Miscellaneous

I graduated from the University of Liverpool last December with an M.Sc., and I’ve been struggling to find a job since then. I’ve applied to a wide range of positions, from retail and hospitality to roles in my field, but all I’ve received are rejections and silence. I think part of the issue is that employers in retail and hospitality see me as a potential flight risk, assuming I’ll leave as soon as I find a job in my field. On the flip side, jobs in my domain are hesitant to hire me because I lack experience. The few positions that are available often pay very little. Currently, I’m working casual contracts just to make ends meet, but it’s far from the life I envisioned for myself. I’m curious if anyone else in Liverpool is facing similar challenges and if so, how they managed to break out of this cycle. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I am currently searching for a remote job and I'm feeling a bit lost. I have experience as a math tutor, but I'm looking for something more stable and productive. I identify as mildly autistic and sometimes find things a bit challenging, so I'm wondering if there are specific platforms that cater to individuals like me. I've only used sites like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Monster, and LinkedIn, but I’m hoping to discover more options. If anyone has recommendations for remote jobs or platforms that might be a good fit for someone with my background, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance!

I am currently experiencing some issues with my unemployment benefits after being temporarily laid off from my job. I was laid off but will be returning to full-time work on August 17th. In the meantime, I go into the office once a week to help out. I started my unemployment benefits on May 26th and have been filing weekly without any problems. During the week of June 1-7, I worked on June 2 and reported that to Iowa Works. My company sent the payroll information at the end of that week. I worked again during the week of June 8-13, going in on June 8, and reported that as well. However, for the week of June 15-20, I didn’t go in because my employer didn’t need me. When I filed for that week, I received an error message stating I was missing wages, which might delay my payment. I’m unsure why I got that error, but I suspect it could be related to the payroll submission from my job for the week of June 8-19, which may have triggered the issue. They mentioned I might need to have a phone interview to resolve this, but I don’t have much information beyond that. Has anyone else faced a similar situation? If so, how did you resolve it, and how long did it take for your payment to be released? Thank you for any insights!

I’m currently on medical leave due to a ruptured disc I suffered in April while working as a Foreman at a crane company. I've been with the company for four years and have always been dedicated, working long hours and never taking a PTO day in two years. My boss has been supportive during this time, encouraging me to rest and recover after my surgery in May. I have a vacation planned to Disney from August 5-11, which was booked before my injury. The company’s handbook states that vacation requests need to be submitted a month in advance, and they typically don’t give employees a hard time about taking time off. However, I’m unsure how to approach this situation since I’m still on leave with an uncertain return date. I have a follow-up appointment with my surgeon on July 8 to discuss my ability to return to work, but I’m torn on whether to inform my employer about the vacation now or wait until I have more clarity on my recovery. I feel guilty about taking time off right after being out for three months, but my coworkers have encouraged me to go, especially since I haven’t had much time with my daughter due to work commitments. I’m also worried about how to discuss this with my surgeon without giving the impression that I’m trying to manipulate the situation. It’s a tough spot to be in, and I’m hoping to find the right balance between my health and family time.

I recently learned that morale at Meta has plummeted to historic lows, with the CTO admitting that the atmosphere feels reminiscent of the worst days during the Cambridge Analytica scandal. This decline in worker satisfaction seems to be a direct result of the significant layoffs tied to Mark Zuckerberg's push for AI advancements. As someone who has been following the company's changes closely, it's disheartening to see the impact of these redundancies on employee morale.

I recently interviewed for a Data Scientist position at an insurance company in the US. After my first interview, they decided to consider me for a more senior role as a Senior Data Scientist. However, after the final round, which included a video call with HR eight weeks ago, I was informed that they wanted to hire me for the Data Scientist role in a different team. HR mentioned they needed headcount approval, which could take 2-4 weeks or even longer as they assessed the needs of other teams. I was caught off guard by this process and expressed that I was in the final stages with two other companies. I made it clear that I might not wait long if I received an offer elsewhere. Since that conversation, I haven't heard back from HR, which has been frustrating. I did reach out to the hiring manager two weeks ago for an update, but I received no response. I have a tight deadline to secure a job offer by July 6th and start by July 12th due to my visa situation. Chasing after companies feels uncomfortable, and I hate the idea of appearing desperate for a job. I'm seeking advice on how to navigate this situation, especially since waiting for this company feels like I'm not their priority.

I’m 21 years old and feeling really unprepared for adulthood after struggling with depression and isolation. I finished high school at 16 and started university in 2021, but everything changed when the full-scale war broke out in my country in 2022. I had moved abroad for my studies, and mentally, I just collapsed. I fell into severe depression, gained weight, stopped taking care of myself, and lost all motivation. Coping with the war and losing people was overwhelming, and instead of enjoying these supposed 'best years' of my life, I felt like I disappeared. Most of my university experience was online due to COVID, which limited my social interactions even more. I isolated myself further because of my depression, leading to a lack of close friends or even acquaintances. I think I lost my communication skills during that time. I completed my degree in graphic design in October 2024, but I still haven’t landed a proper corporate job. Finding one in my area has been tough, and honestly, I’m not sure I feel ready for it. Before all this, I was very social and outgoing, but now I feel like I’ve broken down. Over the past couple of years, I’ve slowly started to recover. I’ve lost some weight, made an effort with my appearance, and started talking to people again. It feels good to be approached and complimented, reminding me that I’m still here. However, I feel a sense of panic about my future. I had a life plan: finish school early, have an amazing university experience, get a good job, make decent money by 25, and start a family by 28. None of that has happened, and I’m angry at myself for what I perceive as wasted years. I’ve even considered going back to university for a more stable degree, but I would need to work while studying to support myself and rely on my parents for financial help, which is complicated given our strained relationship. I’m feeling stuck and scared about adulthood. I worry I’ve ruined my future and missed my chance to enjoy being young. I have graphic design skills, but I’m not great at math and physics. I love subjects like biology, psychology, history, and literature, but I want to find something that offers job stability and a good salary. Has anyone else faced similar challenges in their early 20s and managed to rebuild their life? What steps did you take?

I was unexpectedly laid off from my role in Valuation Services in New York due to a company-wide restructuring and cost-cutting initiative. I had been with the company for a year after completing my MBA from a top U.S. business school. Before my MBA, I spent four years in India working in investment banking and valuation advisory, where I focused on financial modeling, valuation, M&A transactions, and strategic analysis. Currently, I am on STEM OPT and have only three months to secure a new position. I am actively seeking opportunities in Investment Banking, Corporate Finance, FP&A, Strategic Finance, Corporate Development, M&A, Business Strategy, and Consulting roles. The job market has been tough, and I would greatly appreciate any advice, referrals, or introductions to professionals and teams that may be hiring. I am based in the New York City area but am open to opportunities across the U.S. If anyone is willing to connect via DM, I would be grateful and happy to share my resume and background.

Today was supposed to be a big day for me. I recently applied for a position at Taco Bell, and after a series of rejections, I was thrilled when their AI chatbot informed me that I had matched all the requirements and was scheduled for an in-person interview tomorrow. This was my second interview ever, and I was really hoping it would lead to my first job. I spent time grooming myself and preparing for the interview, even biking over in the rain to make sure I was there on time. However, when I arrived, no one was there. I waited for about five minutes past the scheduled time before I approached the staff to ask about the hiring manager. To my dismay, they informed me that the AI had made a mistake and that the manager wasn't even in that day. They suggested I come back tomorrow to meet with the manager, but I felt completely defeated. I had gotten my hopes up only to be let down by a bot with no human oversight. I understand that rejection is part of the job search process, but this felt especially harsh. It was disheartening to realize that my resume and efforts didn’t even matter in this situation. I left feeling crushed and ended up crying afterward. I really dislike how AI is being used in hiring processes, especially when it affects someone who is just starting out like me.

I recently faced a challenging situation regarding my employment status in Texas. I was on FMLA and receiving short-term disability pay due to medical issues until my leave expired. Unfortunately, the claims administrator denied my request for an extension despite providing visit notes and behavioral health forms. After my leave ended, HR placed me on an unpaid leave of absence. Within the 180-day window to appeal, I made three ERISA requests to obtain the governing plan documents, hoping to understand my rights better before appealing. However, it has been over 30 days, and the plan administrator still hasn't provided the necessary documents, which puts them over the federal deadline for compliance. Now, I'm wondering if I can qualify for unemployment benefits if I decide to resign due to the plan administrator's failure to act in good faith by not furnishing the documents I need to appeal my claim. Any insights or advice from those with similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

I was recently fired from my job in Texas for making a joke to a coworker that they claimed made them uncomfortable. This was really surprising to me because we had a friendly rapport and often joked around with each other. To make matters worse, I have a screenshot of them saying something very similar to me in the past. I never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable, and this whole situation has left me feeling confused and hurt. It feels like I was punished for something that was part of our normal interactions. I'm wondering if I have any grounds for a case against the company, but I've heard that big companies often have policies in place that make it hard to fight back. I'm still trying to process everything and figure out what my next steps should be.

I've been navigating the corporate world for the past ten years, and honestly, I'm feeling lost. I started my career giving everything I had, sacrificing my time and health for my jobs. In return, I received little recognition and was often punished with more work without any additional rewards. This led to severe burnout and a growing disillusionment with the corporate environment. Eventually, I hit a breaking point. I realized that if I wasn't going to be rewarded for my hard work, there was no reason to continue giving my all. I shifted to doing the bare minimum, feeling justified in my actions as a form of rebellion against a system that I felt was unjust. I began to resent the companies I worked for, and not performing my job to the best of my ability became a way for me to express that frustration. Unfortunately, this mindset resulted in me getting fired multiple times. Now, I'm at a crossroads, needing to rethink my approach to work and find a healthier way to engage with my career. I’m reaching out for advice on how to move forward from this cycle.

I recently went through a job application process that was quite unusual. I applied for two positions at direct competitors in the AI and HPC space, both through the same recruiter for my first role as a network engineer. One of the companies ended up rejecting me, but I never received a formal rejection notice. Instead, during the interview, the VP unexpectedly became very angry and ended up rage quitting the call while insulting me. I was completely taken aback and still don't understand what triggered that reaction. Thankfully, I had another interview lined up with the second company at the same time. I sent my resume, and within less than two and a half weeks, I received a job offer. Now, I've been in my new position for about a month, and I'm curious if anyone else has had a similarly swift or bizarre experience in their job search.

I was laid off from my software engineering position at a tech company while I was 8 months pregnant. I had been with the company for several years, often putting in unpaid overtime to meet tight deadlines. I received the news during a meeting with HR, just as I was preparing for maternity leave. They informed me that I would only be working for two more months and that my severance package was less than my maternity pay. My health insurance ended on my last day of work, which added to my stress. After giving birth, I found it challenging to apply for jobs due to the demands of a newborn and a lack of support. I managed to get a few interviews but struggled with sleep deprivation, which affected my performance. At five months postpartum, I finally enrolled my baby in part-time daycare, allowing me to focus on my job search. I sought help from a career coach who specialized in my tech stack, which was no longer in high demand. We worked on my resume, conducted mock interviews, and I studied core concepts and built a microservices project during my limited free time. Despite the challenges, including moments of despair, I persisted. After a particularly tough interview, I reached out directly to a hiring manager on LinkedIn. This proactive approach led to an interview where I felt well-prepared, and I received a job offer shortly after. Now, I’m back to work full-time and hope my experience can inspire other pregnant women facing similar challenges.

I just started a new job on Monday, working fully remote, but the help desk experience has been a nightmare. They sent me my equipment on Thursday afternoon, which was just a laptop and a charging cord—no dock, no monitor, and no instructions on how to log in. The laptop was even covered in fingerprints, which was just the icing on the cake. I had my login credentials from a week or two ago and had been logging into the remote portal without issues, but I couldn't log into the domain on the laptop they provided. I called the IT help desk, and they opened a ticket for me. I waited all afternoon and evening on Thursday, but no one called back. On Friday morning, I called again and was told my ticket had to be escalated. I asked how soon I could expect a callback since I had to go to my current job, but they couldn't give me a timeline. I ended up waiting at home for another 45 minutes before heading to my last day of work. After I got home at 2 PM, I called again. They upgraded my ticket to high priority, but I still didn’t hear back after an hour. I kept calling every 1-2 hours until 8 PM and finally gave up for the night. This morning, I got an email saying I needed to fill out a form on a platform I didn't even know about. I called again and was put on hold for over 15 minutes, only to be hung up on. After multiple calls, I finally reached someone who said the escalation team had my ticket and would contact me, but they couldn't provide a timeline. I'm really frustrated with how this company is treating me as a new employee. I've emailed my manager about the issue, but no response yet. At this point, I'm seriously considering reaching out to my former boss to see if I can get my old job back. The leadership there was poor, but at least my equipment always worked.

I had an interview yesterday that felt quite off. When I arrived, two young individuals, probably around 18 or 19, greeted me at the door, which was oddly unmarked. Once inside, I found two hiring managers sitting in empty office rooms, each equipped with just a desk, a laptop, and a chair. The whole setup felt sketchy, but I tried to stay positive, thinking of it as good practice for future interviews. After the interview, they mentioned I'd receive a text regarding a second interview, but I haven't heard anything yet. I decided to reach out to the person who interviewed me, assuming they were a recruiter, but the situation is giving me flashbacks to my previous job's disorganization. I sent a message asking for confirmation about the next steps, but now I'm starting to think that maybe the offer was never real or has been rescinded. Interestingly, the interviewer has been trying to follow up with me, encouraging me to stay engaged with the process. I'm torn about whether to continue pursuing this or just block the number and move on. It feels like a red flag.

I recently had an interview with a company where the interviewers made a big deal about how they would notify all candidates within two weeks, even giving me a specific date. They emphasized that they didn't want anyone to feel uncertain about their status and promised to follow through, whether or not they wanted to move forward with me. Well, that date has come and gone, and I haven't heard a thing. It feels like they completely BSed me about their commitment to communication and the company culture they were promoting. I know ghosting is common, but it still stings when they make promises they don't keep. It's frustrating because I was hopeful, and now I'm left feeling disheartened and questioning everything they said.

I recently faced a layoff from a well-paying full-time job that utilized my master's degree. While the position was a good fit on paper, the toxic environment made it unbearable, and I believe this change is ultimately for the best. Now, as I navigate unemployment, I'm feeling uncertain about my next steps. I have a couple of options in mind: I could focus on enhancing my resume through training and volunteer work while applying for new positions, which would allow me to appreciate my free time, albeit with less income. Alternatively, I could return to waitressing part-time to generate some income while I continue my job search, but that would likely leave me with less free time and potentially put me back in a draining environment. I'm open to any advice on how to approach this situation.

As a recent graduate living in one of the most expensive cities in America, I’ve been struggling to find stable employment. Despite years of working minimum wage jobs, I currently earn $50,000 a year, which feels inadequate given my circumstances. Over the past two years, I've faced underemployment and have accumulated ten months of unemployment, which has severely impacted my finances. I can't afford a car, and my rent payments are a constant source of stress. My credit score has taken a hit as a result. I often think about my peers who graduated around the same time and are making between $60,000 to $80,000; they are truly fortunate compared to my situation.

I recently applied for a hybrid position that required me to work two days in the office and three days from home. After going through a phone interview and a Teams interview, I received an offer two weeks later. However, the offer letter included a webcam policy during remote hours but did not provide the actual details of that policy for me to review. I did some research and found that the company requires live webcam streaming during remote hours, which was not mentioned in the job description or during the interviews. I reached out to the company for clarification and requested the full webcam policy before making my decision. They called me back and informed me that they couldn’t share the full policy because I wasn’t an employee yet and there were client restrictions preventing them from doing so. They explained that their monitoring system is meant to protect sensitive information and prevent theft, which felt very invasive to me, especially since I have another person working from home. Now, I’m in a dilemma. If I decide not to accept this job offer and inform IDES that I refused work due to the lack of transparency regarding the working conditions, will I lose my unemployment benefits? I’m really unsure about how this will be viewed by IDES and what my options are.