Feeling

I have submitted over 100 job applications in the last three months, but unfortunately, I've faced a 100% rejection rate. As a soon-to-be graduating international PhD student in Materials Science, I am eager to find a position in the industry here in the USA. This process has been incredibly disheartening, especially since I am also juggling my thesis and preparing for my final defense. The stress is taking a significant toll on my mental health. I'm at a crossroads, contemplating whether I should give up and return to my home country, which is particularly difficult since I've been in the U.S. for over six years and have been in a relationship for the past 1.5 years. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has experienced a similar situation and how they coped with it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm looking for advice regarding my mom, who is 61 and currently working in Quality Assurance for a non-profit. She's been under a lot of stress lately, especially after losing my stepfather last December and dealing with mini strokes due to that stress. Her job has been particularly tough, filled with office politics that she struggles to navigate. Recently, she came home in tears after facing another issue at work and expressed a desire to quit, but we can't afford that right now since we're still recovering from her previous unemployment and my own financial situation isn't great either. I'm considering whether it would be better for her to stick it out until she can retire in a few months or if I should encourage her to look for something else or even pursue a small business idea she had. I want to support her, but I'm unsure of the best approach.

I'm currently in a tough situation at my new job, which I started around April 30th. I completed a certification before the winter break, but now that I'm in my 6th week of a 90-day training period, I'm realizing that this role is not a good fit for me. It's a 12-hour night shift, and I've been feeling increasingly anxious about my performance. I think I might be going solo this week, and honestly, I've lost a lot of confidence. I know I can be stubborn and try to push through, but since I'm dealing with people's lives, I believe it's better to leave than risk making a mistake after training. I'm worried about how to approach quitting, as I suspect they might try to convince me to stay. Any advice on how to handle this situation would be greatly appreciated.

I recently applied for a position at Publix and had to take their personality test, which I found to be incredibly frustrating and inaccurate. The questions were so vague that I felt like my interpretation was completely different from what the employer intended. For instance, I was faced with choices that forced me to pick between being labeled a 'quitter' or a 'slacker,' which seemed unreasonable. As someone with high-functioning autism, I struggled to understand what they were really asking, and it felt like the test was designed to filter out people like me with trick questions. I often had to resort to using AI just to help me navigate the confusing wording of the questions. What really struck me was how toxic the workplace seemed based on the nature of the questions. They seemed to assume that anyone who is self-motivated must also have a bad temper, which is a huge double standard. I left the test feeling uncertain about whether I even wanted to work there anymore, as the whole process felt like an invasion of my character rather than a fair assessment of my skills.

I was laid off from my job in California on May 29 and received three weeks of severance pay on June 2. I filed for unemployment on June 1, but when I was certifying my claim on June 14, I completely forgot to report the severance pay. I only remembered after a coworker, who was also laid off, asked if I had reported it. Now I'm worried about whether I should report the severance in my next certification period and if I might get into trouble for not mentioning it earlier. I've heard that it could affect my benefits, depending on the amount and how it's allocated. I'm feeling anxious about this situation.

I'm currently facing a frustrating situation with my unemployment claim in Colorado. It's my first week needing to submit weekly certifications, but my claim is stuck in manual wage verification. This means I can't submit my certs online or through the automated phone line. The only way to resolve this is to speak with someone directly, but I've tried calling about 12 times today and haven't been able to get through. I'm really worried because I've read that if I don't submit my certs, my case could be closed, which would mean losing out on payments and having to reopen the case, putting me back in the same predicament. I'm reaching out to see if anyone else has dealt with this and if they have any tips on how to get through to the office.

I work in my thirties at a company where a new boss has recently taken over. Last week, a hiring freeze was announced, and now my boss is auditing each department's work. It feels like everyone is being asked to justify their roles and prove their necessity within the company. I have a gut feeling that layoffs are coming soon, possibly by August. I'm based in the European market and I'm looking for advice on negotiating severance or layoff packages with US companies. Thankfully, I have strong savings, so I’m in a better position than some, but I lack experience in navigating layoffs and negotiations. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

I previously applied to a few Big Tech companies and high finance firms, but I may have exaggerated some details on my résumé. Now, I'm considering reapplying to these companies and I'm unsure if my past actions will affect my chances. I'm worried that if they check my previous applications, they might see the discrepancies. Should I be honest about my past résumé or just focus on highlighting my actual skills and experiences this time around? Any advice on how to approach this situation would be greatly appreciated.

I recently received an offer for a position as a Preventative Maintenance Technician with a salary of $56K, which is quite a significant amount for me at just 20 years old. Interestingly, the job requirements stated that candidates should have an Associate's degree in industrial maintenance and five years of experience, neither of which I possess as I'm currently a Junior studying Electrical Engineering. From what I've gathered, the company seems to have offered me this role with the intention of eventually promoting me to an engineering position once I graduate. They outlined a career progression path that starts with PM Tech, then moves to Floor Tech, Senior Tech, and finally Engineer. It feels somewhat like an apprenticeship, and they’ve assured me that they are willing to accommodate my school schedule when the time comes.

I'm currently working at a Chinese takeaway, and it's been a real struggle for me. Some days I love it, but other days, like today, I come home feeling defeated. I'm 17 and still a student, and I rely on my parents to drive me since I don’t have a car or a license. The takeaway is just 10 minutes away, but it’s in a small town, making job options limited. At work, I handle the till and have always been accurate, except when this one delivery driver, whom I’ll call Max, is on shift. Max has a reputation for being dishonest; he's been caught stealing on camera multiple times, yet my boss refuses to let him go. It’s frustrating because I end up taking the blame when the till is short, which has happened a few times now. My coworkers and I have pleaded with our boss to fire him, but nothing changes. I’m really tired of this situation and need to save money for college and a car since my parents can’t afford it. I’ve been searching for another job for a year and finally landed this one, but now I’m stuck. I’m not picky about where I work, but I’d prefer to avoid cash handling due to my anxiety. I’m reaching out for advice on how to find a new job quickly. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I was recently laid off from my position as a mid-level software developer in Ireland. It was a tough experience, but I managed to receive a couple of job offers afterward. One offer included a €5,000 annual increase from my previous salary, while the other was a larger €11,000 increase with a title upgrade, but it was from a large consultancy firm. After careful consideration, I decided to accept the €5,000 offer from a well-established services MNC. I felt this option would provide more stability and allow for saner working hours compared to my previous job, where I often worked insane hours, including weekends, under rude management. This is my first time being laid off, and I really just need some peace and a chance to recover. I'm also concerned about the potential for more layoffs in the future, and I didn't want to risk burnout or another layoff. I hope I made the right choice by prioritizing my well-being over a higher salary.

I recently went through an interview process for a position that I initially thought could be a good fit. After my first interview, I was invited to meet with a panel member who had missed the initial session. I approached this meeting with an open mind, but ultimately, I felt the role wasn't right for me. After receiving news that I had progressed to the background check stage, I decided to withdraw my application. I didn’t hear back from them after my withdrawal, which left me wondering if this decision might burn bridges with the company or the panel members involved. I'm curious about how such withdrawals are perceived in the industry.

I’m feeling completely miserable and drained at my current job in HR. I’ve been in this role for about four years now, and honestly, I never intended to end up here. The job market is tough right now, especially since I need a hybrid schedule due to my pets. I currently work from home four days a week, but it’s not enough to keep me from losing my mind. The HR team I’m part of is incredibly dysfunctional. The behavior of my coworkers is downright disgusting and power-hungry, masked by a fake niceness. I’m managing over 60 requisitions and 70+ seats, and the workload is overwhelming. I’m stuck doing heavy administrative tasks that aren’t typical for recruitment roles, like saving email updates as PDFs and updating multiple Excel logs with duplicate information. I’m also managing references for 15-25 offers each month, but it feels like no matter what I do, it’s never enough for my manager. I make only $56,000, which feels ridiculous given my responsibilities. My direct manager constantly implies that we aren’t doing enough and dismissed my request for a raise. We’re micromanaged to the extreme, expected to have a 24-hour turnaround on tasks, and meetings are scheduled at odd hours to check if we’re at our desks. It’s exhausting. I recently requested a day off, but the HR director took forever to respond, and I ended up having to go in because I couldn’t risk losing my job. This whole situation has left me infuriated and exhausted. I feel hopeless and drained, and I’m dealing with vindictive behavior from people who seem to thrive on power plays. Despite this, I’m going to keep applying for new jobs aggressively. I have no intention of giving a two-week notice when I do leave; I wouldn’t want a reference from any of these people.

I just got a job at Target, and my first day is scheduled for June 15th. However, I'm facing a huge issue because I can't access my MyPortal account, which is critical for me to know my schedule and other details. I've tried resetting my password multiple times, and even though I have screenshots of my credentials, nothing seems to work. I'm really anxious about this since it's my first job, and I don't want to mess it up. I've received emails confirming my acceptance, but without access to the portal, I'm in the dark about when to show up. I'm hoping someone can offer advice on how to resolve this quickly!

I just had a tough conversation with my agency owner, and he informed me that he won't be paying me for my work. I'm feeling frustrated and uncertain about my next steps. I've been putting in a lot of effort, and it's disheartening to hear this. I'm considering my options and trying to figure out if I should look for another job or if there's a way to resolve this situation.

I was recently affected by the second wave of layoffs at IQVIA. It was unexpected, and I'm trying to connect with others who were also impacted. If anyone else has experienced this, I'd love to hear your stories and how you're coping with the situation.

I was terminated from my position as a Business Development Executive and Operations Executive at a fintech company where I had been working for 4.5 years. I was the first employee, joining in January 2022, and despite my consistent efforts and contributions, I didn't see much salary growth. Initially, the salary was low, but I was promised growth as the company expanded. Over the last two years, they started hiring more staff, and I even took on additional responsibilities like interviewing new candidates. I hold a B.Sc. in Computer Science and an MBA in Marketing, along with a Data Analyst certification I completed in 2024. My current salary was 32,250 per month, and I am 32 years old. At the end of May, I received a call from management informing me of my termination, effective immediately, with a notice period until June 30. After dedicating so much to the company, it feels disheartening to be let go like this. I’m now searching for new job opportunities in Pune, as I need to support my elderly parents. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I recently found myself in a challenging situation at my job as a QA Engineer for a service-based company in India. A few days ago, my Team Lead called me at around 10 PM, asking if I could join a Teams meeting in 15 minutes. I was out having dinner with my family at the time and asked if there was any urgency or production issue that required my immediate attention. My Team Lead insisted that my presence was necessary, but since no specific urgency was communicated, I requested to reschedule the meeting. Ultimately, I chose not to join. The next day, I was shocked to receive a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) from HR. This was particularly confusing for me because I had received Best Achiever awards for the past two years, and there had been no prior performance concerns raised. I have always documented my work and contributions, especially during appraisal cycles. Now, I’m trying to figure out if the timing of the PIP is just a coincidence or if my refusal to join the late-night call was indeed linked to this decision. I’m reaching out for advice on how to navigate this situation. What should I be asking my manager and HR? What should I look for in the PIP document? How can I determine if this is a genuine improvement plan or the start of an exit process? Any insights from those who have experienced a similar situation would be greatly appreciated.

I've been on the job hunt for about 1-2 years now, primarily looking for engineering or science roles, and it feels incredibly frustrating. I hold a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's in space systems engineering, along with around 8 years of solid work experience solving complex problems. Yet, the job market seems to be demanding an unrealistic level of expertise. It feels like companies are unwilling to recognize my potential to learn and adapt. Instead of seeing my background as a foundation for growth, they seem to prefer candidates who already fit their exact requirements. This has made the job search feel more like a ritual humiliation rather than a collaborative effort to solve problems together. I know I'm capable of learning new skills with some training, but it seems like employers are looking for a unicorn—someone who can hit the ground running without any need for development. I can't help but feel that there's a disconnect between what I can offer and what companies are willing to accept. It's disheartening to think that my qualifications and experience are being overlooked in favor of someone who may not even be as adaptable as I am.

I recently graduated and somehow made it through the initial screening for a program manager role, despite having no professional experience and less work history than the position requires. This is my first overseas job interview, and I'm feeling a bit anxious about it. I did exaggerate my work history a little; while I haven't lied outright, the experience I listed mostly comes from achievements during my college years. I'm concerned that the interviewer might think I have actual professional experience when I don't. Should I bring this up during the interview? I want to be honest, but I also don't want to jeopardize my chances.