement: First month in the office, then 2 days in the office and 3 days working from home - Commute: 50 minutes each way - Sick days: 5 - Holiday: 23 days - Lunch break: 1 hour - Hours: 8:30am to 5:30pm, with a 30-minute early finish on Fridays This role is closely aligned with my career interests, focusing on training, onboarding, and assisting clients. The team seems friendly and laid-back, and there are opportunities for career progression. However, there's a strong emphasis on in-office attendance, which feels a bit restrictive to me. **Role 2 (starts mid-July):** - Salary: £43k - Work arrangement: Fully remote - Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm - Sick days: 20 - Holiday: 25 days - Lunch break: 30 minutes This position is more customer support-oriented, involving live chat and phone support. I spoke with someone currently in the role, and while they mentioned opportunities for progression, it sounds like it relies heavily on individual initiative rather than structured development. My concern is that this role feels like a step back into a previous job I've done, lacking the training and onboarding aspects that I enjoy. On paper, Role 2 looks better with a higher salary, fully remote work, more holiday, and better sick pay, which would help me pay off my credit card debt faster and allow me to live independently. However, I'm worried about job satisfaction and fulfillment if I choose a role that doesn't align with my long-term career goals. I'm curious about what factors others would consider in a similar situation. Would you prioritize a role that aligns with your interests or one that offers better financial and flexible benefits?

I received my first outreach from a recruiter today, and I’m feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. It's a new experience for me, and I'm not quite sure how to interpret it or what steps to take next. I would appreciate any advice on how to respond or what to consider as I navigate this process.

Today, my boss called me into their office and informed me that they will be posting my position for 2-3 days. I've been working at this temp agency for about three months now, and I was surprised to hear that I need to apply for the position again. It makes me wonder why they would ask me to do this if they intend to keep me on. I'm feeling uncertain about whether I should apply or start looking for other opportunities. I've seen some comments suggesting that this is a normal procedure for converting temp roles to full-time positions, and that they actually want me to apply. I guess I need to clarify with my boss what this means for my future here. Should I go ahead and submit my application?

After being unemployed for 16 months, I finally made some changes that led to a surge in interviews and job offers. I used to get maybe one interview a month, but now I'm getting 3-4 interviews a week. The key change was tailoring my resume. I created about 10-15 different versions of my resume for specific jobs, which made a huge difference. I also realized that I needed to present myself as if I was currently engaged in something productive. For me, that was easy because I manage a true crime TikTok account with around 70,000 followers. I decided to list that as my current job, highlighting the marketing and social media skills I developed through it. This approach helped me connect my experience to the marketing roles I was applying for. Now, my email and phone are buzzing with responses, and my calendar is packed with interviews. It feels like a blessing in disguise, and I hope my experience can help others in a similar situation. Good luck to everyone out there!

I've been job searching for several months now, and the experience has been overwhelming. Lately, all I've been getting are automated rejections, which has really taken a toll on my mental health. At first, I was okay with it, thinking that rejections are just part of the process. But now, I'm feeling completely exhausted by the sheer number of them. It's gotten to the point where my anxiety has made it hard for me to finish applications for roles that I know I'm a good fit for. I see those job listings closing, and it just adds to my sense of depletion. I'm starting to beat myself up for taking too long to apply, and the gap in my CV is widening, which scares me. I really just wanted to vent about how difficult this process has been and to hear how others are coping with these automated rejections. I feel like I'm shutting down and hiding from the job search, and I don't want to lose my momentum. If anyone has tips or experiences to share, I would really appreciate it.

I just learned that Diageo has implemented layoffs affecting their North American business unit. This news is concerning, especially for those of us in the industry, as it signals potential challenges within the company. I'm currently keeping an eye on my position and considering my options, as I want to be prepared in case more changes happen.

I just learned that Bungie has started mass layoffs following the conclusion of Destiny 2. This news is quite unsettling, especially for those of us who have invested so much into the game and the community. It feels like a significant shift for the company, and I can't help but wonder about the future of the studio and its employees. Many are discussing the need for accountability from companies when it comes to these large-scale layoffs. It's a tough time for everyone involved.

I was laid off yesterday from my position as an account manager after just four months at a small startup. I had previously only worked contract jobs and always thought that if I were doing something wrong, I would receive warnings. My boss, the COO, consistently praised my performance during our one-on-ones, and I even had a positive unofficial performance review from my colleagues. I had a good rapport with the CEO and felt confident in my role. The only real tension I experienced was with the director of operations, who often treated me like a secretary and assigned me last-minute tasks. I tried to communicate my need for better scheduling, but it didn't seem to change anything. Recently, there was a situation where I was instructed to deny a client request, but after some back and forth, the director undermined me by agreeing to it without my consent. I reported this to the COO, who assured me that I was handling things correctly. On the day of my termination, I had a meeting with the COO and HR, expecting to discuss the friction with the director or my PTO issues. Instead, I was told my employment was terminated immediately due to being deemed 'unreliable' and 'not a team player.' I was shocked and confused, especially since I had been given no prior feedback or warnings. I felt humiliated and sick, questioning my entire performance. I had even received positive feedback just a month ago. I didn't expect to be let go without any notice or opportunity to find another job.

I recently went through a rather frustrating interview process for a position in the tech industry. Before I could even book the interview, I was required to prove my right to work by sending a photo of my passport and a selfie for verification. It felt unnecessary, especially since I had already provided this information. During the interview, I brought along my national insurance number and passport again, only to be asked to provide copies of these documents once more. I really struggled to understand why they needed all this information before I was even offered the job. To add to the discouragement, the interviewer mentioned that the odds were stacked against me, stating it was unlikely I would get hired due to the high number of applicants. This left me questioning the entire process and the purpose of all the documentation requests.

I’m a 20-year-old with two years of retail experience, and it’s the only job I’ve ever had. I graduated high school but haven’t pursued college or trades due to financial constraints and self-doubt about my abilities. Recently, I came across an opportunity at a company that assembles hydraulic machinery. They’ve mentioned that no prior experience is necessary, and my friends who work there say the job is straightforward. However, I’m feeling overwhelmed with fear about making mistakes—like assembling something incorrectly, causing an accident, or being too slow to learn. The pay and benefits are significantly better than my current retail job, which makes me really tempted to apply. But the fear of messing up and ending up without a job is holding me back. I’m looking for advice on whether I should take the leap and apply.

I've been jobless for nearly a year now, and it's really starting to weigh on me. I'm a 22-year-old male, and my last position was as an Amazon Delivery Driver. Since then, I've applied to over 500 jobs across various fields, even some where I don't meet all the qualifications. Out of all those applications, I've only managed to land 10 interviews, but none have progressed to a second interview. I'm at a loss for what I'm doing wrong. I've shortened my resume and I feel like I present myself well during interviews. The roles I'm targeting aren't particularly threatened by AI, and I'm planning to start college this fall, which I hope will help. I'm really seeking any advice or insights on how to improve my chances of landing a job.

Today, I experienced a setback in my career journey. After spending 9 years as a bedside nurse in the ICU, where I’ve taken on various responsibilities like running stroke codes and precepting new hires, I applied for a supervisor position at my hospital. My new director encouraged me to go for it, even though I had applied for a similar role four years ago and was told I needed more experience. After nearly six weeks of interviews, I learned this morning that I didn’t get the job. The decision was between me and a colleague who has over 20 years of experience. While I respect his ability to get the job done, he has a history of bullying and making inappropriate comments. The director mentioned that they felt I would take longer to learn how to hold others accountable, while my colleague just needs to adjust his approach. They are announcing his promotion this week, and the director suggested I apply for his permanent charge position to increase my visibility. I’m feeling a bit salty about the whole situation and am unsure if I want to pursue that role. Many on my unit have expressed concerns about him being the supervisor, but I can’t deny that he runs the unit efficiently. I’m trying to stay positive, but it’s tough. Just needed to vent about this experience.

Today was a turning point for me. I handed out 30 resumes in person to various restaurants and grocery stores, desperately seeking any minimum wage job to help pay my bills. I was down to my last $200 and feeling hopeless, almost ready to give up. Just as I finished distributing my last resume and got back into my car, I received a call from a different place expressing interest in hiring me. They want me to start tomorrow! I couldn't believe how quickly things changed. This experience reminded me to stay persistent and confident, even when times are tough. I want to encourage anyone else in a similar situation: don't give up, you never know what might happen.

I’ve been working as an admissions coordinator for a large behavioral health company for the past three years. Today, I received an automated notification about updated job duties that I need to review and confirm. My role has involved a lot of responsibilities, such as tracking referrals, answering calls and emails, assisting clients with paperwork, and communicating admission decisions. However, the new job duties have expanded significantly. They now include assisting families with Medicaid eligibility screening, performing clerical tasks, coordinating assessments for new clients, and even facilitating scheduling for various services. Some of these tasks seem reasonable, but others, like Medicaid applications and grant development, feel completely unrelated to my admissions role. I’ve scheduled a meeting with my new supervisor on Monday to discuss this, but I’m unsure if I have any room to negotiate these additional tasks. I’m the only person in my position, which means I can’t share the workload. I’ve already been feeling frustrated with the increasing responsibilities without any change in title or compensation, and I’ve been job hunting for a few months now. Should I just go along with these changes until I find a new job, or do I have grounds to push back? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.