Got a Job

I recently faced a challenging situation after moving from Virginia to North Carolina in December. I had arranged with my employer to work from home, but shortly after my move, the company closed down. When I tried to file for unemployment, I discovered that my employer had my Social Security number incorrectly listed in their system. This led to complications in my claim, and I was advised by an unemployment representative to fax my Social Security card along with a note to their office. In May, I managed to secure a new job, but just two weeks ago, I received a letter stating that I was approved for unemployment benefits. Now, I'm in the process of seeking back pay for the weeks I was unemployed. To do this, I need to submit a list of jobs I applied to during that time. I'm feeling anxious about how likely it is that I will actually receive back pay, as the period without income was incredibly tough for my family and me. I applied to numerous jobs almost every day and have a solid work history, having been employed since I was 15. This was my first experience with unemployment benefits, and I'm reaching out to see if anyone has been in a similar situation and what their outcomes were. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I was recently let go from a job I held for just three weeks. After a long three months of searching, I finally received an offer, but it turned out to be far from my dream role. I was hired at a corporate franchise, making $21 an hour, and was expected to fix a mess that had been building since Covid. Unfortunately, I struggled to meet the owners' unrealistic expectations and faced challenges from a jealous co-worker who was not supportive in my training. Ultimately, I was told I didn't have the same drive as the owners, which led to my termination. I’ve come to terms with this experience and believe it’s for the best. Now, I'm debating whether to include that brief management experience on my resume or just acknowledge that I've been unemployed for four months. Any advice on this would be appreciated!

I recently accepted a job offer in an industry I've been passionate about for a while, and I was really excited. The pay increase is minimal—just a dollar more than my current job—but I thought it was worth it. However, I made a critical mistake during the interview: I forgot to confirm whether the position was Full-Time. When I received the offer letter, I found out it is indeed Full-Time, but I’m worried about what that actually means. In today's job market, Full-Time could mean as little as 30 hours a week, which wouldn't be enough for me to pay my bills. Currently, I work at a high-volume store where I consistently get around 40 hours a week. I've already put in my two weeks' notice at my current job, and I'm set to start the new position next week. Now, I'm having second thoughts and considering going back to my old job. I've reached out to my new employer to ask about guaranteed hours, but I haven't received a response yet. I feel like I rushed into this decision without thinking it through. I'm looking for advice on whether I should wait for a response from my new job or just pull my two weeks and stay where I am. I know I need to be cautious about my financial stability, especially in this job market.

I recently started a new job about four months ago, but it's been a nightmare. I had been struggling to find work for a while due to my employment history, which includes several short stints and a significant gap while I focused on my bachelor's degree and dealt with personal issues. When I finally got this job, I thought it would be a fresh start, but it quickly turned toxic. From the beginning, I noticed red flags, and soon enough, the stress became unbearable. Every shift feels like a battle, and I'm constantly worried about being fired. I've tried to address issues with my coworkers and manager, but nothing has improved. The environment is hostile, and I'm under immense pressure to meet conflicting expectations. Recently, my hours were cut from full-time to part-time because I couldn't meet the unrealistic standards set by my manager and coworkers, despite my best efforts. This shift has left me feeling trapped, as I'm still expected to be available full-time without any predictable schedule. I suspect my manager is trying to force me to quit. Now I'm at a crossroads. If I leave this job off my resume, my employment gap will widen, but if I include it, I'll look like a job hopper. I'm considering applying for new jobs, but I'm unsure how to approach it given my circumstances. I have some savings, but I don't want to waste more time and money. I'm feeling really lost and need advice on whether I should start applying now and how to handle my resume.

I recently resigned from my position as a paraprofessional at an autism school, and honestly, I feel relieved. My hours had been cut down to just two days a week, which was frustrating since I was already working five days a week. The administration, particularly the director, created a toxic environment. Although they occasionally showed appreciation, I often felt undervalued and unappreciated. This unhappiness had been building up over the last couple of months, and my last day was May 29th. I communicated to my boss that working only two days a week wasn't feasible for me and requested a full-time position. Unfortunately, she informed me that there were no full-time opportunities available, which prompted me to start searching for a new job. On a positive note, I had a few job interviews lined up, and last Wednesday, I attended two of them. Just last Friday, I received a call from one of the directors at another school where I had applied, asking if I was still interested in the position. I was thrilled to say yes! They sent me a contract, which I reviewed carefully and found satisfactory. I officially resigned from my previous job and will be starting at the new autism school in two weeks on July 27th! I didn't expect the transition to happen so quickly. While I will still be working as a paraprofessional, I am hopeful that this new environment will treat me with the respect and appreciation I deserve. Good riddance to my old job!

I was let go from my job as a project manager on March 11th, which honestly felt like a relief. My former CEO had a volatile personality; one moment she was friendly, and the next, she was yelling at me. Since my termination, I've noticed that she and the vice president, who is her long-time friend, have been checking my LinkedIn profile regularly. I have a premium account, so I can see when they view my page. I haven't updated my social media with my new job details, which I started on March 31st, because I'm worried about their behavior. It's puzzling why she would care about where I’m working now that she let me go. I’m considering blocking them on LinkedIn and making my account private to protect my current position.

I’ve been on the job hunt for a while now, applying to over 100 positions without receiving a single callback, and it’s been really disheartening. Recently, I’ve come to realize that mass applying is like playing a lottery — it’s not just about the number of applications you send out. After doing some extensive research across various industries, I discovered a common trend: those who stand out, even if it feels a bit cringe, tend to get noticed. A friend of mine was desperate for a sales job and decided to take a bold approach. He found a hiring manager's phone number and cold-called him, asking for just 60 seconds to pitch himself. This tactic worked for him because it demonstrated his initiative and ability to sell himself, which is crucial in sales roles. Taking inspiration from this, I’ve started creating unsolicited 5-slide decks outlining what I would work on if hired at companies I’m genuinely interested in. I then find five relevant hiring managers on LinkedIn and send them my deck. This approach has yielded a 20% response rate, and I finally landed a job! I used to think this was too much effort, but when traditional application methods feel blocked by algorithms, sometimes you have to find a creative side door to get in. What’s the most unconventional thing you would try in your job search?

I’ve been through a tough time with repeated layoffs and job searching, and I just need to share my experience to get it off my chest. A couple of years ago, I was laid off and spent months searching for a new role. Eventually, I landed a position at a large tech company, which I thought was a turning point for me. However, less than a year later, I faced another layoff due to "business changes." Since then, I’ve been doing low-rate freelance work just to keep some income coming in. While I’m thankful I haven’t been completely unemployed, my current role is quite different from what I used to do, and I’m struggling to adjust. The workload is heavy, and the pay barely covers my basic expenses. I feel like I’m on the edge, and lately, I’ve found myself crying more often than I’d like to admit. I’ve been actively applying for more stable and relevant roles, reaching out to former colleagues and my network, but most of my messages go unanswered or lead to dead ends. Sometimes recruiters reach out, and I get interviews, but most of those end in rejection or silence. Just today, I was rejected after an HR screening for an overseas role that matched my background closely. The conversation felt good, so I was really surprised by the rejection email, which said they chose someone with a closer match. It stung because it made me feel like I was just a backup option. This rejection hit hard. If I can’t even progress in a role that aligns with my experience, I’m starting to lose hope about what I should even apply for. I’m not looking for a perfect job; I just want something stable that can provide enough income to avoid feeling like one unexpected expense could derail everything. I’m exhausted and feeling hopeless about getting back on my feet. Has anyone else been in a similar situation and managed to find stability? I just need to know I’m not alone in feeling this way and that things can change.

I'm starting a new job next week, and it's finally starting to sink in that I actually succeeded in the interview process. However, I’m feeling a bit ambivalent about it all. It usually takes me about 5-7 business days for significant events in my life to fully register, and today I found myself dissociating at my current job, which I will be leaving soon. Saying goodbye to my colleagues is proving to be a challenge, and I'm unsure how to navigate that. I think I’m excited about the new opportunity, but there's also a touch of sadness about leaving my current role.

I started a new job at a small company in mid-April, leaving behind a medium-sized firm where I would miss out on my annual bonus. To make up for this, the new company included a 10% sign-on bonus in my contract, payable after my first full month of employment. However, when May rolled around, I didn’t receive the bonus. I thought maybe it was due to the timing, so I waited another pay period. By June, still no bonus, so I approached the CEO, who mentioned they were discussing whether I wanted the bonus all at once or spaced out for tax reasons. I opted for the lump sum. When the next pay period came, the bonus was still absent. After expressing my frustration, the CEO assured me they would check with the COO and rectify the payroll issue. They claimed it was an oversight due to their automated system. The following pay period came and went without the bonus, leading to another conversation where the CEO promised a special payroll run to ensure I received it. Now, it's Tuesday, and I can see they didn’t run that special payroll. I’m feeling really frustrated because it’s been months since I was promised this bonus. I genuinely like the company and my role, but I’m worried that pushing the issue further might create tension. I’m unsure of my next steps. Should I escalate this or try to resolve it more casually? I’m also starting to wonder if I should begin looking for other opportunities.

I was laid off from my fully remote job about 8 months ago, where I had worked for 6 years. The job search has been incredibly challenging; I submitted around 800 applications across various platforms, including Indeed, LinkedIn, and Zip Recruiter, as well as directly to company websites. I went through 10 final interviews but faced numerous rejections and ghosting, which was disheartening. I also encountered ageism during my search, as I am nearing 50. After what felt like an endless grind, I finally secured a new fully remote position in my industry, although it comes with a 28% pay cut compared to my previous salary. Despite the pay decrease, I am relieved and happy to have found a company that is committed to remaining fully remote, especially since many others are shifting back to in-office or hybrid models. This experience has been the toughest 8 months of my career, and I wish everyone still searching for a remote job the best of luck in this competitive market.

I recently accepted a job offer at School A and was set to start onboarding tomorrow at 9:30 AM. I was really excited about this opportunity, but then I received a call from School B, where I had previously worked, offering me a position just 10 minutes after I accepted with School A. After some consideration, I decided to go with School B because I enjoy the management and the work environment there. Now, I'm faced with the dilemma of how to handle the situation with School A. Friends and family have advised me to simply not show up for onboarding, but I feel that it would be more professional to formally withdraw my acceptance. I plan to call or email them to apologize and explain that a previous employer reached out with an offer that I couldn't refuse. I want to ensure I handle this respectfully, as I believe in maintaining good relationships for the future.

I recently went through the interview process for a position that I thought went okay, but I wasn't overly confident about it. After a couple of weeks, I received a job offer, which surprised me since I didn't expect to hear back. The role would have provided a pay increase, but the longer commute would eat into that increase, mainly covering tolls and gas. Additionally, my current job offers more flexibility, which is important to me, especially since I need to help a family friend relocate soon. I had interviewed with several people in different locations and had committed to giving my decision at the beginning of this week. I have the phone number of the last person I spoke with, but not their email, although I could find it. I also have the email addresses of the other interviewers. I initially thought about calling to decline the offer, but I feel more comfortable sending an email to keep it concise and professional. I’m unsure about how to phrase my response since I’ve never had to decline a job offer before. I’ve received advice to keep it brief and simply thank them for the opportunity without going into too much detail about my reasons. I think I’ll go with an email to maintain clarity and professionalism.

I recently went through a long wait after my interview for a role that I was really excited about. After the interview, I was told to expect feedback in about a week, but I ended up waiting over 2.5 weeks without any updates. I found myself checking for news obsessively, convinced that the silence meant I hadn’t gotten the job. During the interview, everything seemed to go well, but the vague next steps left me uncertain. They didn’t ask about my notice period or salary expectations, which added to my anxiety. After 1.5 weeks of silence, I sent a follow-up email and received a vague response that they were still considering candidates. At that point, I tried to move on and focus on other opportunities. I knew the competition was tough and that I was towards the end of the interview list, which made me think they had already made decisions. However, I was shocked when, at the 2.5-week mark, I received a call from the recruiter. I was bracing myself for a rejection, but instead, they offered me the role! This experience taught me that sometimes silence doesn’t mean a bad outcome. I wanted to share my story to encourage others who might be in a similar situation. Don’t lose hope too quickly!

I recently applied for an apprenticeship with the local council, which had a decent starting wage. I put a lot of effort into my application, writing a 2000-word statement, and was thrilled to get shortlisted. The interview process was intense, lasting four hours and including a maths test, a drawing test, a presentation, and an interview with three senior staff members. A week later, I received the fantastic news that the job was mine, but the offer was conditional on satisfactory pre-employment checks, particularly regarding my A-level qualifications. In my excitement, I made a mistake by inflating my results; I claimed I got a C in maths when I actually received a D. I let my boyfriend convince me that it was okay to bend the truth since 'everyone does it.' I had no idea how serious this could be. Now, a week later, I still haven't received my contract, and I suspect they are waiting to verify my qualifications. Feeling anxious, I decided to take responsibility and emailed the hiring manager to apologize for my dishonesty. My boyfriend and some family members think I made a mistake by admitting this, but I felt it was the right thing to do. I’m really worried I might have ruined this opportunity that I was so excited about. I just want to know if I did the right thing and what the likely outcome might be. I've been feeling anxious and angry at myself for the past couple of weeks.

I started a new consulting role at a large government consulting firm just two weeks ago, but unfortunately, the project I'm assigned to is not what was promised during the interview process. I left my previous job, where I had been for over a year, for this position because it offered a higher salary, a promotion, and work in a field I was genuinely interested in. However, I've found myself working on a project that is completely unrelated to my technical background, despite being assured that I would be able to leverage my skills and certifications. The team I’m with is fine, but the responsibilities I have are overwhelming and not aligned with my experience. The onboarding has been lacking, and I feel unsupported as I try to manage multiple workstreams in an unfamiliar technology area. I plan to discuss my situation with my career manager to explore internal options, but I'm also considering applying for new roles externally, even though I know the job market is tough right now. My main dilemma is whether to list this current role on my resume, even though I've only been here for three weeks. On one hand, I feel that listing it (with dates) would show that I’m actively employed and mitigate any negative bias against candidates who are not currently working. On the other hand, leaving it off might help me avoid the awkward question of why I’m leaving after such a short time, but it could also create a gap in my employment history. If I do get interviews, I’m confident I can explain my situation honestly, but I’m trying to figure out the best way to present my resume to get to that point. Additionally, when reaching out to recruiters or connecting on LinkedIn, should I mention my current situation upfront, or wait until they inquire about it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I started receiving unemployment benefits in February after losing my job. In early March, a friend who was starting at a restaurant asked if I could help cover a few shifts for their grand opening. I thought I was just helping out, but I ended up filling out onboarding paperwork and was told I officially worked there. I was surprised but needed the income, so I went along with it. However, after about a week and a half, the job shifted from full-time bartending to part-time serving and bartending because they had overhired for the opening. It quickly became clear that it wasn't a good fit for me, so I asked my friend to stop scheduling me. During this time, I made sure to report my earnings accurately, which were only around $250-300 for that week, as I still relied on unemployment to make ends meet. I continued to claim unemployment until mid-April when I secured a new job that I've been at since. In May, I received a letter from the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) stating that I had misrepresented my information. I was really worried because I explained my situation in a letter, detailing that I was just helping out temporarily and provided my pay stub and screenshots from the scheduling app. Now I'm anxious about what will happen next. I’ve never dealt with anything like this before, and I'm terrified of being accused of fraud or having to pay back benefits. I also have a letter coming in the mail today, but it hasn’t shown up in my online portal like previous correspondence. I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed and uncertain about my financial situation.

I got laid off from my job at the end of May and managed to find a new position by June 15th. Unfortunately, the new job has turned out to be a terrible fit for me. I'm considering quitting, but I'm unsure if I would still be eligible for unemployment benefits from my previous layoff. I've heard mixed opinions on this. Some people say that since I started a new job, I might not qualify for unemployment if I quit. Others mention that my eligibility would depend on the circumstances surrounding my departure from the new job. I really need clarity on this situation.

I recently left my job that I found quite stressful and exhausting. Although I only had one good friend there, the overall experience was not enjoyable for me. However, I secured a new position that I believe will be a much better fit. Despite my relief at moving on, I find myself feeling quite emotional about leaving. Has anyone else experienced similar feelings when transitioning to a new job?

I recently graduated with a degree in chemical engineering this past May, and through my sister, who is a consultant gynaecologist, I was offered a position as a medical receptionist at a maternity and women’s hospital. This hospital was established by a well-known consultant gynaecologist who trains others for complex surgeries. While I'm grateful for this opportunity, I feel a lot of anxiety about it. The job market for engineering graduates in my country is really poor, and honestly, the overall job market isn’t great either. This position feels like a golden opportunity, but I worry that by accepting it, I might be closing the door on my future career in oil and gas, which is where I ultimately want to be. I’m not necessarily looking to work as an engineer or technician, but I still feel conflicted about taking this role.