Feeling

I worked at a company for 4 and a half years, starting in an entry-level position. After two years, I was promoted to a management role, which was my first experience in management. Unfortunately, due to multiple layoffs, I was let go. Now that I'm searching for new opportunities, I've noticed that many leadership positions require 3 to 5 years of management experience, which I don't quite meet. I'm considering adjusting my resume to reflect my management role starting earlier in my tenure at the company. I'm wondering if potential employers typically fact-check the specific dates for each role or if they only verify the total length of employment. Has anyone else faced this situation and have any advice?

I was recently laid off from my role at a tech company due to a workforce reduction. I received my layoff notification and was informed that my employment would officially end in a month, along with a severance package to be provided on my termination date. During this transition period, I was reassigned to report to a proxy HR manager instead of my previous manager. However, my former manager has been assigning me new tasks and expects me to continue working as if nothing has changed. He even threatened to speak with HR about taking away my severance if I didn't keep up with the new work. This didn't sit right with me, so I reached out to Business HR for clarification. They confirmed that I should not be taking on new work during this transition, and they spoke to my former manager to address the situation. I've learned that this manager has a history of intimidating employees, and I don't want to just let this slide, especially since it seems to be a pattern of behavior. I'm considering escalating this to his manager or another higher-up because I feel it's important to address this issue, not just for myself but for others who might be affected by his tactics. I'm seeking advice on whether I should report this behavior or just let it go since I'm leaving the company soon. Has anyone else experienced something similar?

I've been struggling to find a job for what feels like forever, and it's really taken a toll on me. This is probably my fourth time reaching out about my situation, but the job search continues to be a nightmare. Initially, I needed to secure internships to graduate, and I was close to landing a position at FedEx when suddenly the vacancy vanished without any explanation. The stress of finding an internship consumed me, leading to sleepless nights where I could only manage an hour of rest. This spiraled into hallucinations and severe mood swings, making me irritable from the moment I woke up. Eventually, I did find a company for my internship, but they ended up giving me nothing to work on. I had to complete my thesis independently, using a project I had already done, and somehow graduated, hoping my degree would open doors to a graduate job. Unfortunately, even entry-level positions demanded prior experience. Now, I’m stuck in a blue-collar job. When I was called in, I thought I would be placed in a role related to my field, but instead, I was assigned to operate a machine without any training. The situation has worsened as I've been forced to work extra hours, and my supervisors claim I cause problems simply because I talk while working. I've spent up to 12 hours without eating, and they still say I'm not performing well. This whole job search has been a disaster, and I feel like it has completely changed who I am due to the overwhelming stress and frustration. I've hit a breaking point where I almost considered ending it all. I've only shared these feelings with ChatGPT because I've kept everything bottled up until now, but I really need to talk about this. I'm feeling incredibly stressed, experiencing hallucinations, and my life has become just work and home. Am I exaggerating my situation?

I'm currently planning a move to New York to live with my aunt in search of better job opportunities. As a 21-year-old black male, I've been feeling overwhelmed by the job market lately, and it's been affecting my mental health. I've worked in various kitchen roles, including cook, dishwasher, busboy, server, host, and prep cook, but Atlanta just isn't cutting it for me anymore. My fiancée and I are eager to start our life together, and we believe moving to New York could help us achieve that. We're hoping I can secure a job there, save up some money, and eventually bring her along to begin building our future. I'm tired of the constant rejections and being ghosted, and while I know I'm young and have time, I have specific goals I want to pursue. Thank you for reading my story.

I was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) about a month ago at my current job, and I genuinely felt like I had made significant improvements during this period. However, in a recent meeting two weeks ago, my manager's feedback contradicted my perception of progress. They mentioned that they don’t expect perfection, but something about that statement felt off to me. Last week, I experienced a panic attack, and my anxiety and depression have been worsened by this situation. It feels like no matter how much I improve, my efforts go unnoticed, and even the smallest mistakes are being highlighted. I’ve also noticed that my manager has been reviewing my work from several months ago—well before the PIP started—but didn’t address any issues back then. This has led me to question whether the company is trying to push me out or if I should just start looking for a new job.

I recently faced a frustrating rejection after applying for a position at a coffee chain located inside a hospital. I’m a 24-year-old female living in a major city, and I was referred for this job, which made me feel hopeful. I have prior experience with that specific chain, and the job posting clearly stated they were looking for candidates with open availability and relevant experience, which I have. Despite feeling fully qualified, I didn’t even get an interview, and they were hiring three people! I’m really tempted to reach out to the hiring manager to ask why I wasn’t considered, especially since I met all the qualifications. It’s disheartening to face so many rejections, and this was a position I felt confident about. My mental and financial situations are suffering because of these setbacks. I just want to find a stable job that pays more than minimum wage!

I'm a 25-year-old female working remotely as an analyst. Last month, I received a warning for my productivity, which was entirely my fault. I apologized and worked hard to improve, contributing significantly to my team's overall productivity. However, this month, management reviewed productivity data and decided to shift me to a different project due to my lower output compared to others, likely because of my inexperience. I'm unsure about the new workload and whether my salary will decrease. I feel like I've let my team down, despite my efforts to prove myself. It's been tough, and I'm feeling demotivated and anxious about my worth at work. I accepted the management's decision, but I'm struggling with feelings of worthlessness and uncertainty about my future.

After 11 long months of searching, I finally landed a job! I lost my previous position in September 2025 and started my new role in August 2026. During my job search, I sent out over 600 applications, but only went on less than 20 interviews. Most of the time, I felt like I was just tossing my applications into a black hole, as I was ghosted by many employers. My situation was particularly challenging because I have a disability that limits me to jobs where I can sit down. One day, I decided to visit my friend Michal at a craft fair, and while I was there, I met another friend, Jen. During our conversation, I mentioned my struggles with finding work for nearly ten months. Jen then told me that her job was hiring for a work-from-home medical scheduling position and offered to pass my resume along to her supervisor. I was skeptical but sent it over. A week later, I received an email from a supervisor I had never met, saying that someone had recommended me and offered me the job without an interview! It felt surreal, and I initially thought it might be a scam. Thankfully, Jen confirmed it was legitimate. The process wasn't without its stressors, though. I had to go through a background check and employment verification, which made me anxious. For the drug test, I had to sneak in my mom's urine since I use medical marijuana for my disability. In the meantime, my neighbor was kind enough to bring me meals to ensure I was eating during this stressful time. This entire job search experience has been incredibly taxing on my mental health. I truly believe that without Jen's referral, I would still be searching for work. It's disheartening to see how broken the job market is; it shouldn't be this difficult to find employment. If you're struggling to find a job, please know that it's not your fault—many of us are facing the same challenges.

I’ve been on the job hunt lately and noticed something strange: there are no McDonald's hiring within 100 miles of me. It feels like a sign of the times when I remember a time when anyone could easily get a job there. Now, it seems like getting hired at a fast-food chain is a rare occurrence. I'm just looking for any job at this point, but it's disheartening to see such a staple of entry-level employment not hiring. It makes me wonder if people are moving away from fast food in favor of better options, or if McDonald’s has just lost its appeal. Either way, I’m feeling the frustration of this job search.

I recently graduated in May with a BA in history and a minor in global security, and I’m feeling lost about my career path. I had a part-time job at a tutoring company for 20 hours a week, but I left that in January after I thought I secured a meaningful position at a non-profit that supports foster kids. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a scam, and I missed the warning signs as a new graduate. Since then, I’ve been unemployed and struggling to find work. I've tried applying for retail jobs, but it feels like nothing is working out. I'm at a point where I don't even know what to look for anymore, especially with government jobs being out of reach and my degree not opening many doors. I'm reaching out for advice on how to break this cycle of dead-end jobs I’ve been stuck in since college. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

I reached out to my recruiter, Beck, about a new role at the same agency where I'm currently interviewing for a different position. I'm in discussions for Role A, which is a two-month contract with low pay, but I just saw they posted Role B, which seems like a full-time opportunity and much more appealing. I'm unsure if Beck is also the recruiter for Role B or if it might complicate my chances with Role A if there's another recruiter involved. I'm really hoping to get clarity on this situation.

I've been on the job hunt for about two months now, applying to any positions I qualify for. Recently, I came across some promising opportunities that have me feeling hopeful. Just yesterday, I applied to a local clinic right before their job listing closed. To show my enthusiasm, I sent a follow-up email reiterating my interest and attached my cover letter and resume again. In addition to the clinic, I also applied to three other positions last week—one at a bank, another at a hotel, and the last at another clinic. I made sure to apply through Indeed and also directly on their websites if they had separate applications. I'm curious about the typical timeframe for callbacks. Do employers usually wait the full 30 days of the job listing to review all applications? I’ve heard mixed opinions on this. One commenter mentioned that they prefer to reach out quickly to avoid losing good candidates to other offers. It’s reassuring to know that some employers are proactive in their hiring process.

I recently relocated to New York for a new job, and just a month in, I was laid off. Now, I'm facing a tough situation as I have to pay rent without any income. I found a nice place in Queens with a rent under $800, which I thought was a great deal for the area. However, I'm now stuck with 11 months left on my lease and struggling to find someone to take it over since the house is older and not many people are interested. The job market is quite challenging right now, and I've had no luck even landing minimum wage positions. I can't move back to my home state because I'd still be responsible for rent here. I'm feeling overwhelmed and unsure about my next steps.

I can't believe what I just heard. I reached out to a friend for help with my job search, hoping he could network me into some opportunities since I'm struggling with that. We ended up catching up, and I asked him how his job at Starbucks was going. To my shock, he told me he’s had four different jobs since we last spoke! In this economy, I was stunned. He’s now making between $5,000 to $10,000 as a 19-year-old. Meanwhile, I'm still jobless and in the same field as him. I can't help but feel worthless and discouraged about my own job hunt. Does anyone else feel this way?

I recently transitioned into a new role after a challenging job search. After resigning from my position as a Pharmacy Technician, I found myself jobless for six months, which was a tough experience as I watched my savings dwindle and struggled to pay bills. However, I finally landed a job in 2026 as a Security Officer at an Aerospace Industry and Corporate hybrid site. I've been in this role for two months now, and while it pays $22.16/hr—only slightly more than my previous job—it's been a relief to be back on track. My duties vary from manning a guard shack on the perimeter to working in the office or patrolling the area. Thankfully, the work is generally low-stress, and I appreciate the change from my previous job, which had taken a toll on my mental health. After 12 years in various roles, including farming, warehouse work, and landscaping, this position feels like a hidden gem. I plan to stay in security long-term and eventually aim for a Federal position once I gain more experience and obtain my Armed License. The job market is tough right now, but I believe that persistence pays off. If I could give advice to my younger self, it would be to explore this field sooner to avoid the stress I endured in my past jobs.

I recently went through a rapid job application process for a role at a new startup. I applied on LinkedIn through a recruiter and received a call for an interview just two days later. The interview with the CEO went well, and I was offered the position the same day. However, after accepting the offer and submitting my background check forms, I've encountered some delays with my start date. Initially, I was hoping to start on July 27, but they pushed it back because my supervisor would be out. I thought I might start on August 3, but they just informed me that it might be delayed until August 10. I'm feeling a bit frustrated as this is my first job out of college, and I really want to get started and earn some money. I've checked the legitimacy of the company and the recruiter, so I don't think it's a scam, but I'm left wondering if such delays are normal in the hiring process.

I came across a warning about a new job scam targeting LinkedIn users. As someone actively looking for a job, I wanted to share this to help others stay vigilant. Apparently, scammers are using AI to reach out to job seekers with fake job opportunities that seem to match their profiles. These recruiters appear professional, but they often use free email accounts or newly created domains that don't belong to legitimate companies. It's crucial to be cautious and skeptical, especially if an offer seems too good to be true. I read a detailed LinkedIn post about someone's experience with this scam, and it really opened my eyes to the risks out there. I'm trying to stay alert and not fall for any traps while I search for my next role.

After 148 days of searching, I finally secured a job offer! It has been quite the journey. I went through a grueling 8-round interview process for a Director position from April to June, only to face rejection. On top of that, I had three other final round rejections over the past 21 weeks, which made me feel like I was on the verge of giving up. However, about five weeks ago, I started to gain some momentum. After a series of intense back-to-back panel interviews, I was left waiting for a response. To my surprise, not only did they extend an offer, but I performed so well that they offered me a higher role than I initially applied for. I just accepted an executive-level position and can finally sleep peacefully tonight. For anyone out there facing similar struggles, remember that rejection does not define you; instead, let it refine you. Wishing everyone the best of luck in their job searches!

I was recently made redundant from a major corporate bank where I worked in real estate. At 32 years old, I started this role in July 2020 during the peak of COVID, transitioning from my previous career in recruitment for financial services. I’ve been in this position for about six years, and while the job market isn't great right now, I feel surprisingly okay about the situation. In my team of around 20 people, only one colleague reached out to express regret about my departure, which honestly doesn't bother me too much since I wasn't in the office often. We had some good times at client events, but I’ve always kept to myself and focused on my work. There’s an ongoing consultation period, and I know people have been advised not to discuss the layoffs, but it would have been nice to receive a few more messages from coworkers. I want to emphasize that this situation isn’t a reflection of my worth; I’ve always done my job and shown up when needed. This post is a message to anyone going through a similar experience: don’t let the workplace define you. Focus on your personal life and well-being. My job served me well financially and provided valuable experience for my next steps. I know how the job search process works, and I’m prepared to move on. Taking the redundancy package might just be a blessing in disguise, so embrace the change and look forward to new opportunities.

I recently interviewed for an Office Manager position at a company where I thought I had a solid chance. I arrived 15 minutes early after a full day of work, feeling confident about my performance. With my background working for Fortune 500 companies and a strong list of recommendations, I believed I presented myself well. However, after the interview, I was told I would hear back by last Friday. When I reached out for an update, I found that I had been blocked. This experience is really perplexing and feels unprofessional. The interviewer made a strange comment, saying I reminded him of his brother, which has me wondering if that played a role in their decision. It's a new and frustrating situation for me.