Planning

I'm currently going through a layoff process at my company, and my last day is coming up on Tuesday. The reason for my layoff is budget cuts, which is frustrating because I had planned to use my accrued PTO for a trip next week (August 3-7) and some family time during the holidays later this year. I started the year with 88 hours of PTO and haven't used any yet. It feels like the timing of this layoff was intentional to avoid having to pay out my PTO for my upcoming vacation. I've been told I can't take PTO for Monday and Tuesday because they require a two-week notice. In my contract, it states that my PTO balance will be paid out upon termination as long as I provide a 10-day notice. However, the company is arguing that since I'm being laid off, it’s not a formal termination because they might call me back to work if needed. I reached out to HR to see if I could stay on layoff status and then resign later to receive my PTO, but they were unsure. I want to resign now, but I need unemployment benefits while I look for a new job. I'm feeling stuck and really need advice on what to do next.

I recently faced a tough situation as a trade union member in Massachusetts. I had never been laid off before, but my company seemed to be on the brink of going under. After taking a layoff, I opened a claim and was fortunate enough to receive payments for three weeks. Then, unexpectedly, my company reached out and offered me work for five weeks at 60 hours per week, which I accepted. However, after just one week on the job, they informed me that they no longer needed my services due to a labor shortage at the company I was loaned to. Now, I'm uncertain about how to file for unemployment for that one week I worked. The guidelines suggest filing on Sunday and reporting my earnings, but I won’t know my exact earnings until the following Thursday. I've heard mixed advice from others in similar situations, with some suggesting I should just file as if I never worked and let the system sort it out later. I prefer to do the right thing, but I’m worried about potentially jeopardizing my claim.

I'm currently working as an associate UX designer at a consulting company that I joined in 2023. Recently, we were acquired by a larger consulting firm, and since then, the staffing process has become chaotic, leaving little room for designers like me. Most of my colleagues are being shifted into business analyst roles, which is not what I signed up for. Right now, I'm on a project that ends in a month, and I'm worried about being benched without work. I was approached by a contracting company for a role in a state I really want to move to, offering about $20 more per hour than my current salary. However, it's a contract-to-hire position, and I'm hesitant because I'd prefer a full-time commitment. The pay increase and potential for a full-time role down the line are tempting, but I'm torn about making this decision. I'd appreciate any advice or thoughts from others who have been in a similar situation.

I received a job offer for $27/hour, which is quite a bit higher than the average wage of $18/hour for my qualifications in this area. However, the job requires a daily commute of an hour and 8 minutes each way, totaling 57 miles. Currently, the position is 7 days a week until the end of August, after which it will shift to a 5-day workweek. I'm weighing whether this commute is worth it, especially since the only other jobs available in my town pay around $15/hour. I've been considering the long drive and the potential for burnout, but the pay is tempting. I’m also thinking about the benefits and advancement opportunities that come with this role. Any advice on how to make this commute more manageable would be appreciated!

I have a phone interview scheduled for a corporate marketing support position at a large CPG company that competes directly with my current employer. I meet all the minimum and preferred qualifications for the role, which gives me confidence going into the interview. However, I've noticed that the salary range for this position is quite broad, with a difference of $64.1k between the minimum and maximum. To make the transition worthwhile, I'm aiming for a salary that falls between the 55th and 65th percentile of that range. I believe my experience and knowledge, especially coming from a direct competitor, justify a higher salary. I'm looking for advice on how to approach salary negotiations during the phone screen next week, as I want to be assertive yet realistic about my expectations.

I recently had a challenging experience at my job as an insurance account manager. I started this role about a year ago, primarily because of my connections, but I have some relevant experience as an insurance claims investigator and an internship with Farm Bureau. However, the training process has been incredibly slow, with weeks going by where I had little to no guidance. I officially began doing real work only a few months ago after a long wait for proper training. Recently, my bosses called me in for a meeting with three of them present. They asked me if I truly wanted to continue in this role, which caught me off guard. They seemed to imply that I could either remain in a processing role, akin to an intern, or step up to be a full account manager. I expressed my desire to be an account manager, thinking that was the goal all along. However, they questioned my passion for the insurance field, and I had to admit that I don't love it; I just need the job for financial reasons. The conversation left me feeling uneasy. It seemed like they were hinting that I should consider quitting, as they suggested I might want to make a decision about my future in six months. I felt like they don't believe I'm suited for the role, and the whole situation has made me anxious. I do my best with the limited work I have, but I worry about my performance and whether I’m a burden to the team. I'm also concerned about my financial situation, with debts to pay off and the difficulty of finding a new job. I feel trapped, contemplating whether I should just quit and look for something simpler, like retail or waiting tables, but I really want to move out and get my finances in order. I'm feeling lost and stressed about what my next steps should be.

I'm currently in the waiting phase after my third interview for a position at my top-choice company. I was told I would hear back within three business days, but it's been longer than that, and I'm starting to feel like I might be getting ghosted. On the 22nd, I sent a follow-up email but haven't received any response yet. Since this is my first experience interviewing for a U.S. company, I'm unsure about the etiquette of reaching out to the interviewer on LinkedIn. I noticed that the company has been quite busy recently with their anniversary event and a new launch, which makes me hesitant to disturb them. However, I really want to express my continued interest in the role. I'm not connected with the interviewer on LinkedIn, so I'm debating whether it's appropriate to send a message. Any advice would be appreciated!

I had a meeting with my RESEA coach today, and we scheduled a Zoom meeting for next Tuesday at 10:30 AM. However, after our call, I received a ZoomGov invitation that incorrectly states the meeting is on July 21, which is in the past. I've already emailed my coach for a corrected invite and left a voicemail at the Newark one-stop center. I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this issue with their coaches and how it was resolved.

I'm currently navigating the job market after being laid off from a startup where I was working in tech sales. My career has had its ups and downs, including a 6-month position at a company I didn't enjoy, which I left quickly. I've been wondering if I should remove this short job from my LinkedIn profile, as it seems to come up in interviews and I feel it might be a red flag for recruiters. I've already decided to take it off my resume since I don't think it adds any value. I'm curious if others, especially those in hiring roles, would recommend removing it from LinkedIn as well. Some feedback I've received suggests that it's okay to omit experiences that don't serve my narrative, while others say that what matters is the impact I made during my time in roles, regardless of length. I'm leaning towards removing it from both platforms since it doesn't seem to help my case.

I recently received a part-time job offer that I'm not particularly excited about, but I need the income to stay afloat. At the same time, I'm in the process of interviewing for a full-time position that I'm really interested in. I completed the second of three interviews earlier this week and I'm feeling optimistic about it. My friends have suggested that I accept the part-time job now, and if I get an offer for the full-time role, I can then switch to that. This is my first experience with job negotiations, and I'm unsure how to proceed. I've heard there's a way to leverage the part-time offer to potentially speed up the hiring process for the full-time job, but I'm not quite sure how to approach that.

I recently found myself unemployed after 12 years in my field, and it's been a challenging journey. For the past six months, I've been applying for jobs, but I've only landed one interview, which resulted in a job offer that was significantly lower than what I earned a decade ago—$20k less, to be exact. This offer wouldn't even cover most rental costs in my high cost of living area. As my savings dwindle, I'm starting to consider a complete career change. I'm wondering if my skills are transferable to other fields or if I should consider going back to school. However, I'm hesitant to take on more student loans since I just managed to pay off my previous ones. Still, if the job market doesn't improve, I might not have a choice. Unfortunately, moving isn't an option for me due to family commitments. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has advice on tools that can help identify what other jobs my experience qualifies me for, or if there are career advisors who specialize in helping adults like me. I'd also love to hear from anyone who has successfully pivoted in their career, whether it was a voluntary choice or not, and what resources they found helpful.

I've been contemplating quitting my job in the IT department lately. The work hours are standard 8-5, and while the pay is decent, the environment has become unbearable for me. Our CIO has implemented new rules that feel like micromanagement, which has made the atmosphere tense. My manager, although generally cool, has these unpredictable moods that affect the whole team. It feels like I'm working with a bunch of high schoolers who constantly gossip and try to pull me into their drama, which I refuse to engage in. I've been considering taking a break from work for about 1-3 months. I have enough savings to support myself for over a year if I manage my finances well. My plan is to use this time to relax, recharge mentally, learn new skills, and work on personal projects that could enhance my resume. I'm looking for advice on whether I should go through with quitting or if there are compelling reasons to stay in my current position.

I've been on the job hunt as a teenager and it's been really tough. I've applied to almost every place in my town and even the next town over, which is about a 30-minute drive. Despite my efforts, I've either received no responses or been rejected outright. I even tried applying to Chipotle and Target, but both said no. I've gone into a few places to introduce myself, but they told me they had no openings. I'm feeling pretty discouraged and I'm not sure what else to do. I'm wondering if calling the places I've applied to and introducing myself might help? Any tips would be appreciated!

I recently received a job offer that includes a better title and a 20% salary increase compared to my current position. While I would prefer to stay at my current job, I would need them to match the new offer to make that happen. I'm feeling uncertain about when to bring this up with my employer. My plan is to wait until I’ve officially accepted the new job and the background check has cleared before approaching my boss. I’m worried that if I ask them to match before securing the new position, they might not agree, and then I could end up in a tough spot if something goes wrong with the new job. I know it's a tricky situation, and I’m looking for advice on how to navigate this without burning bridges.

I applied for a position at Target back in June with a start date in August. During the interview, there was a bit of confusion as the interviewer thought I could start immediately. I clarified that I would be available in August, and she was very understanding, expressing her desire to hire me for that time frame. She advised me to call the store's HR in late July or early August to kick off the hiring process. Now that it's late July, I'm preparing to make that call and wanted to gather some insights on the best approach. I'm considering the best time to reach out to HR, as I've heard mornings during weekday business hours are ideal. I'm also unsure whether I should ask for a specific person or just reach out to whoever is on duty in Team Relations/ETL-HR. Additionally, I'm curious about how Target typically manages candidates in my situation. Will they have my information on file, or should I reintroduce myself and remind them of our previous conversation? Any advice or tips on how to phrase my call would be greatly appreciated!

I had an interview scheduled for 11 AM today and logged into the virtual meeting at 10:55. I waited until 11:05 and was surprised when there was no sign of the interviewer. I expected at least a call or an email since I've had several interviews before and no one has ever been late. By 11:17, I received a text from them saying they noticed I left the meeting room and asked if I could still interview. I couldn't help but feel frustrated, assuming they were 17 minutes late. I started to question if I was being too picky about this job since it’s an entry-level position right after my college graduation. I felt that if someone was going to be late, they should at least reach out to let me know. In a previous interview, the interviewer forgot to call, and after I left a voicemail, they promptly called back to apologize and explain the situation. This time, it felt different. The text lacked any apology or acknowledgment of the delay, which really hit a nerve with me. I’m now wondering if I should have waited longer or reached out first before leaving the meeting. I’m still in the job market, but this experience has made me reconsider if I want to pursue this opportunity.

I'm currently exploring new job opportunities while working at my current position, which pays well enough for me to manage my finances and pay off debt. However, the long commute is becoming unbearable, and there are other factors motivating my search for a new role. I recently interviewed for a position at a smaller company that is closer to home and aligns well with my skills. This new role has a sales component, which I find appealing since I have some background in sales. The compensation structure is base pay plus commission, which is new territory for me. The base salary is $12,000 less than what I currently earn, but the on-target earnings from commission could potentially add around $10,000 annually. Additionally, there's a quarterly bonus structure that could bring in another $1,000 to $2,000. This means that if I perform well, I could end up making a similar or slightly higher income than I do now, despite the lower base pay. I'm still in the interview process and trying to gauge whether the drop in base pay should be a red flag for me. I really like the job itself and believe it would greatly improve my work-life balance due to the shorter commute. However, I'm hesitant about the commission aspect, as I've never worked in a role where my income could fluctuate based on performance. I'm wondering if I'm overthinking this or if I should be genuinely concerned about making the switch.

I recently went through an intense job search and managed to secure 3 job offers in just 3 weeks. I want to share what my experience was like, even though I don't think I did anything extraordinary. I focused on applying only to positions that were a genuine fit for my skills and interests, and I made sure to tailor my resume for each application. It really came down to timing and a bit of luck, but I also stayed consistent throughout the process, even when it felt discouraging. I was thrilled to see the results of my efforts pay off!

I recently faced a tough situation that has left me feeling anxious about applying for new jobs. Last year, I worked at a fast food restaurant for about two years, but my last few months there were really challenging. I struggled with anxiety and depression, which made it hard to handle the stress of the job and the dynamics with my co-workers, some of whom were quite difficult to deal with. On top of that, I was working alongside my girlfriend, and we were having issues that affected our performance at work. Things came to a head on my last day when I had a breakdown and walked out. This was compounded by the fact that I had just lost a family member, and my manager was not very understanding of my situation. I took full responsibility for how I left, but now I'm worried about how this experience will affect my job search. I know I was put on a no rehire list, and I'm concerned that potential employers will contact my previous job and hear negative things about me. I'm feeling really discouraged and guilty about my past actions, and it's making it hard for me to even consider applying for new positions. I understand that the job market is tough right now, and I'm trying to prepare myself for the possibility of rejection. I'm considering seeking support from a therapist or talking to friends, but I'm still struggling to find the motivation to move forward.

I am currently facing a tough situation after losing my job due to a hospitalization. While I was unable to contact my employer, they marked me as not showing up, which led to my termination. I've set up my Virginia unemployment online and my status shows as open, but I haven't received any payments for over a month. I have been submitting my weekly work search forms and even received a VA UI debit card, but it has no funds loaded on it. I've been trying to get in touch with the unemployment office to understand why my payments are delayed, but the process has been frustrating. They sent me a new PIN last Friday, which I still haven't received, and without it, I can't get any assistance. To make matters worse, I received a letter stating that I don't qualify for unemployment due to misconduct, which I believe is a mistake since I was hospitalized. I'm confused because I was initially accepted for unemployment and was given a PIN and a card. Now, I'm left wondering why there's been a sudden change. I'm considering going to a facility in person to seek help, but I'm unsure if that will yield any results. I'm scared about how to manage my bills and daily needs during this time. I hope to appeal this decision, but I can't find the option online. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.