Miscellaneous

I started a new job just over two weeks ago after losing my sibling, and I'm feeling really overwhelmed. The transition has been abrupt, and my manager is in a different time zone, which complicates things. My supervisor, who has been with the company for decades, hasn't trained anyone new in a long time, so I'm not getting the support I need. The person who was in my role before is helping me, but he's transitioning out, and I'm learning tasks that my supervisor hasn't done herself, leaving me without guidance at times. I know a lot of my stress is due to the learning curve, but I can't help but compare this experience to my last job where I felt comfortable, had a great work-life balance, and a supportive boss. The pay was lower and there was no room for growth, but I miss that sense of competence and support. This new role offers a 37% pay increase and more opportunities for advancement, which is why I made the change. However, I wonder if I underestimated how much I would be dealing with emotionally while trying to adjust to such a big professional shift. I'm struggling to determine if my feelings are just normal new-job anxiety, a result of the onboarding process, or if I took on too much too soon. Part of me thinks I should give it more time, but I also miss my old job and wonder if I should reach out to my previous boss to see if I could come back. I don't want to make a decision based on a tough few weeks, but I also don't know how much longer I can handle feeling this overwhelmed.

I recently faced a challenging situation that has left me needing to re-enter the job market after taking a medical leave. My partner had serious health issues that required my full attention, and I relocated to a new country to support her. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned, and I was unable to fulfill a contract role I had secured. This experience not only strained our relationship, leading to a split, but also impacted my own health, both physically and mentally. Now, I'm at a point where I need to rebuild my life from scratch, including my career. I have around 5 years of experience in global risk management within financial services, focusing on areas like credit risk and product management. I also have experience as a student researcher during the COVID pandemic and worked in private equity, risk, and compliance. However, I have a gap in my employment history due to my partner's medical issues, and I’m unsure how to effectively present this on my CV or how to approach my job search. I’m reaching out to see if anyone has gone through a similar experience and can offer advice on how to re-enter the workforce. What strategies did you use? How did you explain gaps in your employment? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated as I navigate this difficult transition.

I recently had my probation extended by three months at my current job as a software developer in India, which has left me feeling quite humiliated. I joined the company in July 2026 and now my probation will last until January 2027. The feedback I've received has pointed out issues with my communication and collaboration skills, especially how I react during disagreements. I recognize that I can get defensive when I feel disrespected, and I know I need to work on that. However, I believe my technical skills are solid, and this situation has really shaken my professional confidence. Currently, I'm on the bench because the project I was supposed to join has been delayed. I've been told that resource management is looking for opportunities for me, but the uncertainty is stressful. Watching others get allocated to projects while I wait has only made me feel worse. The probation extension letter states it runs until January 13, 2027, and I’m concerned it might affect my eligibility for the April 2027 increment, although I haven't confirmed this with HR yet. I'm seriously considering leaving the company. I don’t see myself staying here long-term, and this experience has really impacted my self-esteem. However, I don't want to resign impulsively without having another job lined up, especially with the job market being uncertain. My notice period is one month, so I'd ideally like to secure another position before making any moves. Additionally, I’m planning to apply for a master's program abroad for the September 2027 intake, which adds another layer to my decision-making regarding my career and finances over the next year. Some friends have suggested that if they were in my position with a probation extension, they would resign, which has made me question whether I’m compromising my self-respect by staying. I’m seeking advice on a few points: 1. Is a three-month probation extension a serious red flag, or can it be overcome? 2. Should I stay and apply for other jobs, or resign to focus on finding a better opportunity? 3. How should I approach HR regarding the potential impact on my April increment? 4. Am I overreacting emotionally, or is it reasonable to feel that my confidence in this company has been damaged? 5. If anyone has faced a similar situation, what actions did you take, and what would you do differently?

I was laid off from my Mechanical Engineer position in 2025, and since then, I've been trying to upskill and improve my chances in this tough job market. However, despite my efforts, I feel like nothing is working, and the pressure is really getting to me. I've been spending a lot of time at home, cleaning and trying to keep busy, but the silence can be overwhelming. I recently came across a post that suggested AI might be rejecting applications based on profile pictures, and it really hit me hard, plunging me into a deep depression for a couple of days. I’m currently dealing with low iron levels, which makes waking up feel exhausting, but I'm getting iron infusions to help boost my energy. I’m trying to stay active by exercising and spending time outdoors, but the stress of not having a job is weighing heavily on my mental health. I feel like I need to secure employment before the holidays, or I’m not sure what I’ll do. I hold a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, have professional experience, and have even pursued additional certifications. I’m willing to invest a significant amount of money into further training or even a new career path, like cybersecurity, but I’m terrified of making the wrong choice. I see my job search like a game of checkers, where each move needs to be strategic, and I can’t afford any setbacks right now. I’m reaching out for guidance from anyone who has navigated this job market successfully. Should I stick with mechanical engineering, enhance my technical skills, or consider a shift into project management or another field? I’m ready to work hard, but I need direction to ensure my efforts aren’t wasted.

I currently work as a shift manager at a restaurant in NYC, and I'm feeling overwhelmed and unappreciated. Most of the time, I'm managing the entire shop by myself because the general manager rarely shows up and takes time off without notice. Recently, we had our portable air conditioner removed, which has made working conditions unbearable. With no other cooling options, I've almost passed out twice while working, and I even fell due to dizziness. I started this job with high hopes, but now it feels like I'm doing the work of a manager without the pay or recognition. I'm only earning minimum wage, and I feel like my potential for advancement is being stifled because they don't want to hire someone else to take my place. I used to go above and beyond, but the stress is no longer worth it. I'm considering quitting but I'm worried about losing my unemployment eligibility in New York since I don't have another job lined up. I'm looking for advice on how to quit without being fired for misconduct. Should I just start slacking off until they let me go? I want to make sure I can still collect unemployment benefits.

I was recently let go from my job in Michigan, where I was earning around $3,000 per month. Now, I'm facing a tough situation because my unemployment benefits are only going to provide me with $1,200. I'm really struggling to figure out how I'm going to pay my bills with such a significant drop in income. I’ve been advised that to qualify for the maximum weekly benefit, I would need to have earned at least $12,927 in my highest-earning quarter during my base period. I'm worried I may not have met that requirement, which adds to my stress.

I was laid off from my position at a tech company just three days before I planned to quit. I had already accepted a new job offer and was eagerly waiting for my RSU vesting date. Unfortunately, the company decided to do a mass layoff today. On the bright side, the RSUs for everyone who was laid off will have accelerated vesting, so I will still benefit financially from that. It's a strange situation, but I guess it worked out in my favor.

I've been on a relentless job search for over six years now, and I've submitted more than 3000 applications without much success. It's been incredibly disheartening. Although I managed to get a couple of jobs during this time, I struggled in both roles and ended up getting fired. It's been a year since my last job, and I'm feeling completely defeated. I've applied for every position I could find that seemed suitable for someone with my background, including volunteering, but nothing has panned out. I've also reached out to temp agencies and job providers, but they haven't been helpful either. I graduated from university, but I feel like that has done more harm than good, and I've even left it off my resume at times. My work experience is minimal, totaling about four months across my two previous jobs, and I don't have any references due to how those roles ended. I do have a few certificates for certain fields, but they haven't made a difference in my job search. At this point, I've decided to give up on finding a job. It seems clear that I can't hold one down, and employers don't seem interested in hiring me. I know that giving up will likely lead to a bleak future, but I just can't muster the energy to keep trying. I wanted to share my experience and vent a little, but if anyone has any reasons for me to keep pushing forward, I'm open to hearing them. Just a heads up, though—I'm feeling pretty fed up with the usual advice I've seen, as it often feels contradictory.

I've been a freelance writer for the past five years, primarily working with magazines and online publications. For a while, my work was quite stable, but over the last two years, I've noticed a significant decline in opportunities, especially in the last six months. Many publications are shutting down or cutting budgets, which has drastically affected my income and overall livelihood. Although I'm not technically laid off and don't qualify for severance or unemployment benefits, the impact on my finances feels just as severe. I'm reaching out to see if there are other freelancers, particularly in writing or media, who are facing similar challenges. I'm currently trying to find new clients, but it feels like the competition is intensifying, and my usual client base is shrinking. It's a scary and disheartening situation, and I'm looking for any tips or strategies to regain some stability in my work.

I was laid off today from my marketing role, and I'm feeling really discouraged. I've been with the company for nearly 7 years, and I was blindsided by the news. Just a month ago, we had a new VP who seemed pleased with my work and even involved me in planning for the next quarter. I received positive feedback from other teams and took on additional projects that were deemed high priority. However, today I found out that I'm the only one being let go from my team of three, which makes it feel personal despite being told it was part of a restructuring. It stings even more because they are keeping my intern-turned-contractor on full-time, who still needs a lot of training and guidance. The company is facing its worst financial quarter ever, and I was one of the highest-paid employees on my team. It’s tough to process all of this, especially since it’s my first experience with being laid off. I’ve heard that more cuts might be coming, and I can’t help but feel a mix of frustration and sadness about the whole situation.

I interviewed for an online adjunct faculty position at my alma mater back in June, feeling genuinely hopeful for the first time in a long time. The university's fall semester is divided into two eight-week sessions, and I was told the position would be for the second session, which starts tomorrow. Having earned my master's degree from this university and previously working there as a teaching assistant, I felt well-prepared and excited about the opportunity. During the interview, the department chair reassured me that since I had experience as a TA, the hiring process would be quick. She mentioned that I might not hear back until the week before classes started due to enrollment and departmental needs, so I waited patiently. As the start date approached, I kept checking the course schedule, which still showed 'TBA' for the instructors of the classes we discussed. I held on to hope that I would receive an email confirming my position. Today, I checked again, and to my dismay, both classes now have instructors assigned — neither of whom is me. It stings to see that both instructors are new to the university and seemingly have no more experience than I do. I know I wasn't guaranteed the position, but the way the conversation went left me with expectations that have now been shattered. I spent months believing I had a real chance, only to discover my rejection through a course schedule rather than a simple email or acknowledgment. I'm already feeling stuck in my full-time job, overworked and underpaid, with no room for professional growth. I've worked hard for my education, earning my bachelor's and master's degrees, and now pursuing a PhD, sacrificing so much along the way. I just wanted to teach a couple of introductory psychology courses, gain experience, and feel like my education was leading somewhere. Instead, I’m left feeling embarrassed for getting my hopes up and questioning my qualifications and decisions. I understand that rejection is part of academia and that adjunct positions aren't guaranteed, but the disappointment still hurts deeply. I don’t understand why opportunities are presented as promising when there’s no intention to follow through or communicate changes. I’m tired of doing everything right and still feeling like I’m getting nowhere. I just wanted a chance, and for a moment, I thought I was finally getting one.

I recently had a conversation with a friend who interviewed for a senior position at her company. She and a colleague, who has less experience, were both vying for the same role. Despite my friend's extensive experience, her colleague was selected, which raised some red flags for her regarding potential bias in the decision-making process. Before the interview, my friend learned from a senior staff member that there were concerns about who would handle a specific client, which hinted that the decision may have been made before the interviews even took place. After receiving the news, she expressed her feelings about being discounted and mentioned the feedback she received, which was vague and unhelpful. The interviewers couldn't clearly articulate what set the two candidates apart, further adding to her concerns about bias. Now, my friend feels disheartened and believes she no longer has a future at the company where she has dedicated years of her career. I've suggested that she consider looking for opportunities elsewhere, but I'm also wondering if there are other steps she should take to address this situation.

I’m feeling completely defeated right now. My LinkedIn account has been restricted for a whole year, and I can’t figure out why. I created the account when I was really young, back in middle school, and it had a gibberish name that I never used. Fast forward to a year ago, I tried to log in and changed the name to my own, but then the trouble started. I kept getting Captcha errors when trying to log in on the mobile app, and eventually, my account got locked. I’ve tried everything to restore it. I submitted my ID and a photo of myself through their Persona system, but it always fails. I looked through the Help Center for solutions, but nothing worked. After months of frustration, I decided to create a new account with a different email, thinking maybe that would help. But just five minutes after creating it, that account was restricted too, with no explanation. I’ve been filling out appeal forms and trying to explain my situation, but I never get a response. Just today, I attempted to log in again, but it wouldn’t let me access the Persona system because it said I had already submitted a request. I finally got a glimmer of hope when my new account seemed to be on the right track, saying they’d get back to me in a few days. But then I received an email saying my account violated their user agreement and wouldn’t be restored. I don’t even have anything on my account! I feel like I’m being shadow banned from the job market, and it’s incredibly stressful. In 2026, not having a LinkedIn account makes job searching nearly impossible. I’m even considering going to a physical LinkedIn office to plead my case in person because I just want someone to explain what’s going on. If anyone has advice or has been through something similar, I would really appreciate your help.

I recently faced a challenging situation at my job as a senior data analyst at a mid-sized financial tech firm where I've been for over two years. Last Thursday, our new operations director called a surprise mandatory team meeting and announced that Saturdays would now be required workdays with no overtime pay. He framed it as an 'investment in our collective future' and a test of 'team spirit.' I was the only one who spoke up, citing our contracts that specify standard weekday hours and expressing my refusal to work unpaid weekends. This did not sit well with him; he turned red and warned that anyone lacking team loyalty would struggle to advance in the company. After that, things took a turn for the worse. Starting Monday, he retaliated by removing me from my key analytics projects and assigning my work to interns. I was instead tasked with reformatting old spreadsheets into a format that serves no purpose. To make matters worse, he walks by my desk daily with a smug look, asking if I've reconsidered my stance on 'team spirit.' My coworkers seem scared to associate with me, and HR has yet to respond to my formal complaint. I'm currently updating my resume, but the unprofessionalism I've encountered is shocking.

I just received some fantastic news regarding my unemployment appeal in Texas — I won! My case was quite complicated, and I had previously deleted my posts out of concern that my former employer might find them and retaliate. During the appeal hearing, my former manager was present, and I managed to get him to admit that the policy he used to justify my firing was not enforced or communicated to us. This victory feels incredibly validating after all the mistreatment I endured at that job. I'm relieved and grateful that my efforts paid off.

After being unemployed for 6 months, I finally landed a new job, but it came with a $30k pay cut from my previous salary. I thought I had to make the best of it, but just 3 months in, I'm realizing this new position is just awful. Today, I found myself looking for new job opportunities again and noticed that my old employer has reposted my exact previous role, albeit for even less pay than I was making before. It's disheartening. I feel like I'm stuck in a cycle of disappointment and I'm dreading the thought of going through the job hunt process again. As I approach 40, I can't shake the feeling of failure. My spouse was also laid off recently, and it seems like this is a trend with companies these days, posting roles at lower pay levels. I’m torn about whether I should even consider going back to my old job. The thought of returning to a place that let me go feels like admitting defeat, but the current situation is weighing heavily on me.

I recently experienced a setback in my job search after not passing a background check for a position at a large defense contractor. Despite having no criminal history, a solid credit score, and being a military veteran with a clearance, my offer was revoked. I was fired from a previous job within the last five years, but it wasn't for anything serious like time card fraud. I disclosed this information during the application process, which I now regret, especially since the background check didn't even flag that firing. I'm left wondering if this will affect my chances of ever applying to this company again.

I accepted a remote role about two months ago, thinking it was my dream job. The pay was significantly better than what I could find locally, and the work aligned perfectly with my skills. However, the company is located on the opposite side of the globe, resulting in a 7-hour time difference. During the interview, HR assured me that they valued flexibility and that I could manage my own hours as long as I completed my tasks. Unfortunately, that turned out to be untrue. By my second week, my manager started scheduling 'quick syncs' that fell between 10 PM and 1 AM my time. If I miss one or request an asynchronous update, I receive passive-aggressive messages on Slack questioning my commitment to the team. Additionally, team members frequently ping me during the night, and if I don't respond within 30 minutes, I get follow-up messages asking where I am. As a result, my sleep schedule has been wrecked, and I'm only getting 2-3 hours of sleep at a time. I'm constantly irritable, and my partner is understandably upset because I'm hardly present at home. I tried discussing boundary settings during my one-on-one last week, but my boss dismissed my concerns, saying, 'this is just the reality of global teams, everyone makes sacrifices.' I feel trapped because the job market is terrible right now, and I can't afford to quit without another offer lined up. However, I genuinely don't know how much longer I can maintain this routine without it taking a toll on my health. Has anyone else experienced such extreme time zone challenges? Did you find effective ways to set boundaries, or should I start looking for a new job immediately?

I had an interview this morning for a position I was really excited about. However, as we were wrapping up, the interviewer informed me that they had already filled the position and that I wouldn’t be hearing back from them. I’m left feeling frustrated and confused about why they would conduct an interview if they had no intention of hiring me. It feels like a complete waste of my time, and I can’t help but wonder if they were just trying to compare me to the chosen candidate.

I'm currently working in childcare, but I'm feeling burnt out and underpaid. I've been considering switching to a retail management position since I have some prior experience in that field. I've noticed that retail managers in my area are making significantly more than I do right now, with one of my younger family members earning $6-$7 more per hour as a grocery store manager. I'm really struggling to make ends meet with my current wage, and I'm contemplating whether it's worth it to transition back into retail. I'm curious if stores are open to hiring external candidates for manager roles or if I would have to start as a sales associate again. Additionally, I hold an art degree, but I feel like it hasn't been beneficial for my career lately. My ultimate dream is to return to art and earn a livable wage from it, but that doesn't seem realistic at the moment. I'm reaching out for advice and insights from anyone who has experience in retail management or has made a similar career switch.