Planning

About six weeks ago, I got frustrated with applying to job listings that were marked as "posted today" but seemed to be old postings. I decided to change my approach and started checking the actual careers page of the companies before applying, instead of just applying from wherever I found the listing. I noticed something strange: many of the "new" jobs had requisition numbers I had seen weeks earlier, and the company pages often showed older posting dates. Some listings even disappeared and then reappeared with almost identical descriptions. Now, I make it a point to check the company site first. If a role is genuinely new, I apply directly there. If I've already seen that requisition number, I skip it instead of rewriting my resume for the same position again. As a result, my application volume has dropped from around 15-20 applications a week to about 6-8. However, I've received 4 screening calls from my last 27 applications, which is a significant improvement compared to just 1 call from roughly 80 applications before this change. It seems like these supposedly "new" job listings are often recycled. Has anyone else experienced this?

I was terminated from my job as a sales associate at a retail store where I worked for two years. A few days ago, I was let go following an incident with an irate customer. I admit I responded with a bit of a catty tone regarding company policy, which led to the formal reason for my termination being listed as "unprofessional conduct" and "acting outside of company values." However, I wasn't given a specific example of what exactly constituted my unacceptable behavior when I asked for clarification. This was my first offense, and I had never received any warnings or write-ups prior to this incident. Now, I'm trying to figure out how to approach future job applications. When asked why I left my previous job, I’m unsure whether to be honest about the termination or to keep it vague. I believe there are other valid reasons for my departure, such as poor management, lack of upward mobility, and reduced hours, which I think contributed to the situation. I’m concerned that being upfront about the termination might deter potential employers, especially since I plan to return to retail or a customer-facing role. I don't have much experience with job hopping, so I'm not sure how often employers check into past employment issues like this. My instinct is to avoid volunteering this information, but I also want to be prepared in case they do dig into my background. I’m not aiming for a management position or anything with a significant pay increase in my next job, and I still have good relationships with my former coworkers, as the decision to terminate me was made at a corporate level. This has been a confusing time for me, and I appreciate any advice on how to navigate future applications.

I graduated in December with a bachelor's degree in accounting, and I've been struggling to find entry-level accounting jobs in my area. I'm starting to wonder if my resume is the issue or if it's just the competitive job market. I've followed a lot of advice on how to fill out applications, but I still haven't had much luck. I've heard from others that many employers are looking for candidates with 3+ years of experience, which makes it even harder for new graduates like me. I'm considering pivoting to other fields and have been advised to look into logistics positions since I have some inventory experience. I'm feeling a bit lost and would appreciate any guidance on how to improve my chances.

I've been working at my current company for about 2 years now, holding a junior-level title despite taking on senior-level responsibilities. I've been managing a core function on my own during a leadership transition, leading multiple projects that delivered measurable results. I'm also the only one in the company with expertise in a specific technical area of my role. Back in early 2025, my previous manager told me I couldn't be considered for a promotion after only 6 months and that I would need at least a year. He promised we would revisit the promotion discussion later that year, but that conversation never happened because I went on maternity leave. When I returned and inquired about it, I was told there wasn't enough performance data to evaluate my work during my absence, which was frustrating since it was out of my control. To add to my frustration, a colleague was promoted to a mid-level position after just 4 months, the same level I was supposed to reach in the discussion that never occurred for me. Now, I have a performance review coming up with my current manager, and I'm preparing to present a solid case for my promotion, complete with data and results. I've also informed my union about the situation as a precaution. However, I'm feeling really drained by this ongoing pattern. I'm considering waiting for the performance review to see if anything changes, but if it doesn't, I'm seriously thinking about resigning. I do have another job opportunity in the works. I'm seeking honest opinions on whether I should push for this promotion or if it's a clear sign that I should just move on.

I've been reflecting on my career path lately and I'm feeling quite lost. I initially pursued a degree in Game Art at the Art Institutes, hoping to become a concept artist in the video game industry. Unfortunately, I discovered that the program was misleading, offering only one class related to concept art. After realizing this, I switched to graphic design and graduated, landing a job that I held for four years until my entire department was unexpectedly laid off. Since then, I've been unemployed for over nine months. I've applied to numerous positions in graphic design, but the responses have been discouraging. I've only had three interviews, all of which ended with the same disappointing message: they chose to move forward with other candidates. Even fast food jobs seem to be out of reach, likely because employers see my degree and assume I won't stick around long-term. Now, I'm contemplating a shift in my career. Graphic design feels increasingly threatened by AI, and I'm considering going back to school to pursue my original dream of game art. However, I'm hesitant due to the current state of the gaming industry, which is facing significant layoffs—around 15,000 this year alone. I worry about investing time and money into another degree only to find myself in the same predicament. I'm really questioning whether it's worth pursuing a career in the video game industry or if I should explore other options. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I navigate this uncertain path.

I’ve been unemployed for the past three years, and during this time, I’ve taken on various odd jobs that don’t tie back to a specific company. I’m trying to figure out how to present this gap in my work history on my resume and during interviews. Since I don’t have tax returns from these jobs, I’m unsure how to explain my experience without sounding unprofessional. I’ve heard that referring to these tasks as 'freelancing' might help, but I’m looking for more ideas on how to articulate this gap effectively.

After a long 12 months of unemployment, I finally landed a job! I went from earning over $100k a year to just above minimum wage, which is quite the shift. It’s funny how life works sometimes, but honestly, I feel really fortunate and happy to have found something. It’s a relief to be back in the workforce, even if the pay isn’t what it used to be. I’m hoping this job will serve as a stepping stone to something better in the future.

I'm feeling really lost right now. I'm currently searching for a new job because my current company has been treating me poorly, and I just can't understand how they can get away with it. It's frustrating and disheartening, and I'm not sure what my next steps should be. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I recently received a job offer for a position that I'm not particularly excited about. The role offers very few hours and the pay isn't great. They sent me an offer email stating that I have 7 days to respond, which I thought would give me enough time to continue interviewing for better opportunities. However, now the hiring manager has started texting me to check if I've seen the email. I'm feeling a bit stuck on how to respond. I want to keep my options open while being polite and professional. I'm considering saying something like, 'Thank you for the confirmation that I received the offer. I am excited about the opportunity, but I have some concerns regarding the hours and my salary expectations.' Any advice on how to handle this situation?

I recently started my first job as a waitress at a local pub, and I'm really struggling with whether I should quit. I've been there for a few weeks, and while I was initially excited about earning my own money, I've been dealing with intense anxiety about going in. Before my shifts, I often feel physically sick and lose my appetite, which ruins my day. Interestingly, once I'm actually at work, I usually manage to be okay and have even started to enjoy some parts of the job, like serving customers and receiving tips. However, my confidence is quite low, and I take criticism very personally. I feel like I haven't been trained well, with expectations to know procedures I haven't practiced. I've faced criticism for mistakes, including a serious incident involving a customer's food allergy that has shaken my confidence even more. My parents are supportive and think I should quit, especially since I'm starting college this week and already have a lot of stress. I don't urgently need the money, but I enjoyed the feeling of earning it. I’m torn because I don’t hate waitressing itself; I think a lot of my anxiety stems from my mindset rather than the job. I’m at a crossroads with a shift tomorrow, and I’m contemplating whether to go in and then quit or just resign today. I don’t want to develop a habit of running away from anxiety, but I also recognize that this job shouldn’t be causing me this much dread. I’m really trying to weigh my options and figure out what’s best for my wellbeing.

I recently experienced a layoff from my IT job, and it's been a tough journey trying to navigate the job market since then. I've seen many others in the same boat, and it seems like the situation is only getting worse. Some people I know have taken months to find new positions, often settling for roles that pay significantly less than what they were making before. Personally, I signed an offer recently that was about 30% lower than my previous salary, but I felt I had no choice given the current market conditions. It's disheartening to see how many skilled professionals are struggling to find work, and it often feels like luck and connections are the only things that matter anymore. I’ve also had to rethink my backup plans, considering options like becoming a school crossing guard or even starting my own business. I’ve survived several layoffs in the past, and while I’m told things are stabilizing, I still find myself with very little work. On a more personal note, my family has been going through a tough time as my spouse was diagnosed with AML, a type of blood cancer, which has added to the stress of our situation. We managed to get a little breathing room thanks to a payment from my game launch, but our savings are nearly depleted. I’m really hoping for a turnaround soon, as I’m not looking forward to the upcoming years. Here’s to hoping 2027 brings better opportunities.

I recently faced a tough situation after getting laid off from my job in the US. I returned to India, but I'm carrying a significant amount of debt—around 25k. Instead of waiting for things to improve, I'm diving into the job market and actively seeking both full-time positions and freelance projects. As an AI engineer, I have a diverse skill set that includes building business websites, web applications, billing and inventory systems, AI automations, document-processing tools, lead workflows, and voice agents. If anyone knows of a company with a real project, I would love to connect. I can provide a detailed scope, timeline, and pricing before starting any work. You can check out my portfolio at mananmaroo.com. I've also set up a GoFundMe link, although I really prefer to get paid for my work rather than asking for charity. Anything helps at this point. Thank you for your support!

I was recently laid off from my position after applying for an internal role at my company. I had an informal chat with someone in the department I was interested in, and I was waiting for the HR interview to be scheduled before informing my supervisor. Unfortunately, he found out about my application before I could tell him, and he ended up terminating my employment. I was actually planning to leave the company anyway once I found a better work environment, but this was not how I expected things to unfold. I'm curious if anyone else has experienced something similar and would appreciate any thoughts or advice. Thanks!

I just signed a contract with a temp agency for a new job in Oregon, which starts immediately. The pay is good, and I really need this work since I've been unemployed since January. However, my wife is pregnant and due in less than three months, and I'm feeling torn about how to handle this situation. I didn't mention anything about my wife's pregnancy during the interview because I read that it's usually best to keep that information private until hired. Now that I've signed the paperwork, I'm wondering if I should inform my agency recruiter right away or wait until I've proven myself at the job. I want to be there for my wife and support her when the baby arrives, but I'm also aware that as a temp worker, I might not qualify for FMLA or any parental leave. I'm concerned about how to communicate this without jeopardizing my new position. I'm looking for advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation or from HR professionals on the best way to approach this.

It’s been a little over a week since I was laid off from my sales position at a tech company. I had a feeling something was off when our new CSO came in and started throwing around terms like 'hunters and farmers.' It felt like every sales manager had attended the same conference and got brainwashed by this jargon. My previous director, who was also on the chopping block, kindly gave me a heads-up two months in advance to start looking for new opportunities. I prepared my resume and started scanning LinkedIn, but I hesitated to apply anywhere, hoping I wouldn’t be affected. My market was performing well, but unfortunately, I was one of 50 sales team members laid off, including several area managers with over a decade of experience. I know some of them had better work ethics and market performance than I did. When I learned about my layoff, my attitude shifted completely. I stopped pushing myself at work, started going to the gym at 10 AM, and made sure to leave the office right at 5 PM. I might sound lazy, but I realized there was nothing I could do to change the situation. On the bright side, I received a severance package that I wasn’t expecting. Years ago, my spouse and I read a book called 'How To Quit Like A Millionaire,' which emphasized the importance of having 'F You money'—enough savings to give you the freedom to leave a job you dislike without financial stress. This mindset has been a game-changer for us. Over the past year, I only had to dip into those savings for two months, and we didn’t feel a significant impact on our lifestyle. We even traveled to Japan, Hawaii, and New York between jobs. After my layoff, the first thing I did was book a flight. I just returned from Korea, where I spent time job hunting and enjoying delicious food. I recognize my privilege in this situation, but it’s important to note that my background is far from privileged. It took discipline and teamwork with my spouse to save money and avoid being tied down by jobs we hated. We chose to build our future together and let time work in our favor. We’re all in this community because someone else prioritized their profit over our well-being, but I believe we can weather these tough times, emerge stronger, and refuse to play into their scarcity mindset.

I just got kicked out of my home after standing up to my abusive parents, and now I'm trying to figure out my next steps. I'm 18 years old and have been couch surfing with friends across the state, but I'm running out of places to stay and money for food. I need to find an entry-level job that can help me start saving up. I've worked part-time in retail before, but I don't have a car for transportation, which makes it tough to land a decent job. I've looked into online positions, but they usually require a degree or more experience than I have. I don't even have a laptop to make remote work easier, so I'm considering telemarketing positions instead. I'm hoping to find some advice or hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation. Any suggestions on jobs or strategies that could help me get back on my feet?

I am a Data Engineer with about 3 years of experience, currently working at a multinational company in Bengaluru. My responsibilities include building and maintaining production ETL/ELT pipelines using Azure technologies like ADF, ADLS Gen2, Databricks, and PySpark, following a Medallion architecture for data processing. My work mainly supports sales, forecasting, and supply chain analytics, and I've gained experience in dimensional modeling as well. Lately, I've been applying for new positions but have found that genuine job opportunities have significantly decreased. I typically receive about one interview invitation per month, but many of the calls I get are not legitimate—either the roles are misrepresented or they are from consultancies looking to gather profiles. To improve my chances, I'm now focusing on leveraging referrals. If anyone knows of any openings for Azure Data Engineer or Data Engineer roles in Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, or even remote positions, I would greatly appreciate a referral or guidance on the right job ID. I'm open to opportunities in both product and service companies, and I have a 30-day notice period. Any help from the community would mean a lot to me. I'm also open to feedback on my resume or profile if anyone has suggestions.

I recently cleared the final interview round for an embedded marketing role with a major client, but I would technically be employed by an agency. During the initial recruiter call, I mentioned my current salary of ₹1.15M/year, and they stated their maximum budget for the role was ₹1.2M/year, which they described as a hard cap. I later requested ₹1.5M, but they reiterated the ₹1.2M limit. After a six-week interview process, HR informed me that I’m likely their preferred candidate. Now, I’m contemplating whether to negotiate for a higher salary before accepting an offer, despite the hard cap they set. I’m torn between accepting the ₹1.2M, trying to negotiate again, or waiting for a written offer to discuss it then. I don’t want to jeopardize this opportunity, but I also don’t want to miss out on potential leverage.

I'm currently working a full-time hybrid job, but I'm actively searching for new opportunities and even considering weekend nanny jobs to boost my income. As I browse various job boards and nanny forums, I keep seeing posts from people who have full-time work-from-home (WFH) positions, and it's left me curious. I thought most companies had shifted back to hybrid models or required employees to return to the office. It's been a while since I came across a fully remote job listing, so I'm wondering what types of jobs or companies are still offering these options and where to find them, especially in the US. Some comments I've seen suggest that startups without physical offices and certain sectors like medtech are still heavily remote. I've also heard about remote roles in health insurance agencies, particularly with Medicaid programs, which allow for work from anywhere in the state. I personally was fully remote during COVID, but after returning to the office, we transitioned to a hybrid model, and then they started pulling back on WFH days, which was disappointing. Now, I'm back to two days of WFH a week, but I can't think of any tasks that require me to be in the office. It seems like remote jobs might become more common again. I've found some remote roles on LinkedIn and Indeed, but I'm still holding onto my current position from when remote jobs were more abundant.

I recently made the tough decision to leave my retail job after just 3 months. I had been let go from a previous position close to home due to surgery complications and not qualifying for FMLA, but I managed to find another retail job with a slight pay increase. With over 11 years of retail experience, mostly from one company, I thought I could make it work. However, the management at my current job was really poor, and it started to negatively impact my mental and physical health. Now, I'm in the process of applying for new roles, but I'm unsure whether to include this short stint on my resume. I've decided to leave it off for now, as I feel like it might raise red flags. I'm applying to various positions, including those that offer training, but so far, I've faced a lot of rejections, even from hotels. I just want to find a job that I won't dread going to and that's relatively close to home.