Planning

I recently interviewed for a position at a tech company, aiming for a mid-level software engineer role. However, after the interview, I was offered the chance to apply for a lower position instead. I'm torn about whether I should continue with this opportunity or keep looking for something that aligns better with my skills and salary expectations. Some people suggest that if the lower role fits my skills better, it might be a good way to get my foot in the door, while others advise against accepting a job that pays less than what I initially aimed for. I'm really considering my options and would appreciate any advice.

I recently filed for unemployment in Michigan after losing my primary job, which was my main source of income. This job had an hourly wage plus tips, but my earnings fluctuated significantly based on the time of year and the number of weekend shifts I worked. I still have a second job that is a 1099 gig, which has been greatly affected by COVID-19, earning me about $100 a week, while my previous job could bring in $400-700 weekly. When I filed my claim, I calculated my earnings based on the highest earning quarter from the past five quarters, using my paystubs to average my earnings. I didn't include the income from my 1099 job because I thought it wouldn't matter for my unemployment benefits since I'm still working there and it doesn't count as UI covered employment. However, I have some questions about my calculations. Did I do it right? Should I have included my 1099 income even though I’m still employed there? When they refer to quarters, do I just look back 12 weeks from when I stopped earning, or is it based on the calendar quarters? I certified my claim today but I’m considering calling to amend my answers regarding my 1099 income, just to be safe. Any advice from those who have been through this would be greatly appreciated!

I recently found myself in a tough spot after being terminated from my first job. I’m 21 and have only had two jobs so far. My most recent position was temporary, and I enjoyed it, but it ended, leaving me searching for something new. My first job was a petitioning role that I absolutely hated. I got hired on the spot, and while it paid well, the pressure was overwhelming. I was expected to meet a high quota in just three days, and when I couldn’t, I was let go. The lack of training and the aggressive tactics they encouraged made it even worse. I often had to approach people in a hot parking lot to get them to sign petitions, which they clearly didn’t appreciate. I’ve spoken to other young people who worked there, and they all share similar negative experiences. Now, as I prepare my resume for new opportunities, I feel conflicted about including that job. A friend suggested I just leave it off, and honestly, I’m tempted. I hate the idea of being dishonest, but after two years of searching and moving cities to find work, I’m feeling pretty jaded about the whole hiring process. I’m worried though—if I don’t mention it, will I get caught?

I recently posted on behalf of my father, who is 55 and has just retired. Since stepping away from his career, he’s been struggling to find ways to stay engaged and productive. He previously owned and managed a computer shop and has over 15 years of professional typing experience. He is fluent in both English and Hindi and is quite comfortable with computers. I’m looking for legitimate remote work opportunities for him that mainly require good typing skills. We’re not after anything extravagant, just honest work such as data entry, transcription, document formatting, or any Hindi/English typing projects. I received some great suggestions from the community, including platforms like Rev and TranscribeMe, which seem to have a constant demand for fast and accurate typists. I also got a heads-up about being cautious of data entry jobs that seem too good to be true, as many can be scams. If anyone has more ideas or knows of reliable platforms where he can apply, I would really appreciate the help.

I have an interview scheduled for tomorrow, and I'm feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. Despite this opportunity, I continue to apply to other retail positions because I just want to secure a job as soon as possible. It's frustrating; every time I submit an application, it seems like I receive a rejection email almost immediately. I recently completed my certification, but my priority right now is to find any job that pays. I can focus on finding a role that utilizes my certification later on. I can't help but feel like a failure during this process. I wish I could shake off these negative feelings and remind myself that I'm doing my best in a tough job market.

I've been unemployed for almost 2 years now. I'm 20, turning 21 soon, and I've been out of work since I was 19. I had to move, and the job market in my area is really tough; it feels like no one wants to hire. I've applied to countless jobs both locally and out of state, but I've had no luck. My fiancée is even helping me with the job search, but despite submitting so many applications, I keep getting rejected or ghosted. I've tried applying to various places, including restaurants and blue-collar jobs, but nothing seems to work out. It's honestly pretty depressing, but I'm still holding onto my drive and motivation. I just wish someone would give me a chance. August 6th will mark 2 years of being without a job.

I experienced a temporary layoff starting in January while working in Toronto, Canada. Thankfully, I found a new job and will be starting this week. My previous employer still has my insurance, and I'm unsure whether I should inform them about my new position. I've been advised that there’s no obligation to notify them, as they labeled it a temporary layoff. However, I want to make sure I understand my status with the old company, especially regarding any benefits or recall rights. It's been a relief to secure a new role after months of uncertainty!

I had two interviews for a medical assistant position at an urgent care clinic, and I felt really positive about how they went. The manager even talked to me about pay, my potential hours, and introduced me to some of the staff while giving me a tour of the facility. It felt like a job offer was imminent. However, at the end of the last interview, he mentioned that the co-manager would reach out to me soon. Now, it’s been 12 days without any communication. I sent a follow-up text after a week, but I didn’t get any response. I’m feeling quite anxious because I was really looking forward to this opportunity, especially since I’ve applied to so many other positions. I’m considering reaching out again at the two-week mark, but I’m also wondering if I should just keep applying elsewhere in the meantime.

I recently hit the 1.5-year mark at my first job as a fast food worker, and while I'm proud of that achievement, I'm starting to question whether I should look for something else. I'm about to begin my first year of college, and even though some of my tuition is covered, I still need to find around $11,000 each year, which is a lot for a full-time student. My job isn't too difficult, but it can be stressful due to demanding customers and the unpredictability of hours. Although I'm due for a small raise soon, my hours have been getting shorter each week because the restaurant keeps hiring new staff. I've spoken to my team about needing more hours, but they keep saying they're managing the schedule, which seems contradictory to their hiring practices. The commute is another issue; it's about 20 minutes from my school, and I currently don't have a car. While I enjoy the experience of working with various people, the environment isn't always the best. I discussed my situation with a friend who's in a similar boat, and he thinks it's risky to leave my job without any degree or special training. He pointed out that if I switch to another fast food or retail job, I might face the same issues. I'm torn between feeling obligated to stay due to my time there and the fear of not being able to afford college if my hours keep decreasing. I’m considering exploring other job opportunities, especially around campus, that might offer more reliable hours and possibly even tuition assistance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I quit my job about four months ago, and I'm still searching for a new one. Sometimes I regret my decision, but I think I would still choose to leave if I could go back to March. I was completely burned out and needed a break. After quitting, I traveled for a bit, which was refreshing initially. However, when I started job hunting again, the anxiety kicked in. As I approach 30, being single and unemployed makes me feel like I'm falling behind in life. Each rejection hits hard and makes me question my worth. I often find myself wondering why I even want to work, yet I know I need an income to support myself and eventually build a family. Lately, the stress has been affecting my sleep and it's becoming increasingly difficult to stay positive. I just hope things will get better soon.

I graduated with an accounting degree years ago but ended up in a data entry job at a trucking company, which turned into a nearly 20-year career in logistics. I was laid off two months ago due to corporate downsizing, and now I'm considering trying to get back into accounting or a related field. I've applied for hundreds of jobs in the past with little success, so I'm unsure if it's worth pursuing my original field again. I'm worried that if I reach out to accountants for advice, they might laugh at my situation. However, I've received some encouraging feedback from others who believe my extensive experience in logistics has given me transferable skills that could be valuable in accounting roles like accounting assistant or analyst. They reassured me that asking for advice is a reasonable step and that many professionals are open to helping those looking to transition back into their field.

I recently found myself feeling pretty pessimistic about my job search. I’ve been working in fast food and am trying to transition into a server position, but the only job that called me back was for a role that doesn’t really feel like serving. It’s more of a cashier position where you take orders and then leave the customers to their meals. I have training scheduled for Wednesday, which should be good, but I can’t shake the feeling that it might be a waste of time with little reward. They didn’t provide much information about the training, like whether it’s paid or how many hours it will be. They did mention the pay is $17 an hour, which I know I should be grateful for, but it feels like I’ll be working 40 hours just to make around $500. It’s frustrating, and I keep thinking about how important it is for kids to stay in school.

I’m currently feeling quite overwhelmed in my role as a Business Analyst in the Commercial Strategy team. Although I work from home and earn a good salary, my mental health has taken a serious hit. I find myself crying frequently and feeling a heavy weight on my chest that doesn’t lift, even on my days off. My confidence and self-esteem have plummeted. The main issue is that my job has turned into mostly administrative tasks with very little actual analysis work. Despite my efforts to be proactive and ask for more responsibilities, things haven’t improved. Recently, I applied for an internal position in Compliance/Control Testing. This role seems to offer more structure, which I believe I need right now. However, I’m second-guessing my decision. I worry about whether I’ll be able to return to a more analytical role in the future if I make this switch. I’m also concerned that moving into compliance might feel like a sideways step rather than a progression. At 31 years old and with 8 years at the company, resigning isn’t really an option for me due to my tenure and the current restructuring risks. I’d love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation and can offer some advice.

I recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology and have been actively job searching for a while now. I've applied to hundreds of positions but have only managed to secure two interviews, both of which ended in rejection. I'm primarily looking for government jobs, but I'm open to any opportunities that relate to my field and offer better pay than my current hotel job. I'm also planning to pursue a master's degree in psychology eventually, but I need to save up some money and gain relevant experience first. I reached out for feedback on my resume and received some helpful advice, such as shortening the summary, using bullet points for job descriptions, and including quantifiable achievements. I also learned that references shouldn't be included on the resume itself. I'm hoping these changes will improve my chances moving forward.

I've been working at a local sandwich shop for three years now, starting as my first job right out of high school. For the past two years, I've been full-time, and recently I took on a part-time job while attending university. I'm planning to quit my current job because the environment has become unbearable, despite knowing that the place relies heavily on me. The manager is rarely present and spends most of his time in the office, leaving me and a few others to handle everything. He lacks the knowledge to train new staff and often threatens pay cuts for minor mistakes, which is illegal. I’ve had to step in to improve food safety practices, as nobody else cared to do so, and I even reported the place for failing health standards. Maintenance is practically non-existent, and I’ve been trying to fix things myself, but it’s exhausting. Recently, head office introduced new menu items while cutting our budget, which means more work for less time. I know the ins and outs of this place and often fix issues that others overlook. My manager has relied on me to manage tasks he doesn’t understand, and I’ve been praised for my hard work. It’s hard to leave because I genuinely feel valued, and I know my departure will create a significant gap. However, I can't keep holding everything together without any authority. I’m ready to move on, but I need to find a way to be okay with leaving behind my coworkers and the sense of confidence I’ve built here. I know my boss will likely make me feel guilty about leaving, but I have to prioritize my own well-being.

I recently accepted a conditional job offer with a multinational company and am currently in the onboarding process. However, I'm feeling anxious about my previous employment situation at IBM, where I worked for almost four years before going AWOL due to severe burnout and stress from a long commute. My employment was terminated, and I was informed that I still had a company laptop and owed around $1,300 for it and other charges. I've been unemployed for over a year, focusing on recovery and skill development, and now I'm worried that my past issues might affect the background check being conducted by my new employer. I want to know what information my previous employer might disclose during this check and if they could mention my AWOL status or the unreturned laptop. Additionally, I'm curious if a flagged issue would delay my onboarding or if the offer could be withdrawn without giving me a chance to explain. Lastly, would returning the laptop after all this time have any positive impact on how my previous employer is viewed? I'm really hoping to make this opportunity work after all the effort I've put into rebuilding my career.

I recently faced another setback in my career as I was let go from my job again. This has become a frustrating pattern for me, and I’m starting to feel disheartened. I’ve been trying to understand what I might be doing wrong or if there are certain skills I need to improve. It feels like I’m stuck in a cycle of getting hired and then quickly losing the position. I’m actively seeking advice on how to break this cycle and find a stable role.

I recently certified for my unemployment benefits in New Jersey on a Monday, but I still haven't received my payment for that week. I'm starting to get worried because I usually get it by now. I'm wondering if the delay is due to the holiday, but I checked and there wasn't a holiday last week. I did see that Juneteenth was the week before, so I'm not sure what's going on. I plan to check my payment history to see if it was approved and released, but I'm also considering calling to figure this out. It's frustrating not knowing when I'll get the funds I need.

I'm feeling really frustrated with my job search lately. I've been sending out countless resumes, but they all feel so dull and unrepresentative of who I am. So, I decided to take a different approach and create a version of my resume that highlights my gaming achievements instead. I believe this showcases my discipline, strategic thinking, and resilience better than a traditional CV ever could. Here are some of my gaming accomplishments: - TFT: S2 Master, S3 Grandmaster, S4 Master, S16–18 Master - Axie Infinity: S17 Rank 3 Global Peak, S18 Rank 1 Peak - League of Legends Solo/Duo: S10 Master Peak - Chess Blitz: 2097 Peak I know some people might not take this seriously, but I feel like these achievements reflect my skills and dedication in a way that a standard resume doesn't. I'm just hoping someone will appreciate this unique approach.

I am considering resigning from my current job without having another offer lined up. I've noticed that most recruiters are looking for candidates who can join immediately, which has led me to believe that taking this risk might be worth it for my career growth. I plan to focus fully on my job search after quitting. However, I'm starting to question whether this is a good idea. I've seen a lot of advice suggesting that it's unwise to leave a job without another one secured, especially given the current job market and the number of layoffs happening recently. I'm feeling torn and unsure about my decision.