Planning

I applied for a position at Walmart yesterday. I'm 23 years old and have been dealing with the aftermath of a severe traumatic brain injury, which has left me with a bullet in my head. Despite this, I want to work instead of going on disability, even though my dad insists that I should be a working man. I have some good references and I feel capable of holding a job, as I can walk and talk with good sense. My mom was upset when I told her about the application because I already have two part-time jobs, but I want to live independently and make my own choices. The pay for the Walmart job is between $14 and $27 an hour, but I'm unsure about the full-time hours. My mom mentioned that full-time doesn't always mean 40 hours a week, and it seems she might be right. Walmart hasn't replied yet, but I did complete a questionnaire during the application process. One of the questions asked how I would handle a situation where a customer was telling a long story while other customers needed help. I answered that I would apologize to the customer and let them know that I would be back to hear their story after assisting others. I hope that was a good answer. I'm just waiting to see if I get an email back.

I've been feeling really down lately about my job search in the legal field. I've applied for countless positions—paralegal, legal assistant, intern roles—anything that could give me some legal experience. Unfortunately, the only opportunities I've been able to secure are volunteer positions, which I can't afford to take anymore. I've gone through over 200 applications in the last three months, and while I sometimes make it to the final round of interviews, I often hear that the position has closed or that they went with someone who had an internal reference. Sometimes, they even mention that my commute would be too far. It’s incredibly frustrating because all I want is a chance to work in a legal role and gain the experience I need. I've been considering the advice from others who suggest looking for administrative roles within law firms, as they often don't require prior legal experience but can still provide valuable exposure. I'm also thinking about temp work through agencies like Robert Half to help me break into the field. It's just exhausting, and I'm really hoping for a breakthrough soon.

I’ve been feeling really stuck in my current role as a manager for the past 7 years. I work from home and oversee 75 direct reports, sharing responsibilities with a department head. The last couple of years have been incredibly challenging due to a lack of resources and budget constraints, which have left my team burnt out. Many of them have been on medical leave, and despite our efforts to support one another, we feel abandoned. Recently, I’ve hit my breaking point. I’ve been experiencing physical abdomen pain that I suspect is linked to the stress of my job. After taking a few days off, it became clear that I can’t focus or perform my duties effectively, and I’ve found myself in tears from the pain. I have medical tests scheduled for tomorrow, but the situation is dire. I live alone with a mortgage and pets, so I can’t afford to be out of work for long. My savings are limited, and the job market in my low-cost living area is disheartening; the available positions pay significantly less and often require travel. I’ve been considering side hustles to supplement my income, but I’m overwhelmed and unsure where to start. I don’t have family nearby to lean on for support, and I feel like I’m running out of options. Any advice on how to navigate this would be greatly appreciated.

I currently work in logistics and am feeling pretty stuck in my role. While the industry is stable, it's not where I see my future, and I want to make a change as soon as possible. I have a degree and over two years of experience, but despite applying to numerous companies, I've mostly faced rejections or no responses at all. I'm seriously considering switching to warehouse or delivery jobs, which don't require a degree, just to escape my current situation. I’m torn about whether this would be a bad career move or if it really matters as long as I can earn a decent paycheck. My ultimate goal is to advance my career in supply chain, but I'm feeling desperate and just want to get out of my current role. If anyone has taken a similar risk, I’d love to hear how it worked out for you.

I recently applied for my dream job back in May and finally got an interview in June after a long wait. They mentioned having many applicants, which is why it took so long to get back to me. During the interview, they indicated that they had more interviews scheduled and expected to make a decision by the end of June. Now, it's been a month since my interview, and I'm feeling really anxious about the whole situation. I haven't heard anything since they said they hoped to decide soon, and the waiting is driving me crazy. I'm contemplating whether I should reach out to ask for an update or if that would come off as too pushy. This is my first serious job application, and I’m really unsure of the etiquette here. I did have an internship with the company in college, and one of the interviewers was my former supervisor, which adds to my anxiety. Any advice on how to approach this would be greatly appreciated.

I was laid off from my job in Virginia on June 17, and my last working day was June 26. I filed my initial unemployment application on June 28, but then I learned that I needed to submit my first claim the following weekend, so I filed again on July 5. I was informed that deposits are typically made on Wednesdays or Thursdays, but as of now, I still haven't received any payments. When I checked my profile with the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), I noticed there are issues delaying my payment related to a lack of work and severance pay. Both issues are effective from June 28, 2026, and I’m worried about my financial situation since I have bills due this month. I'm feeling anxious and unsure about what steps I should take next.

I am currently waiting for updates regarding the involuntary layoffs at Centene. I am particularly concerned about the timeline for when employees will be informed about their status. It's been a stressful period not knowing if or when announcements will be made.

I was laid off in late April from my role as a senior manager in the software domain in Silicon Valley. I remained on the company payroll until late June, receiving a decent severance package that lasted four months after my last day. Initially, I faced a lot of stress as I didn't receive any interview calls until early June. However, once the calls started coming in, they cascaded in the first week of June. I utilized Claude extensively to tailor my resumes and prepare for interviews, which really helped. By the first week of July, I received three job offers. I decided to accept a position at a somewhat smaller company compared to my previous one, but it was at the director level with a 15% increase in compensation. It seems like the job market may be improving overall, and I’m feeling optimistic about this new opportunity.

Today, I had a meeting with senior management at my company, and it left me feeling uneasy about my job security. The management discussed our struggling business and mentioned that one of our brands might be shut down in the future. After the meeting, my manager called me into a private room and informed me that he wants one person to independently handle one brand. Since there are only two of us on the team, this means each of us would be responsible for one brand's performance. However, he didn't specify who would take which brand. He then asked me to send him an email outlining the pros and cons of one person managing a brand, as well as the dependencies between my teammate and me. This request struck me as odd; it seems like a simple decision that could be discussed directly. The fact that he asked me to keep this information confidential, especially from my teammate, adds to my concerns. I'm left wondering if this is a sign of potential layoffs or restructuring. Could this email serve as documentation if the company decides to downsize? I’m feeling anxious and unsure about what might be coming next.

I'm currently working as a program coordinator at a small public university, where I make the top of the pay range and receive an annual 2% increase, pending union negotiations. However, my position is somewhat limited as there are only three staff members in my department, and with a transition planned for Fall 2027, my role may change to a departmental coordinator instead of a standalone school role. I'm waiting for higher-ups to approve our proposal regarding this transition. Recently, I've been approached by another director at a different school on campus who wants me to apply for a program coordinator position in their department. The pay would be the same, but the workload would increase as it involves admissions and scheduling, which I have some experience with but not extensively. The new position offers hybrid work, allowing me to work from home two days a week, while my current role requires me to be in the office every day. I'm torn about whether to apply for this lateral move, as it would mean more responsibilities without a pay increase. I've also been searching for jobs outside of my current role since I'm looking for better compensation, but I struggle to identify positions that match my skill set, which is primarily in customer service and retail, with an undergraduate degree in English Language & Literature. I prefer to stay within public service for loan forgiveness benefits, but I know I might need a higher-paying private sector job to manage my student loans effectively. Given all these factors, I'm wondering if I should go ahead and apply for the new position or continue searching for other opportunities.

I recently received an offer from a mid-sized agency, but I'm feeling uneasy about the situation. The recruiter has been extremely aggressive, pushing me to make a decision within just 7 days for relocation. As an F-1 OPT graduate, I’m unsure how to navigate this pressure. I’ve heard mixed opinions on whether this is normal, and some comments suggest there are significant red flags. I'm starting to wonder if they are taking advantage of my situation because of my visa status. I'm weighing my options carefully, as I know the job market can be tough, but I also don't want to rush into a potentially bad situation.

I recently wrapped up my job search after being unexpectedly laid off from my role as a software engineer due to the acquisition of my project. Over the past two months, I submitted 60 applications, went through 8 interviews, and ultimately received 2 job offers. Initially, I was quite anxious about the process, especially seeing many others apply to hundreds of positions and struggle to get responses. However, I took a more targeted approach. With 12 years of experience, I focused on applying only to roles that closely matched my skills and background. I used tools like ChatGPT to help me analyze job descriptions, ensuring that the core skills, job titles, required experience, and responsibilities aligned with my qualifications. I was quite strict in my filtering process, prioritizing roles where I felt I could be a strong candidate. This strategy paid off, leading to two offers that I’m now considering.

I just accepted a job offer and I'm set to start next week. However, I'm still in probation and orientation at my current job, and I suspect they would let me go if I gave notice. Now, I've received an invitation for a second interview at a company that I believe I might prefer. I'm torn about whether I should mention that I'm starting a different job or just act like I'm still at my current position during the interview. Some advice I read suggested that I should just pretend I'm still employed at my old job, as they don't need to know about the new one until I actually get an offer.

I've been struggling to find a job for over a year now, and it's really taking a toll on me. My background is in customer service, and I've been specifically aiming for a bank teller position. However, I've hit a wall since most entry-level roles require prior banking experience, which I just don't have. It's frustrating because I keep applying and getting rejected, and I feel like I'm stuck in a loop. I've only managed to land one interview in the past year, and that ended in rejection too. Lately, I've started to broaden my search to other customer service roles, but the stress of not being able to secure a job is overwhelming. I'm really in need of some advice or direction on what to do next.

Today, I received a text regarding the brokerage hiring event I attended recently. To be honest, I was expecting to be ghosted, so this message really caught me off guard. I'm trying to gauge whether I should feel excited about this or if I should temper my expectations. I'm really eager to land this role as it would be a significant step forward in my career in logistics and supply chain. I've been applying to multiple positions, but this one feels particularly important to me.

I recently graduated and have been invited for an in-person interview for an Immigration Legal Assistant position. The catch? The commute would take about 2 hours each way, totaling around 4-5 hours for the day, considering the interview itself is only 30-45 minutes long. I'm currently unemployed, and this role aligns perfectly with my field of study, offering a pay of $20-25/hour. I'm feeling conflicted about whether to go through with the interview. On one hand, gaining experience in my field seems invaluable, but I'm worried about the potential burnout from such a long commute if I were to accept the job. I don't drive, so I'd be relying on public transport, which adds to the complexity. If I considered taking an Uber, it would cost me around $50 each day. I’m reaching out for advice: Would you attend the interview? And if offered the job, would you accept it despite the long commute?

I recently faced a dilemma regarding applying for a new position at my company. As an internal candidate, I was unsure whether I should just submit my application or reach out to the hiring manager or recruiter first. In my current role, I had contacted the hiring manager before applying because the job location wasn’t where I was based, but it was in the same timezone. He was open to discussing my situation, which encouraged me to apply and I informed the recruiter about our conversation to ensure everything was aligned. Now, a new role has opened up, but I don’t know the hiring manager since it's a larger company. The recruiter is the same person I worked with previously. I’m contemplating whether I should reach out to either of them before applying. I’m not convinced there’s much value in doing so unless I have a specific reason. However, I’m considering if having a chat about the role could be beneficial. Time is of the essence for me since my current role is temporary, and I need to secure something new in the next few months to avoid reassignment.

I have two job interviews lined up! The first one is a phone interview scheduled for tomorrow, and the second one is set for next Wednesday. I'm feeling hopeful and excited about these opportunities!

A few weeks ago, my manager informed me that I would be placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). To buy myself some time to search for a new job, I decided to take the maximum amount of paid leave available in my state. Just yesterday, I received an email from my manager stating that I was granted a cost of living raise. I’m set to return to work at the end of August. While I appreciate the extra money, I can’t help but feel confused since it seems contradictory to give a raise to someone who is potentially facing termination. Additionally, I learned that a colleague was promoted but then had that promotion revoked due to 'budget cuts' around the same time I received my raise. It’s all very perplexing.

Today, I decided to take a leap and quit my job at XYZ Corp, where I've been working for about two months. The environment has been incredibly toxic; my coworkers are often condescending and rude, and management misled me about growth opportunities. They suggested that promotions were common within the first couple of years, but I've seen someone in my position who has been here for five years without any advancement, despite being very competent. I've heard that at least two other people have left within their first five months, which speaks volumes about the culture here. I contemplated giving a two-week notice, but honestly, I don't think it's worth it. The comments from others who have been in similar situations encouraged me to prioritize my mental health over a formal exit. I realized that I can leave without burning bridges since I doubt I'd get a good reference anyway, given the circumstances. So, I left all company property at my desk and sent an email to my boss stating that today was my last day. I feel a sense of relief and am ready to move on to something better.