Miscellaneous

I’m currently going through a divorce, and my salary isn’t enough to cover my expenses while maintaining my current lifestyle. I’m looking for online jobs that I can do between 8 PM and 1 AM to supplement my income. I’ve heard freelancing might be a good option, especially on platforms like Upwork, but I’m unsure about my skills and how to get started. I would really appreciate any suggestions for flexible online job opportunities that fit within my time frame.

Today was a tough day for me as I came to the realization that I likely won't be getting placed this year. I had joined a company for an internship, which they extended, but unfortunately, I didn't receive a job offer afterward. I've been trying everything I can think of — reaching out to personal connections and leveraging LinkedIn — but it seems like nothing is panning out. My college isn't able to help with placements either since our course started late this year. I had an interview recently that I thought could be my breakthrough, but the HR informed me that there are no vacancies available. They said they would let me know if anything opens up, which felt like a nail in the coffin for my hopes. It’s disheartening to think that I might spend the next year without a job or internship, especially since I’m in marketing and have been told that most openings are filled. I know I need to stay proactive, but it’s hard to keep my spirits up when the job market feels so bleak. I’ve heard that freelance work or building a portfolio project could help, so I’m considering that as a way to keep my experience relevant. Any advice on how to cope with this situation would be greatly appreciated.

I’ve been receiving unemployment benefits in Illinois since March, and I recently started doing DoorDash to earn some extra income. I learned that I could work on the side as long as my earnings are less than half of my unemployment benefits. However, I’ve been doing DoorDash every week without reporting my earnings when I certify my unemployment every two weeks. Now I’m really worried that I might get in trouble for not reporting this income and could be charged with fraud. I thought it was okay as long as I stayed under the limit, but I’m starting to panic about the possibility of an audit or being caught. I’m considering starting to report my DoorDash earnings moving forward, but I’m unsure how to navigate this situation.

I recently faced a tough situation after being laid off from my job at a tech company where I worked as a project manager. My manager was incredibly difficult to work with, and the stress from that environment led me to take a leave of absence for several months. Just as I was starting to consider my next steps, I was unexpectedly laid off with a meager severance package, given my short tenure. Feeling frustrated and seeking justice for the poor treatment I endured, I reached out to a few lawyers to explore whether I had a case for unfair treatment. Most of them declined to take my case, but one lawyer seemed enthusiastic and claimed we had a solid case. He suggested that we could pursue a lawsuit, which could potentially yield a much larger severance payout. However, he also mentioned that he would take 40% of any winnings and that I would need to pay $330 upfront to start the filing process. When I reviewed the retainer agreement he sent over, I noticed that it primarily focused on negotiating an increased severance rather than pursuing a lawsuit. This left me questioning whether I was simply entering a severance negotiation rather than a legal battle. I’m feeling stuck and unsure if I should invest my time and money into this or focus on finding a new job instead. I’ve received mixed feedback from friends and online communities, with some advising me to move on and others suggesting I carefully consider the merits of my case. I’m still trying to figure out the best path forward.

I am a recent Master's graduate who secured an internship with a company, but I'm facing significant onboarding issues. My start date is supposed to be tomorrow, but I've just been informed that I may not be able to start due to missing documents. The Mobility Team has closed the previous Right to Work check and opened a new Eligibility Check case to invoice my company for a new Optional Practical Training Letter (OPT). This step is necessary for them to approach my university for a new I-20 with Deel's name, which is required before I can officially onboard. I've been following up since Monday, and each time I hear that it will be resolved in one business day. I thought all I needed was my I-20 OPT and EAD, and I have already filled out and received approval for my I-9 Section 1 and W-4. I'm feeling quite anxious about this situation and have emailed the company for guidance. Any advice on how to handle this would be greatly appreciated.

I accepted a government job relying on connections (wasta) a decade ago, and I deeply regret that decision. Over the past four years, I've applied to countless positions—more than 10,000 applications—and faced rejection after rejection. This job did nothing to enhance my employability, and I feel like I've wasted a significant part of my life. I want to share my experience as a cautionary tale: don't make the same mistake I did!

I started my career in 2019 at a consulting firm right after college, earning about $57k annually. I worked hard, trusted my project manager, and believed I could climb the corporate ladder with yearly raises. However, after a conflict with a client, the firm let me go, which devastated me as it was my first termination. By 2024, I was back on the job market, but finding a new job took longer than expected despite my improved resume. I ended up accepting a lower-paying, physically demanding job out of desperation. A month later, I got an interview for a better position with a shorter commute and higher pay. I lied during the interview, claiming I was still on the market, and provided my last pay stub, which hurt my salary negotiation. I was frustrated to discover my coworker at the new job made $20k more than me, despite having the same background. Feeling betrayed, I decided to take control of my career. I started job hopping, lying on my resume, and negotiating higher salaries with each new position. I cleverly ensured that companies paid for any necessary certifications before I started, using those accolades to secure better roles. I've been caught and fired a few times, but my salary has doubled over the years. I now disclose only three positions on my resume, while I've worked for countless companies, sometimes juggling two or three jobs at once. My family and friends think I'm crazy, but I've paid off my debt, upgraded my car, and enjoy a healthy work-life balance. As a consultant, I miss out on benefits like PTO and health insurance, but I've learned to take days off without notice. I’ve adopted the mindset that companies need me more than I need them, and I always have multiple job opportunities lined up if I get laid off.

About a month ago, my entire department was laid off as part of a restructuring at my company, which I found really disheartening. We were told that the business needed to cut costs, and unfortunately, my team lost about half of its members, including me. I tried to stay positive and not take it personally, thinking that these things happen in the corporate world. However, things took a strange turn. While job hunting, I decided to check my former company's careers page out of curiosity. To my surprise, I found multiple job openings that seemed almost identical to the positions that had just been eliminated. The responsibilities and requirements were the same, and some of the wording matched our old internal job descriptions. The only difference was that the salary range wasn't listed. I reached out to a former coworker who survived the layoffs, and they mentioned that management claimed these new roles were "strategically different" positions. But from what I can see, it looks like the same work under a different title. This situation has left me feeling uneasy. It seems like the layoffs were less about reducing the workforce and more about replacing people. Has anyone else gone through something similar? Is this kind of practice common now?

I recently called the California unemployment number, 1-800-300-5616, to check on my claim status. The automated message requested my Social Security Number, which made me really nervous. I started to worry that I might have fallen for a scam. After some research and checking the comments from others, I found out that it is indeed a legitimate number and they need to confirm your identity for security purposes. I'm relieved to know it's real, but I still felt anxious during the call.

I got laid off in March and have been searching for a job for the past four months. Today, I received a job offer, but it's a significant pay cut of $20,000, bringing my salary down from $75,000 to $55,000. I've been relying on my severance and a part-time gig to get by, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to sustain myself without a full-time income. I've applied to around 100 jobs and only managed to land five interviews, which has been really discouraging. Now, I'm faced with the tough decision of whether to accept this lower-paying job or hold out for something better. The anxiety and uncertainty of being unemployed have taken a toll on me, so seeing an offer after such a long time was a relief. I'm curious if anyone else has taken a pay cut during their job search and how they navigated that experience. How long did you stay in that position before moving on to something better?

I recently interviewed for a Territory Sales Representative position at Noris Medical, and I left feeling quite disappointed with the screening process. My main issue wasn't about whether I would receive an offer, but rather the way the interview was conducted. I was asked only two questions that pertained to my background before the conversation shifted almost entirely to why I should consider a different area of sales. Instead of discussing my clinical experience, patient education background, leadership roles, or entrepreneurial work, the interviewer focused on steering me toward other sales paths. They even suggested I remove my business from my resume unless it was 'extremely profitable.' This led to a lengthy discussion about whether my business met that profitability threshold, rather than recognizing the skills it showcased, such as entrepreneurship, marketing, and business development. What made this experience even more frustrating was that I had another interview the same day for a more senior position. Although I was less qualified on paper for that role, I was advanced to the next stage because that interviewer took the time to understand my background and transferable skills. At Noris, it felt like conclusions about my fit for the role were made before my qualifications were truly explored. I got the impression that my resume hadn't been thoroughly reviewed, as several key aspects of my experience were overlooked. I believe candidates deserve more than just a couple of questions about their background before being directed toward a different career path and receiving unsolicited career advice. Overall, I felt dismissed rather than evaluated during the interview.

I recently lost my job as a bank teller, which I thought would be my entry point into the finance industry. Unfortunately, I struggled with the role and was let go, which has left me feeling uncertain about my abilities in the workforce. I have autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, and I'm now doubting whether I can find a job that suits me without causing significant stress and underperformance. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has suggestions for job roles that might be a good fit for someone with my challenges.

I've been on the job hunt for four years since graduating, and it's been incredibly frustrating. In February, I finally landed a job, but it's not related to my degree at all. I've sent out over a thousand applications, and the feedback is always the same: they review my resume but ultimately choose someone else. It feels like the job market is a myth for recent graduates. Even for internships, I'm told I need experience, but how can I gain that experience if no one will hire me? I'm at a crossroads now, wondering if I should give up or keep pushing forward in my search for a relevant job.

I am feeling overwhelmed and on the verge of a meltdown. I've been unemployed for 15 months now, and just typing that feels painful. I've gone through countless interviews—phone, video, and in-person—but it always ends the same way. They move quickly through the process, ask a few questions during the phone interview, and then invite me in person, almost as if they expect I'll be working there soon. However, they always mention that there are many other candidates, and more often than not, I either get ghosted or they fill the position without any follow-up. It's discouraging to see the same job postings come back up just a month or two later. The whole experience feels surreal, as if the interviews are just a formality and they already know I'm not the one they're looking for. I had an interview on Monday and I'm getting that same vibe again.

I've been actively applying for jobs through Brassring, thinking I was a strong fit for several positions. However, I've faced challenges getting past the initial screening process. I'm curious about the common pitfalls others have encountered when using this platform. For instance, do PDF resumes cause issues? Also, I'm trying to understand if the hiring teams set specific keywords for their searches or if it's solely based on the job descriptions provided. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I recently found myself in a tough situation after being let go from my job in Georgia, where I worked for two years. I was fired for poor performance, despite having successfully completed a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) prior to that. I've been unemployed before and have always received unemployment benefits without issue, but this time my claim was denied. I'm planning to file an appeal and I'm seeking advice on my chances of winning it. If anyone has experience with similar situations or can provide insight on what to include in my appeal, I would greatly appreciate it!

Today, I learned that Elastic has laid off 7% of its workforce. As an employee, this news was quite shocking and unsettling. The CEO, Ash Kulkarni, made the announcement, and it seems to be part of a larger strategy that might hint at an upcoming acquisition, especially with the current investor activity. There’s a lot of speculation among my colleagues about the implications of this decision. Some are frustrated and suggested that the leadership, including the CEO, should take a cut instead. It’s tough to see how these layoffs impact those who have dedicated themselves to the company. I’m trying to process this change and what it means for my role and the future of our team.

I graduated with a degree in Pharmacy last year and have been struggling to find a job in my field. I’m 24 and have started taking preparatory courses to enhance my resume, but I can't shake the disappointment I feel about my college experience. I spent most of my time feeling isolated as my classmates treated me poorly, which affected my motivation. I know I could have been a better student, but the environment was tough, and I ended up just getting by with Cs. Pharmacy is a challenging field, and even those grades required effort. I genuinely enjoy studying, but I wanted to distance myself from the negative atmosphere of college. Now, I'm hoping for better opportunities to come my way. I'm open to any job in the pharmacy industry, as long as it’s not retail. I would even consider an unpaid internship if it means being in a structured environment.

I recently went through a two-round interview process with a tech startup after receiving a referral for a role I was really excited about. I put a lot of effort into my presentation for the second round, feeling hopeful about the opportunity. However, while working my part-time job today, I received a rejection email. The person who referred me reached out to find out more details and was told that I performed well in the interview, with the hiring managers mentioning they would keep my resume on file and that I was 'next in line.' I've heard the 'resume on file' line before, and it has never led to anything positive for me. The 'next in line' comment feels like a generic excuse, and I'm struggling with feelings of frustration and anger about the whole situation. I can handle the rejection itself, but the follow-up remarks are really weighing on me.

I was feeling incredibly frustrated after getting ghosted on nearly every job application I submitted. It really took a toll on my motivation and confidence. To cope with this, I decided to create a free tool that addresses the part of the job search that was causing me the most stress. The best part is that it doesn't require any signup and everything operates directly in your browser, ensuring that my personal information stays private. I'm hoping this tool can help others who are in the same boat as I was.