Feeling

I recently had a breakthrough in my job search journey. For a long time, I was stuck in a cycle of self-doubt, telling myself I needed more experience or to complete an online course before I could apply for better positions. I watched peers with similar or even less experience land jobs that I thought were out of my reach, and it left me feeling frustrated. A few months ago, I decided to change my approach. I started applying for jobs where I met only 60 to 70 percent of the requirements, thinking the worst that could happen was a rejection. To my surprise, I received more callbacks than I ever did when I only applied for roles I felt fully qualified for. It became clear that many job requirements are more of a wish list than a strict guideline. Eventually, I landed a new role that pays significantly more than my previous job and offers great opportunities for growth. This experience taught me how much I was holding myself back by waiting for a perfect moment that would never arrive. If you're hesitating to apply because you don't feel ready, I encourage you to go for it. The self-screening we often do is much harsher than what hiring managers actually consider. Has anyone else gone through a similar experience? I'd love to hear your stories!

I've been feeling stuck in my job search lately. It's been tough to stay motivated, and I feel like I'm running out of time to find a new role. I'm trying to dig myself out of this rut by reassessing my approach, reaching out to my network, and applying to more positions. I know I need to stay positive and keep pushing forward, but it's definitely a challenging phase.

I’m currently working in an insurance role and I’m feeling really stuck. The job doesn’t fulfill me anymore, and I know I need to find something else that aligns better with my passions and skills. I’m looking for the courage to start my job search and explore new opportunities. Any advice on how to take that first step would be greatly appreciated!

I just got laid off from my job at a high school. I was on my way to UPS to return an Amazon package when I received the termination message from my boss. Since I was off for the summer, I was already looking for something more consistent. Honestly, I'm not too worried about it; now I feel motivated to find a better job. I'm currently using Indeed and ZipRecruiter, but I'm looking for recommendations on other job-seeking sites. I've heard LinkedIn has a lot of listings and a faster application process, so I'll check that out too. If anyone has more suggestions, I'd really appreciate it!

I recently applied for an administrative assistant position I found on Handshake. I received a response today, but something feels off about it. There were noticeable typographical errors in the message, like an awkward "Okay?" and missing punctuation after mentioning departments. I'm new to job searching and worried about clicking a Teams link that could compromise my information. After sharing my concerns, I got feedback from others who pointed out several red flags. They noted that the high salary offered for this role is unusual, especially in today's economy, and the sign-off from "Hiring department. Orthocell Limited Company." seemed suspicious. Many advised me to trust my instincts and avoid engaging further, as they believe this could be a scam. They highlighted common tactics used by scammers, like urgency in communication and requests for unusual actions, which made me even more cautious. Overall, I'm feeling a mix of anxiety and determination to navigate this job search safely.

I recently signed an offer letter for my dream job, which is an exciting milestone for me. However, I've hit a snag with the reference check process. The company is using Skill Survey and requires five references, two of which need to be from my previous managers or supervisors. Unfortunately, I've only had two jobs so far. My first job ended poorly due to a toxic environment, and I was just laid off from my second job, which has left me feeling quite frustrated. I can provide three references from colleagues, but I can't reach out to my former managers for a reference. I'm worried about how this will affect my hiring process. What happens if they don’t respond to the survey emails? Will that halt my progress? This reference situation is really stressing me out, especially since I've been working remotely and found it challenging to build strong relationships. I'm relieved I at least have a couple of contacts to provide.

I have a gut feeling that my upcoming interview for the Field Document Runner position might be a bait and switch. The way it's been described sounds too much like a sales role, which raises my suspicions. I'm seriously questioning whether I should even bother with the interview. It feels like a ploy to get me to spend money without any real return. I've seen comments from others mentioning that the job requires working six days a week and using my own laptop or tablet, plus driving my own car. All of these seem like red flags indicating that I might not be making any money in this role.

I am an international student who recently graduated with a Master's degree from a top-30 University in the US. I am currently in a tough spot as I need to secure a full-time job within the next 90 days. Over the past 6 months, I have been actively applying for positions, but unfortunately, I haven't had any success yet. I believe my lack of prior work experience might be a significant hurdle, although I do have some research experience, including 2 publications. My focus has been on computer vision, and I am specifically looking for roles in that area. I am feeling quite discouraged and am almost ready to give up. I would really appreciate any tips or guidance on how to improve my job search.

I'm currently in a 6-month introductory period at my job, and I'm in month 5 right now. I've used some PTO that I had accrued from a previous department, including 4 sick days and 1 vacation day, mainly due to my kids being sick. However, I've also been tardy 4 times, just 1-2 minutes late each time. Recently, I had two meetings with my direct supervisor regarding my tardiness, and the head of HR was CC'd on the email about our last meeting. These discussions caught me off guard because my department seems to be held to a stricter standard than others; there are four other groups in my department, and I often see them arriving 10 minutes late without any repercussions. Despite the tardiness, I’ve been receiving positive feedback from coworkers and supervisors about my work performance, and my three-month review went well. I even brought up my tardiness in the review, and my supervisor dismissed it as a non-issue. However, the tone of the meetings about my lateness was very different from how my supervisors usually communicate with me, which has left me feeling anxious about my job security. I'm seriously considering asking my supervisor or HR for more clarity on my future here. I don't want to be unemployed or unprepared, so I'm thinking about starting my job search now, just in case.

I'm currently searching for a new job as I'm feeling quite exhausted from my time DoorDashing. I'm looking for any advice or tips on how to transition into a more stable and fulfilling role. If anyone has suggestions or experiences to share, I would really appreciate it!

I recently completed my full-time education but unfortunately, I don't have any GCSEs or qualifications in the UK. I've been actively applying for both part-time and full-time positions over the past few days through Indeed and by visiting places in person. So far, the only response I've received is from a single restaurant that reviewed my application. I've noticed that many restaurants prefer candidates who already have experience as servers or some background in the hospitality industry, making it quite challenging for someone like me to break into this field. I'm looking for advice on how to make my application stand out to potential employers and any tips on how to find jobs in the hospitality sector despite lacking previous qualifications.

I recently got accepted for a job position in the cloud tech industry after being unemployed for over a year since graduation, and I was initially thrilled about it. The role is close to home and aligns with my career goals, which made it even more exciting. However, I made the mistake of checking the company’s reviews on Glassdoor, and now I'm feeling apprehensive. The company has a rating of around 3, which is decent, but many reviews mention issues like poor work-life balance, nepotism, and bad management. Some even suggest avoiding the company altogether, claiming that the positive reviews are fake. This has left me worried about accepting the position out of desperation, fearing that I might end up overwhelmed and stuck in a bad situation with no way out. I’m curious if these kinds of reviews are typical for small companies and how much weight I should give them in my decision-making process. Has anyone else had a similar experience stepping into a less-than-ideal work environment right after college? I’m just trying to figure out if I should trust my instincts or if I should take the job and keep looking for something better while employed.

I've been working at my current company for 2 years now, starting as an intern before transitioning to a full-time role after graduation. Initially, I thought it would be a safe choice given the tough job market, but the reality of the job has been far from ideal. My internship experience was lackluster, with minimal guidance and a lot of time spent alone in the office. My manager often disappears for days, leaving me without communication or support. As a result, I've had to teach myself a lot, and while I've managed to complete the simple tasks assigned to me, I've found the work unfulfilling. I did receive a small pay increase and benefits as a full-time employee, but my workload hasn't changed much since my internship. I've taken on a few additional tasks, but they don't keep me engaged or motivated. I know many would appreciate having a job right now, but I'm feeling increasingly unmotivated and it's affecting me. I'm at a crossroads and wondering if I should start looking for a new job or stick it out a little longer.

I recently faced an unemployment claim denial in Wisconsin after missing the deadline to file my weekly claims. I had been consistently filing on Saturday evenings, but the DWD website was down for maintenance on multiple occasions. While I intended to file after the maintenance, I ended up forgetting due to the demands of caring for my newborn. This happened for four consecutive weeks, and when I realized the issue, I immediately resumed filing. I understand I missed the deadlines, but I appealed the decision because I feel the circumstances weren't fully considered. I'm looking for advice from anyone who has gone through a similar appeal process in Wisconsin. What can I expect during the phone hearing? What kind of questions do they typically ask? Will they only focus on the missed deadlines, or will they take my situation into account? Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

I was recently let go from my remote job at a tech company just before my planned move out of state. The termination happened at the end of March, and it was attributed to performance issues, which I believe were tied to my recent short-term disability leave for a mental health crisis. I had been on disability from the end of January until early March, and just two weeks after returning, I faced issues for packing up my things instead of making calls, which was part of my job. I filed for unemployment and was initially approved for benefits, but my employer appealed the decision on the 13th day after approval. Now, I have a hearing scheduled in about a week. They cited my performance improvement plan (PIP) and my recent job performance as reasons for my termination. I’m feeling overwhelmed as this is my first experience with unemployment, and I’m seeking advice on how to present my case effectively. I want to know what documents I should gather and how to argue that the PIP alone shouldn’t disqualify me from receiving benefits. It seems like the employer is trying to contest my claim, even though I was approved initially. Any insights on how to navigate this situation would be greatly appreciated.

I received a surprising piece of mail the day after I was laid off from my position at Xbox. It was unexpected and added a mix of emotions to an already tough situation. Some of the comments from others in similar positions suggested that they received less favorable mail, like COBRA letters, which made me feel a bit better about my own situation. One commenter even suggested I should sell the item I received, which is something I'm considering.

I graduated in 2025 with an engineering degree and managed to secure a Software Developer role at a large enterprise company right out of school. I worked incredibly hard, dedicating myself to competitive programming and complex system design during my college years to stand out in a tough job market. Once I started my job, I gave it my all—building high-throughput event pipelines, designing multi-agent AI workflows, and optimizing core libraries to improve our delivery speed. I thought that my efforts would ensure some level of job security. However, with the current tech landscape and frequent restructuring, it feels like none of my contributions matter. The anxiety surrounding potential layoffs and shifting corporate priorities is exhausting. I’ve realized that despite optimizing systems and saving the company money, I’m just another number on a spreadsheet to upper management. Now, the thought of re-entering the job market as a junior/mid-level engineer with only about a year of experience is daunting. The competition is fierce, and the interview processes seem broken. This constant uncertainty is starting to dampen my passion for engineering. I’m reaching out to see how others are coping with this mental strain. For those who faced layoffs early in their careers, how did you stay motivated to keep practicing coding and system design when the outcome feels so unpredictable?

I recently found out that Microsoft is laying off around 4,800 employees, which is about 2.1% of their global workforce. As part of this layoff plan, they are offering severance packages that include up to 39 weeks of base pay for most US employees. I’ve seen reports that this is similar to a voluntary retirement package they offered back in June, but this time it’s not optional. The minimum severance is 60 days, which is required by federal law. While layoffs are never easy, I can't help but think that packages like this can make the transition a bit smoother for those affected. It’s a solid offer, and I hope it helps those who are impacted find their next opportunity.

I graduated in 2022 with a BS in Math from a top public university, but I've been struggling to find work for the past four years. My mental health issues affected my grades, which prevented me from securing internships during my studies. Despite my coding skills and coursework in CS and Stats, I've been mass applying to jobs—over 10,000 applications so far—and have only landed a handful of interviews. I've applied for every job I could find, including basic retail, food service, and office positions, but I haven't had any luck. I've even reached out to temp agencies without success. Networking has also been challenging; my family is from a low socioeconomic background, and they don't have connections to help me. I'm considering grad school, but I'm worried about the financial burden, my grades, and being seen as overqualified for entry-level positions. I'm looking for any advice on how to improve my situation.

I’m currently 29 and still interning, which has been weighing heavily on my mind. I’ve always struggled with knowing what I wanted to do with my life, leading me to pursue multiple degrees without a clear direction. I started interning at 23, first in PR for a startup, then in marketing for a large corporation, but neither felt right. After switching to IT and taking a year off to travel and gain new qualifications, I landed an internship at a prestigious company. Now, I find myself surrounded by younger interns, many of whom are in their early 20s, and I can’t help but feel embarrassed about my age. I’ve stopped mentioning it to avoid awkward questions about my background and education. It’s tough to connect with the other interns, especially when I sense a shift in their attitude towards me once they learn my story. I feel lonely and ashamed, questioning whether I’ve wasted my 20s while my peers advance to senior roles. I’m looking for advice on how to cope with this situation and whether others would find it strange to work with someone nearly 30 who is still interning. I just want to feel like I’m on the right path.