Planning

I am currently a Master's student seeking an internship and had an interview scheduled with a company that expressed strong interest in my profile. On May 29th, I traveled for about two hours to attend a video call interview, but they preferred to meet in person. When I arrived at the parking lot with an hour and a half to spare, I received a call saying the manager was sick and they needed to reschedule. Today, on June 5th, I made the trip again, only to have them cancel the interview just moments before I arrived, citing the same issue. I'm left wondering if this kind of treatment is typical in the professional world, as I don't have much experience with interviews.

I recently started applying for a new administrative role and encountered a situation regarding references. I'm 22 and currently based in the UK. The application states that if I include my current employer as a reference, they won't be contacted until after an offer is made. However, I'm concerned about my previous jobs in hospitality affecting my chances. I'm worried that if they contact my current employer after an offer is given, it could lead to complications or even have my offer rescinded. I'm considering using my previous employer from my hospitality job and a university lecturer as my references instead. I'm seeking advice on whether this would be suitable for the role I'm applying for, especially since this is my first time dealing with references.

I’m Ruchika, and I’m currently seeking a job switch in performance marketing. I’m not posting this on LinkedIn because I don’t have a strong network to leverage for referrals, so I’m turning to this community for help. I would greatly appreciate any references or connections you might have in your companies. I have over 6 years of experience in performance marketing, and I’m looking for a managerial role. I’m also open to positions in account management or customer success management (CSM) if they align with my skills. If you can assist in any way, please reach out or comment. Thank you!

I recently revamped my resume using AI, thinking it would make it stand out to recruiters. At first, I was thrilled with the cleaner formatting and improved wording. However, after helping a friend with theirs, I realized that our resumes sounded eerily similar. Terms like "cross-functional problem solver" and "strong communicator" seemed to be everywhere, making me question the originality of my application. This led me to rethink my approach. Instead of just polishing my resume with AI, I decided to dig deeper into my past experiences. I revisited old performance reviews and unearthed reports from Clifton and Kompiq that highlighted my strengths. Surprisingly, the most valuable insights came from the small, everyday contributions I had overlooked—like the tasks my colleagues frequently sought my help with or the unique ways I tackled problems. By focusing on these personal elements, I was able to create a resume that felt authentic and truly reflected my capabilities. While I still used AI to enhance the final product, it was no longer about making it sound like everyone else's. I applied to fewer jobs, but each application resonated more with who I am. I know the job market is challenging and luck plays a significant role, but this experience taught me the importance of authenticity in my resume.

I am a 23-year-old female and have been working at my current company for about 10 months now, which is my first job after graduating. Initially, I had little understanding of how things operated, but after nearly a year, I've come to realize that there isn't much room for growth in my role. The promotion cycles have been frozen this year, and even colleagues who have been here for over two years haven't been promoted due to this. The cycle for the next designation is set at 18 months. I'm contemplating a job switch, but I'm feeling quite hopeless about it. The job market appears to be extremely tough, and finding my current position took me two months filled with endless applications, rejections, and a lot of mental stress. The only significant advantage of my current job is that it's fully remote, allowing me to save most of my salary. While the pay is decent, I'm torn between staying for another 1-2 years to gain more experience or actively searching for new opportunities right away. At this point, I don't have any plans for further studies. I'm seeking advice on effective job searching. Is LinkedIn the most reliable platform? Are job postings on Glassdoor legitimate? What other platforms or strategies have worked for others? The uncertainty surrounding my situation is really affecting my mental well-being, and I would appreciate any guidance from those who have faced similar challenges.

I just wrapped up my first week at a new job and it's been a complete disaster. During the interview, my manager seemed super laid-back—he wore a flannel shirt, talked about hating corporate bureaucracy, and claimed he only hires adults so he wouldn’t have to babysit. I left the final interview feeling like I had struck gold, thinking I could actually build things instead of just filling out reports. But then Monday hit. Within two hours, he messaged me on Slack five times asking for an ETA on a task that I didn't even have login credentials for yet. By lunchtime, he called me into a meeting just to question why I hadn’t updated the status of a Jira ticket that was still in the to-do column. The chill boss I thought I had is nowhere to be found; instead, I’m dealing with an insecure micromanager who can’t go ten minutes without knowing what everyone is doing. The worst part is the fake transparency. He still throws around buzzwords like 'velocity' and 'trust,' but then demands a detailed breakdown of my day every afternoon before I leave. I spent more time documenting my work than actually doing it. It feels like I’m back in middle school, constantly asked to show my homework. If he’s that paranoid, why hire experienced people at all? I’m already updating my resume because I know this won’t end well. You can’t fix a micromanager; they just wear you down until you’re as miserable as they are. I can see him typing another question about a task I finished an hour ago. I’m seriously considering taking a mental health day on Monday just to see how he reacts to losing control.

I recently accepted a 4-month contract position and they are currently doing reference checks before finalizing everything. However, I interviewed for another role that is 8 months long, closer to home, and aligns better with my career goals. I'm torn about whether to proceed with the 4-month contract or pull out now, especially since I might end up leaving shortly after starting. I’m considering asking the 4-month company if I can delay my start date while I wait to hear back about the 8-month position. I’m worried about the potential fallout from quitting right after starting, especially since I work in a small industry where reputation matters. I know there’s no guarantee I’ll get the 8-month job, but I don’t want to burn any bridges either.

I just accepted a new job offer over the phone without fully reviewing the details, and now I'm feeling a mix of excitement and dread. I've been stuck in a safe but unfulfilling role for years, living paycheck to paycheck. A recruiter reached out unexpectedly with an offer, and in the moment, I said yes before even looking at the contract or considering the longer commute. Initially, I felt like I had won something, but soon after, anxiety set in as I realized I might have made a hasty decision. I'm in my mid-forties, struggling to cover my flat expenses, and I have a dog that doesn't care about my job situation. Now I'm trying to do the math on whether this new position will actually improve my financial situation. I know I need to read the contract carefully and evaluate the salary, benefits, and other factors before jumping to conclusions.

After a year of unemployment, I finally landed a job! I moved to Germany on a freelance visa, but just as my residence permit was approved, my company decided to restructure and cut my department's budget. Suddenly, I was in a foreign country with my child and no job. I heard a lot about the importance of LinkedIn networking and local meetups, but I found that to be misleading. Even with solid referrals, I faced constant rejections because recruiters often didn't bother to read my applications. They just tossed them into the ATS system along with everyone else's. I realized that using a generic resume was a surefire way to fail. Recruiters expect a tailored resume for each role, and I learned that fancy templates don’t matter if the software can’t read them. So, I created a detailed Excel spreadsheet of target employers and open roles. With over 12 years of experience, I had a lot to showcase, but I needed to present it correctly. I explored AI tools to help generate various versions of my resume but hesitated to pay for them. Eventually, I found a free tool and started creating tailored CVs based on job descriptions. I stripped down my resumes to pure text, focusing on clarity and relevance. In total, I sent out 47 different versions of my resume. This effort led to 9 screening calls, 3 final interviews, and ultimately, one solid job offer! I did use AI, but I believe it's fair since recruiters use similar technology to filter candidates. The job market has created these challenges, and I don’t regret my approach because I remained truthful about my skills and experiences.

I just attended a family event and I was really anxious about how everyone would react to my unemployment. It's been years since I graduated from university, and I haven't found a job related to my degree at all. Honestly, I've just been coasting along without any noteworthy progress in my career. I felt like I had to go to this gathering since it had been so long since I last saw everyone, but I was worried about the questions that would come up. I thought maybe facing some awkward conversations would motivate me to take action in my job search. At the event, I tried to navigate the discussions by mentioning that I'm 'in the process of applying for jobs' and even threw in a few companies I've applied to. It seemed to help ease the pressure a bit, but it’s still tough to deal with the stigma of being unemployed.

I was laid off from a Fortune 100 insurer in the Fall of 2024 after 12 years in the company. With around 20 years of experience as a Project Manager, I thought I was well-prepared, but my resume was outdated and my network was stale. The layoff was part of a significant tech reduction, and it felt like they were targeting mid to late-career professionals making between $150,000 and $250,000, likely to move jobs overseas. They put people in critical roles that only operated at odd hours, which seemed risky to me. The job search was tough. I tried networking, but it yielded minimal results. To make ends meet, I delivered packages and applied for jobs almost daily. I focused on upskilling and kept a positive mindset because I had no other choice. Thankfully, I landed a new role in December, just in time to avoid being unemployed for the entire year. It was in a new industry, and while I took a pay cut, the work is interesting and I see it as a chance to rebuild my career. Now, six months in, I feel like I’m back in the swing of things. My role is hybrid, requiring me to be in the office two days a week. Despite the long commute, I enjoy going in and have acclimated quickly, working autonomously. I’ve even adjusted to the lower paycheck. Sometimes, it feels surreal to reflect on what I went through last year; it’s hard to believe it really happened. I’m sharing this to encourage those still searching. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I realized that I was competent all along; I recently delivered a presentation to about 60 people and it went exceptionally well, which filled me with pride. Looking back at the 200 jobs I was rejected from, I know I could have done them. There’s no reasonable explanation for why I was out of work for 15 months. If you’re still on the job hunt, I empathize with you and urge you to stay strong. The grind is tough, but it will pay off.

I'm excited to share that I received an official job offer after a few months of navigating a contingent offer! I'll be starting my new role next week, which is a huge relief. A week ago, I posted about the strategies I used during my job search, and I'm thrilled to say they worked for me. As a 64-year-old senior in IT, it was a bit challenging since I hadn't written programs in over 20 years. However, I dedicated time to learning vibe coding and successfully rebuilt my skills. Job searching can be tough, and it often requires new tools and approaches. If anyone wants to chat or needs advice, feel free to DM me or check out my previous post. Remember, don't give up! Keep looking!

I recently moved back to Spain at 39 after living in the UK for about 12 years. I had planned to keep my UK job or at least continue with my company, but just before the move, they decided not to proceed with that, leaving me jobless upon my return. I relocated to a rural area for affordability and managed to buy a house, which I couldn't do in the UK, thinking I would work remotely. However, the job market here is quite limited, and finding a remote position has proven to be more challenging than I anticipated. I'm at a crossroads, contemplating whether to keep applying for jobs or to invest my time in building a specific skill that could enhance my employability. I'm considering options like learning GDS/Amadeus for roles in travel support, diving into Java/programming due to my interest in tech, or refining my approach to finding remote customer support or admin roles. I realize that programming isn't a quick fix, especially starting from scratch at my age, and a short course in GDS won't replace real experience. I'm looking for practical advice from anyone who has faced a similar situation of starting over in a new country or changing career paths later in life.

Today, I learned that Prudential has announced layoffs as part of a response to their recent $1 billion global misconduct and sales ban disaster. As an employee, this news has left me feeling uncertain about my future here. The company is facing significant challenges, and it seems like more cuts are on the horizon. I'm currently in the process of updating my resume and exploring new job opportunities, as I want to be prepared for any outcome.

I recently accepted a position as a Township Manager with a neighboring municipality, and I'm currently going through the hiring process, which includes a background check and reference check for the past five years. My main concern is regarding a previous job I had with a county Sheriff's Office, where I was terminated for seeking outside employment opportunities. I was an at-will employee, so there wasn't much I could do about it. However, I quickly found a new role as an Assistant Township Manager just a week and a half later, and I've been successful in that position, even getting promoted to Township Manager after a competitive interview process. Now, as I fill out the paperwork for this new job, I'm worried about how to explain my departure from the Sheriff's Office. I know I need to disclose that I was terminated, but I'm concerned that mentioning it was due to seeking another job might raise red flags, even though it wasn't related to any misconduct or performance issues. My current employer had no problems with my previous circumstances, and I have colleagues from the Sheriff's Office who can provide positive references. Am I overthinking this situation? Should I genuinely be worried about how this will affect my new job offer?

I'm excited to share that I'll be starting a new job next week! A few months ago, I accepted a contingent offer, and it has now turned into a real position. I want to encourage everyone not to give up on their job search; even a contingent offer can lead to something solid. I was laid off just a year before my planned retirement and was in need of insurance coverage. After a long journey, I'm finally back to work! If you're interested, I have some steps that worked for me detailed in my post on r/layoffs. Wishing you all the best in your job searches!

I'm currently in NYC and desperately searching for a job. I need something ASAP due to mounting bills; my credit cards are seven payments behind and maxed out, and my mom is struggling with her electric, water, and mortgage bills. I've been looking everywhere for about four months now, applying to every entry-level position across various industries. I've even gone to temp agencies and revised my resume multiple times, but I keep getting ghosted with no callbacks. It's incredibly frustrating. I'm aiming for a full-time job with 40-50 hours a week, but it feels like no one is hiring. I'm open to any suggestions on how to secure a job immediately. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I recently transitioned from job hunting to freelancing. After months of applying for various positions without much success, I decided to leverage my skills and start offering freelance services. This shift has allowed me to take control of my career and work on projects that genuinely interest me. I've been able to connect with clients directly and build a portfolio that showcases my abilities. It's been a rewarding experience so far, and I feel more empowered in my professional journey.

I am currently on the hunt for a full remote job that I can take with me if I decide to move. My background is in IT support, project management, and I have some experience in real estate. However, I've been struggling to find legitimate remote job listings. It feels like there are so many scams out there that it's hard to differentiate between real opportunities and fake ones. I've heard from others that the best approach might be to secure a hybrid position first, work there for a couple of years, and then negotiate for a fully remote role. This seems to be a common theme, as many companies are leaning towards hybrid models rather than fully remote options. I've also noticed that job boards like Indeed haven't been very helpful for finding 100% remote positions. Given that my current employer is going through a restructuring phase and layoffs are looming, I need to be proactive in my job search. It’s frustrating because even when a job is advertised as remote, the details often reveal that it might not be as flexible as it seems. I wonder if companies are hesitant to hire fully remote workers because they could potentially outsource the work for cheaper. Overall, I’m just trying to navigate this challenging job market and find a position that truly offers the flexibility I need.

I recently accepted a job offer, but I just received an email from a more reputable company inviting me for an interview. I'm feeling torn because I want to be loyal to my new employer, but the opportunity with this other company seems too good to pass up. I'm considering whether to go through with the interview or to stick with my current decision.