Miscellaneous

I started a new role in the pharmaceutical/clinical trials industry about two months ago, and I'm really struggling. The team is quite small, and unfortunately, it's a toxic environment. I don't have much experience, which makes it even harder to navigate the challenges I'm facing. On top of that, I have some mental health issues that I manage with medication, but this job is exacerbating my depression and anxiety. I'm hesitant to quit without another job lined up, but I fear it might take a long time to find something new. I'm feeling quite lost and would appreciate any advice on how to handle this situation.

I recently worked at Hartzler Healthcare/Cosyn for a couple of months, and I have to say, it was an incredibly stressful experience. They provided only four days of training for a complex scheduling system, and then threw an overwhelming amount of work my way that was outside my job description, with no increase in pay. Every day brought new rules and expectations, and I was required to log in 15 minutes early for a mandatory meeting filled with complaints and escalations. The workload was intense; I was handling over 130 calls a day, while the call quota was only 50. Despite my efforts, I never received any recognition for my performance. Instead, the team lead constantly monitored my every move, questioning me about my bathroom breaks and the time I spent on tasks. It felt like I was under a microscope, and the communication from management was bizarre and often rude. During training, the trainer compared us to each other in a toxic manner, which only added to the anxiety. I had issues with my call records disappearing and suspected that my team lead or manager was tampering with them. The micromanagement was relentless; I was even called in the middle of my work to report on my progress with assignments. The work environment was filled with negativity, and I found myself shaking and crying at night due to the stress. I ended up taking ZZZ-Quil just to sleep. After feeling overwhelmed, I submitted my two weeks' notice, but during a meeting, the manager convinced me to stay by promising to address my concerns. However, the next day, I received an email stating they would proceed with my resignation, completely blindsiding me. This job was hands down the worst I've ever had, and I would strongly advise anyone to stay away from Hartzler Healthcare/Cosyn.

I was laid off about two years into my first job at a government-regulated private company that had a reputation for stability, having not had layoffs in the past 20 years. The news hit us like a ton of bricks; we were all caught off guard when we received the call and lost access to our accounts just 30 minutes later. It was a shocking experience that really shook my confidence. Fortunately, I managed to secure a high-paying contract just two months after the layoff, and after six months, I was converted to a full-time position. My manager and coworkers have been supportive, consistently giving me positive feedback, but I can't shake the feeling of unease. I constantly worry about budget cuts and what management might be thinking about my performance. Being in a male-dominated field adds to my anxiety. I've often found myself as the only woman in meetings filled with 15 or more men. While everyone has been kind, I feel the pressure to prove my worth and make myself indispensable, which has made me more competitive and overwhelmed than necessary. I never felt this sense of impending doom at my first job, and I wonder if these feelings will ever go away. How can I regain a sense of security in my job?

I was laid off on July 16th from my role as a Project Manager at a pharmaceutical company where I had been working as a contractor. I had known since April that my contract wouldn't be renewed, so I took the initiative to update my resume and began applying for internal positions, but unfortunately, that didn't lead anywhere. By mid-June, I shifted my focus to external opportunities in biotech, medical devices, and other pharma companies. My job search strategy involved tailoring my master resume for specific roles and organizing them into separate folders for easy access. I aimed to apply for 3 to 4 jobs daily, focusing on senior program manager, associate director, and project manager positions. In mid-July, I applied for a senior program manager role in supplier quality and went through multiple interview rounds: first with HR, then with the hiring manager, followed by a colleague, and finally with the procurement director. I felt confident in my performance during each interview and made sure to send thank you letters afterward. A week later, I followed up and was thrilled to receive an offer that exceeded my expectations. From this experience, I learned the importance of tailoring resumes for each application, applying directly on company websites, and leveraging LinkedIn to connect with recruiters. I also reached out to my network to let them know I was looking for a job. For interview preparation, I practiced mock interviews to refine my responses. It's a challenging job market, but persistence, networking, and a bit of luck can lead to success. I encourage everyone to support each other during this time—whether it's being a reference or sharing job leads. Every little gesture counts, and it builds a community of support. Wishing everyone the best in their job search!

I recently found myself in a tough situation at my entry-level job where my role has been essentially automated. I was informed that I need to review AI prompt outputs, scripting, and errors, while still maintaining the same quality of work that I used to do manually. It became clear that the company is shifting entirely towards automation without much input from me. I received an email from a coworker that was originally sent to them by leadership, discussing an AI prompt database. I wasn't involved in the initial discussions and was taken aback when leadership assigned me a task that felt like a demonstration of my obsolescence. I was asked to perform my usual tasks using AI-generated prompts, but I noticed discrepancies in the data and raised my concerns. When I pointed out the inconsistencies, I was told to summarize my observations, which I did. Later, another part of leadership reached out to discuss my findings, but when I asked if I could walk them through my process, they declined and questioned my confusion. Each day, I feel more isolated and overwhelmed. I was told that humans are bottlenecks in AI data processes and that if I don't teach myself outside of work, I risk losing my job. Despite my willingness to adapt and provide value, I was told to 'figure it out for myself.' I feel lost now that my coworkers have distanced themselves from me. Just months ago, I was recognized as a key player in the company, even receiving a promotion for my accuracy and attention to detail. Now, I'm being asked to perform manual quality assurance on multiple platforms while also training the AI models, effectively doing two full-time jobs. The pressure is immense, and I feel sick daily from the stress. I had high hopes for this job, and it's disheartening to see how quickly things have changed.

I am currently navigating the appeal process for my unemployment benefits in California. I've come across some factual errors in the decision made by the Administrative Law Judge during my appeal hearing. For instance, the judge misstated the length of my employment and referenced a date that is well after my employment ended. These discrepancies are clearly documented in the materials submitted by both parties. I'm looking for effective strategies to diplomatically address these errors in my appeal to ensure they are reviewed properly. Additionally, I've noticed some conflicting information provided by my former employer. There are inconsistencies between the documents they submitted and their sworn testimony during the hearing. The judge even paused to ask if they remembered filling out the paperwork, which indicates there may be issues with their credibility. I want to find the best way to highlight these conflicts in my appeal to strengthen my case.

I recently applied for a job and went through the initial steps of the process. After submitting my resume, I had a phone interview with the recruiter who assured me that she had reviewed it. We then scheduled a second in-person interview with her. However, I was surprised to find that in her email with the details for the second interview, she requested that I resend my resume again. To make matters worse, she attached a form that was essentially an application for the company, asking for all the same information that was already on my resume. This means I will be providing my information three times for the same position. It feels incredibly frustrating and like a waste of time for all applicants involved.

I was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) at my company, which has about 2,500 employees in the wealth management sector. This all started back in January when I got a new manager, and we quickly clashed. By July, I received a formal PIP after a series of disagreements. During the PIP meeting, I pointed out that my manager had incorrectly noted that I was deficient in an area, which they acknowledged but decided to keep in the documentation for 'consistency'. I also noticed that the timeline for the PIP was wrong—30 days instead of the 60 days we discussed. At the end of that meeting, the HR representative said I would receive the PIP letter via Docusign later that day or the next morning. However, I never got that letter. To make matters worse, my manager retired shortly after placing me on the PIP, and the new manager has been quite critical of me over minor issues. I'm really anxious about being let go when my PIP period ends in September. I’m wondering if the fact that I never signed the PIP gives me any leverage. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? I feel like this oversight by HR might work in my favor, but I'm not sure how to navigate it.

I recently encountered a potential job recruitment scam that raised a lot of red flags for me. I was contacted via email by someone named David Abraham, who claimed to be trying to fit me into a job opportunity. However, the whole situation felt off. After doing some research, I found out that the domain he was using was newly registered, which is a common tactic among scammers. The domain was created on August 9th, and when I tried to visit the website, it didn't even return any results. I reached out to the community for advice, and the consensus was that this was indeed a scam. After considering the feedback, I decided to block him. I'm grateful for the support and insights from everyone who helped me identify this as a potential scam.

I’m currently facing a pending layoff at my company, where I work in a department that is set to be restructured in December. The news was dropped on us back in July, and it feels like I’m losing my mind trying to navigate this situation. My management was caught off guard too, as there’s no clear plan for who will take over the responsibilities of our department once it’s dismantled. It’s frustrating to see the person who delivered this news smiling and asking if we had questions while many of us were visibly upset. It feels so disconnected and cringeworthy. We are still expected to perform at our best and continue contributing to a job that we know is being phased out. To make matters worse, we recently received quarterly reports showcasing our department's outstanding performance, only to be told that we’ll be replaced by a third-party company. They expect us to train these new hires, which is just mind-boggling. I’ve just bought a new home and have two special needs children who depend on my income and health benefits. This experience has been a harsh reminder that no matter how dedicated you are or how long you’ve been with a company, it can all be taken away in an instant. It’s painful and has left me feeling sick and angry at times. I needed to vent about this and seek some support as I prepare for what’s next. It’s tough out here in the corporate world.

I recently found myself in a bit of a tense situation at Centene, where I work in the Texas Marketplace line of business. I've been hearing rumors about potential layoffs, and it has me on edge. Interestingly, none of my teammates were let go during the last round, even though we have eight confirmed low performers who have struggled for months. This lack of action has raised questions for me. I've been actively job searching on the side and have even been contacted by two staffing agencies about positions at Centene that match my current role. It's frustrating because our leadership keeps emphasizing 'transparency,' yet we feel completely in the dark about the future of our team. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has any insights or has heard anything about potential layoffs coming down the pipeline. Any information would be greatly appreciated!

I got fired last month from my temp position in IT after being a top performer for 8 months. The company claimed they hired too many temps, but it feels like there was some kind of grudge against me since they just brought on another temp three weeks before I was let go, and he quit shortly after. I really thought I was doing well, but now I'm left feeling like a screw up. My only other experience is as a line cook, but I recently tried to work a shift and ended up throwing up and leaving. I just moved to be closer to this job, and now I'm unemployed, away from my family and friends, with only my dog for company. I’m struggling to find work related to my degree, and I’m starting to feel hopeless about my situation.

I work for an airline under a contractor, and recently, we lost our contract to a new company. The HR team from the new contractor came in with an air of superiority, presenting themselves as our new bosses and highlighting the benefits they offer, which seemed great compared to our previous contractor that provided none. However, I did my research and found numerous negative reviews about the new company, including issues like favoritism, sexism, and poor scheduling. Despite my reservations, I decided to apply for a position with the new contractor because I felt I had no choice. They required an application within seven days for a transfer, which I submitted promptly. The next morning, I received an email stating that they would not be moving forward with my application. Confused, I reached out to their HR team and learned that the rejection was due to my answer to a question about having a valid driver's license. I explained that I don’t have a license because I suffer from PTSD and anxiety related to driving, which has never been an issue in my previous jobs. My GM assured me that they would work something out since my role is strictly office-based and doesn’t require driving. However, I received another call from the HR lady, who bluntly informed me that they still wouldn’t hire me. I feel incredibly frustrated and slighted, especially since I’ve moved halfway across the country for this job and finally found a role I enjoy and see as a career opportunity. I’m considering my options, including filing for unemployment, but I’m unsure of what else to do. I rely on my fiancé for rides to work, and we’ve always been punctual. It’s disheartening to think that I might lose this job due to something that has never been an issue before.

I was recently fired from my job, and I believe it was for an unjust reason. I had been feeling unwell and unfortunately waited too long to call in and let my employer know I wouldn't be able to make it to my shift. I called in about 80 minutes before my shift started, but it seems that wasn't enough notice for them to find coverage. Now I'm feeling lost and unsure about my next steps. I'm reaching out for advice on how to navigate this situation and what I should do moving forward. It's frustrating to feel like there’s little recourse when things like this happen.

I was laid off this morning after returning from a leave of absence, and I feel completely empty and lost. It’s hard to process everything right now; I just want things to go back to how they were. I received a two-week notice along with six weeks of severance pay and 1.5 weeks of PTO payout, so financially I should be okay for a bit. Still, it really sucks to be in this situation.

I'm currently considering quitting my remote job, which has been great for my college schedule. I'm 21 and work about 30.5 hours a week for a realtor, handling marketing, administrative tasks, social media, and various other duties. The flexibility of working remotely is a huge plus, as my boss is usually accommodating when my class schedule changes, as long as I meet my hours. However, I'm feeling anxious about leaving because I doubt I'll find another job with such flexibility. I earn $700 a month, which is $350 every two weeks. Unfortunately, I've had ongoing issues with the payment process since I started. Initially, I had trouble with PayPal and requested to be paid through Remitly, but my boss kept pushing back on that. After a week of back and forth, he eventually switched me to PayPal, despite my warnings that my account was new and could hold payments. Now, I have to request my payments every two weeks, and they often get held up, plus I lose money due to PayPal fees. There’s no formal contract, which has led to a lot of confusion about my employment status. When my boss needs me, I’m treated like an employee with set hours and expectations, but when it comes to time off or extra hours, the rules change. For instance, my pay was deducted when I took time off for a medical procedure, and I was told to adjust my hours down. I was promised paid time off after a year, but that hasn’t materialized. I've also taken on more responsibilities that go beyond my original role, like designing for his separate food brand, without any extra pay. This makes my decision to quit difficult because I genuinely appreciate the flexibility this job offers, but I can't ignore the constant issues with payments, unclear expectations, and expanding duties without compensation. I'm torn between the convenience this job provides and the insecurity of the employment relationship. Would you leave a job like this, especially if you were worried about finding another with similar flexibility?

I recently went through a frustrating job offer experience. I was hired for an entry-level HR position after a lengthy interview process that started in May and dragged on until July. They took their time, saying they wanted to ensure a good fit, which I initially thought was fair. After a month and a half, they finally invited me for coffee, and the next day I received the job offer. I asked for a week to consider it, which they agreed to, and proposed a start date. However, I needed to push that start date back by one day due to a prior trip. They assured me this was fine and were excited for me to join the team. The following day, I received a call saying they were rescinding the offer because it wouldn't be fair to other applicants to wait a week for my decision, and my proposed start date didn't align with their needs. I offered to adjust my trip to accommodate their timeline, but it was too late. I have a theory about what happened: they might have been trying to filter out candidates who had better leverage by making the process long and arduous. My request for time to consider the offer may have made me seem more competent, which could have raised concerns about me negotiating for better terms. It's puzzling, and I'm left wondering what went wrong from their perspective.

A few months ago, I was feeling really down about the job market and my mental health. I had been writing content about video games and making a decent income while living in an inexpensive Asian country, but then AI disrupted that work. To make matters worse, I went through a breakup and moved back to my home country, which left me feeling lost and anxious. However, with the support of friends and some encouraging words from others, I decided to pivot my approach. I promised myself I wouldn't let my pride stop me and that I would seek out remote work. I started by taking on a freelance gig writing blog posts for a cloud GPU services company, which I found through LinkedIn. The pay was low, but the experience was valuable, and I now write 20-30 blogs a month. Then, I landed another freelance role editing synopses for a major streaming platform. I can't share the name due to an NDA, but I'm enjoying the work, even if the pay isn't substantial. Additionally, I decided to leverage my master's degree in behavioral sciences. Instead of applying for traditional jobs in psychology, I began networking and offering coaching and counseling services. I built a website and now have at least two clients each week for online sessions. While these ventures aren't making me rich, they are fulfilling, and I've found joy in my work again. I'm taking this time to travel and connect with potential clients, and I've stopped applying for jobs altogether. I feel empowered and hopeful for the future, and I encourage others to keep their pride intact and stay optimistic.

Today was a tough day for me as I was fired from my corporate job after nearly 13 years. I'm a 35-year-old woman, and honestly, I feel like a complete failure right now. The past year has been incredibly challenging, marked by a divorce that left me feeling miserable and alone. My performance at work suffered, and I ended up on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). To cope with the stress, I started drinking heavily, although I managed to keep it hidden from everyone. I tried to maintain a façade of being put together, engaging in activities like cooking, cleaning, and even pilates, while also attempting to get back into dating and making new friends. However, inside, I was really struggling. Recently, I began experiencing health issues related to my drinking and decided to seek help. I went through detox and spent some time in the hospital. Today marks my 10th day of sobriety, which is a small victory amidst all this chaos. I was planning to file for FMLA and short-term disability this morning, but when I tried to reach my boss, I found my access to work systems had been revoked. Shortly after, I received a knock on my door with a termination letter stating I didn't meet job requirements. I was devastated and couldn't control my emotions, calling my therapist for support. Now, I feel like I've hit rock bottom. I don't have a degree, just a high school diploma and a couple of college years, and I got my job through connections from my ex. I worry that I won't find anything else that pays well, especially since I have ADHD and struggle with most jobs. I’m still dealing with health issues from withdrawal and the aftermath of losing my job. I know I need to start the unemployment process, but I'm feeling lost and unsure of what to do next.

I'm a 27-year-old woman with an associate's degree that mainly covers core subjects like English, math, and history. I've been working as a teacher's assistant for a long time, but I'm feeling burnt out and underpaid. As a type 1 diabetic, having good insurance is crucial for me, especially living in the U.S. I've been trying to find a better-paying job to escape poverty, but it's been tough. In New Jersey, entry-level admin and office assistant positions are hard to come by, and most require at least three years of experience with specific software, which I lack. I'm not very tech-savvy, but I can manage basic tasks in Google Suite. My English skills are strong, and I often communicate better than my lead teacher. However, I realize that degrees in English, history, or psychology don't lead to many job opportunities. I'm open to getting a certification or a two-year degree to gain some business skills, but nursing is off the table due to my immunocompromised status. I've applied for government jobs for years without success, and I don't drive, so real estate isn't an option either. I'm seeking advice on how to improve my situation and find a job that pays better and doesn't leave me feeling exhausted.