Thinking

I'm currently evaluating my job situation at a company where I make $14/hour, working 40 hours a week. The catch is that my job is about 30 minutes away, and since I don't drive, I rely on Uber for my daily commute. Each trip costs around $30, totaling about $60 a day just for transportation. After taxes and these Uber costs, a significant portion of my paycheck vanishes before I even see it. I'm feeling stuck because I need the income and work experience, but I'm questioning if this arrangement is financially sustainable long-term. I've been considering whether I should keep the job temporarily, look for alternative transportation options, or seek something closer to home. Unfortunately, public transportation doesn’t fully cover my route, which complicates things. I'm reaching out to see if anyone else has faced a similar situation and what their thoughts are on the best course of action. I appreciate any advice or insights!

I'm 22 years old and recently faced termination from my job at a BPO company after just six months. Now, I'm looking to re-enter the job market and I'm unsure how to address my termination during interviews. I have a PF account that shows my work history, so I know they'll see that I was employed there. Should I be upfront and admit that I was fired, or would it be better to say that my position was part of a layoff? I've received mixed advice from friends; some suggest saying it was a contract that ended, but I'm worried that might raise questions about the validity of a six-month contract. I really need some guidance on how to navigate this situation.

I'm currently navigating the challenging landscape of breaking into a Product Manager role at a big tech company. I have around 4 years of IT consulting experience with a Big 4 firm, where I've been involved in tasks closely related to product management like stakeholder engagement, requirement gathering, and product delivery. Despite my relevant experience, I've found it incredibly tough to secure interviews for PM positions, with my only success being in Meta's interview process. I've had my resume reviewed by recruiters and professionals, and the feedback has been positive, which leaves me wondering if the competition in the PM market is just too fierce or if my consulting background is a disadvantage. I'm contemplating whether I should aim for Associate PM roles or consider starting at a smaller AI startup to eventually transition into a bigger tech company. I often receive LinkedIn messages from AI startups, but I hesitate due to my preference for the stability of larger firms. I'm reaching out to anyone who has successfully transitioned from consulting to tech PM for insights on what really helped them make that leap.

I'm currently navigating a tough job search at 24 years old. I dropped out of high school and I'm autistic, which adds some challenges to my situation. I live about 3 miles outside of Silverton, Oregon, and unfortunately, I don't have transportation or a phone number. I've applied to over 100 jobs in the past couple of years, both online and in person, but I haven't received a single callback. I know I need to make some changes to improve my chances. Getting a phone number is a top priority, and I'm considering options like hard labor or general farm work since they might be more accessible for me. I also want to get my GED as soon as possible, and I've heard that Vocational Rehabilitation could provide some support. I'm trying to stay positive and advocate for myself, reaching out for help wherever I can. Any advice or resources would be greatly appreciated.

Today, I found myself in a tough spot regarding a job offer I received from a Contract Research Organization (CRO). The position requires me to be in the office four days a week, which poses a significant challenge since I just moved in with my partner a month ago after being apart for 1.5 years. The commute would take 3.5 hours each way, meaning I would need to find a second flat and spend an additional 7 hours commuting each week, leaving me with only three full days to spend with my partner. While the salary increase is appealing—about 15%—the company isn't flexible in accommodating my commuting situation. The job title is similar to my current role, which I’ve held for nearly four years in a client-facing position within academia after completing my PhD. I’ve been seeking a new job for a year now, and this is my first solid offer, although I’ve come close to others in the past. I’m also considering starting a family in the next couple of years, which complicates things further if I take this new role and struggle with the commute. I’m currently negotiating, but the offer details seem pretty final. I’m torn between prioritizing my career and my personal life, especially since I’ve always leaned towards career opportunities that have taken me away from home. I would love to hear from anyone who has faced a similar dilemma—how did you manage the balance between life and career? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm currently seeking advice on finding a job that accommodates my health issues. I've been dealing with endometriosis, IBS, depression, chronic back problems, and more since I was 8 years old, which has made my education and work history quite challenging. I only completed high school and have attempted various studies, but my health has prevented me from finishing them. For the past two years, I've been helping my father with his business due to his health issues, but these roles were informal and unpaid. I experience days where I can barely move due to pain, and I'm currently out of savings while my government assistance has been denied since I haven't held a paid job. I've been searching for a job for over three years that requires low education, no travel, and no experience, but it feels impossible in today's job market. I'm based in the Netherlands and would appreciate any advice or information on potential opportunities.

I am an MCA graduate from the class of 2025, and I've been struggling to find a job for the past year. My college had zero placements, and despite applying to numerous entry-level positions, I've faced nothing but rejections. It's frustrating because I know my skills aren't as strong as what companies expect, but even for roles that don't require extensive experience, I often don't hear back. I've reached out to many people for help, but most just ask for my resume and then disappear. Meanwhile, I've watched my batchmates land jobs through connections, even those who seem less qualified than I am. For instance, one of my classmates recently started as a Junior Data Analyst at HCLTech, a position I never even saw advertised despite my constant applications on various platforms. This situation has left me feeling insecure and questioning the job market. It seems like only those with connections are getting hired, which makes me wonder why companies even post entry-level roles if they're not genuinely looking for fresh talent. I’m exhausted from applying repeatedly and am starting to consider other career paths. I've recently begun applying for HR roles and have received a few responses, but I'm unsure if I should pursue this direction since I don't have an MBA. I’m open to starting with a lower salary if it leads to growth, but I need to know if there are real opportunities for MCA graduates in HR. As a backup, I'm also contemplating teaching to avoid a career gap. I'm feeling very confused and would appreciate any guidance from anyone who has been through a similar situation.

I just received a job offer for an internal recruitment position that represents a significant step up for me, with a salary increase of $20,000 AUD. The role requires me to be in the office five days a week, which is a change from my previous jobs where I had the flexibility to work from home a couple of days each week. I found that working from home really boosted my productivity by minimizing distractions. I'm excited about the new opportunity, but I'm also hesitant because I would prefer to have at least one or two days working from home. I'm considering whether I should bring this up now during the offer stage or if it might jeopardize the offer. I’m located about 20 minutes from the office, and the hours are 8:30 AM to 5 PM, which is manageable. I’m torn between accepting the offer as is and risking the chance of losing it by asking for flexibility.

I recently got laid off and have been unemployed for over two months now. I've gone through more than 10 interviews but haven't received a single offer, which has been really disheartening. I have over 8 years of software development experience, primarily at small to mid-sized companies. This is my third time job hunting, and the current market feels incredibly tough compared to my previous experiences. The first time I looked for a job was right after graduating, before COVID hit. I went onsite at three companies, failed two, and managed to get one offer. The second time was during the money-printing era, where I again went onsite at three companies, failed two, but secured one offer. Back then, I had only three years of experience, yet I was bombarded with messages from recruiters on LinkedIn, especially from companies like Amazon. That kind of outreach has completely dried up now. Currently, I've made it to onsite interviews at five companies but have not received any offers. I still find LinkedIn somewhat useful; I have a premium account and receive over five recruiter messages daily. However, most of these recruiters are for positions that do not offer sponsorship. I might get one or two messages from companies that do sponsor per week. My interview pipeline consists of about 10% from cold applications, 40% from referrals, and 50% from LinkedIn InMail. I've noticed a significant drop in the quality of InMail messages. Full-time software development positions seem to be scarce. The interview formats vary by company, but they generally follow the classic trio of coding, system design, and behavioral questions. I haven't encountered any AI-specific coding interviews yet. In terms of coding questions, I've handled about 80% of them well, mostly medium-level and standard problems. I highly recommend practicing coding problems by category to build confidence. However, a few companies threw some curveballs my way, and I had to adapt quickly. Interviews feel noticeably harder than they did in the past. I believe my system design skills have improved, yet I've received feedback from several companies indicating that I failed the system design round. One major change I've observed is that previously, companies like Google and Meta had multiple openings; you'd interview first and then get matched with a hiring manager. Now, there are very few openings, and backfill roles often already have a 'better candidate' lined up, making it an uphill battle.

I recently came across a company called Dev 10 while exploring job opportunities in the IT field. As a recent college graduate, I'm eager to start my career, but I'm feeling quite apprehensive about their process. From my research, it seems that if you leave the program early, there's a hefty fee of $35,000, which is a significant concern for me. I've also read some troubling reports about HR potentially laying off employees during the training phase, which raises a lot of red flags. I'm worried that even if I relocate for this opportunity, I could still face layoffs after the training ends. I'm seeking advice from anyone who has experience with Dev 10. Is it worth the investment, especially with the risk of layoffs and the financial burden of that fee? If someone were to be laid off during training, would they still be liable for that $35,000? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I'm currently a university student studying IT/Cybersecurity, and I've decided to change my job search strategy. Instead of applying through traditional job boards, I've compiled a list of local companies and shops in my city that align with my interests in gaming PCs, PC building, and gaming hardware. I'm not strictly looking for a cybersecurity role; I'm open to positions like IT support, help desk, or technical sales. To enhance my search, I activated a LinkedIn Premium trial and began researching these companies, saving profiles of branch managers and employees from shops I'm interested in. However, I'm unsure about the best way to approach them. Should I introduce myself and build a connection first, or should I directly inquire about job opportunities? I'm flexible with my time since my classes are remote, and I'm even open to unpaid internships. I'm feeling a bit burnt out from the traditional application process, and I'm hoping this direct outreach could lead to a position in a field I'm passionate about. Any advice on how to effectively connect with these businesses would be greatly appreciated!

I’m a 25-year-old man currently working in retail sales, and I've been in this field since early 2023 after losing my previous marketing job. I've switched jobs four times since then, but my current position is the only one that pays significantly more than most in my city. However, this job comes with a heavy toll on my health—both physically and mentally. I work long hours on my feet, often from 3 PM to midnight, and I feel like a walking zombie. The constant rotation between different branches every couple of weeks makes it hard to build any community or relationships at work. Despite the decent pay, my well-being is suffering, and I’ve been feeling exhausted and isolated. I recently expressed my desire to switch to a more stable 9-5 office job to regain some balance in my life, but my family reacted negatively. They see my current job as a golden opportunity, and they don’t understand how detrimental it is to my health. They think I should be grateful for the pay and the job security, but I just want to feel like a normal person again. I’m torn between wanting to prioritize my health and the pressure I feel from my family to stay in a high-paying job.

I recently applied for a marketing coordinator position at a local boutique, hoping to pivot into marketing. The pay isn't great and the hours are limited, but I thought it would be a good stepping stone for my career. After submitting my resume and cover letter, I filled out a Google forms questionnaire they sent. A month went by without any response, but then I received an email saying I was one of six candidates being considered. However, they asked me to complete four tasks before I could move on to an in-person interview. The tasks include a social media audit, creating Instagram content, drafting a warm email for their store, pitching an ambassador program, and putting together a simple outreach plan. I don't have much marketing experience, as my background is in production design and illustration. I'm wondering if it's normal to have to do this much work before even getting an interview, or if the company is just looking for free labor. I'm torn about whether to invest my time in these tasks or to walk away.

I'm a 19-year-old guy in the UK, and I'm feeling really down about my job search. As I approach my 20th birthday, I've never had a single day of paid work, and it seems like no one is hiring. I've sent out countless applications, but I keep getting rejected, even for basic jobs like cleaning. It's frustrating to think that I need experience for a cleaning position when I just want to start somewhere. I feel broke and stuck, and it's hard to see the point in all of this. I've heard that others are facing similar struggles, but it doesn't make it any easier for me. I just want to find a job and start building my life.

I had my first job interview three months ago, and it was a complete disaster. I was so nervous that I ended up stuttering my own name and completely blanking out, despite having prepared extensively. Since then, every time I try to apply for a job, I get overwhelmed with anxiety and start shaking, fearing that I will embarrass myself again. I'm really at a loss for what to do next. I've been seeking advice on how to manage this interview anxiety. Some suggestions I've received include practicing with a friend to get more comfortable, trying out role-play scenarios for interviews, and even considering magnesium supplements to help with stress. Additionally, I've been told that beta blockers could be useful for performance anxiety during interviews. I'm just hoping to find a way to overcome this hurdle so I can feel confident when applying for jobs.

A month ago, I encountered a recruiting scam that I want to share as a cautionary tale. I was contacted on LinkedIn by someone claiming to represent a sizable U.S.-based investment firm for a role that seemed perfect for my background. After doing my research, I checked the recruiter's LinkedIn profile, which appeared genuine, and the firm, while not a household name, seemed credible enough. I asked several clarifying questions about the position, and the recruiter informed me that I would need to go through an AI interview process via a platform called Canditech. The first red flag was that the email I received didn’t come from the firm's official domain. I directly asked the recruiter about the legitimacy of the email and was reassured. However, I still had a nagging feeling that something was off. It took me five working days to finally agree to try the AI interview, as I had mixed experiences with AI interviews in the past—my success rate in human-led interviews is significantly better. When I opened the link and started the process, I encountered an alarming error message about an "Encoding/transcoding pipeline failure" with strange instructions to open Terminal on my Mac and run an FFmpeg command. This raised my concerns further, so I decided to message the hiring manager on LinkedIn before proceeding. To my shock, the LinkedIn profile that had contacted me had completely changed—different name, different details, and clearly a fake identity. I reported the profile immediately. What struck me about this experience was not just the scam attempt itself, but how sophisticated and patient these scammers are becoming. The job search process is already exhausting, and it's disheartening to see bad actors exploiting the vulnerabilities of job seekers.

I recently put in my two-week notice at my corporate job, where I've been working fully remote for several years. However, about nine months ago, the company mandated that we return to the office five days a week without any flexibility. I officially submitted my notice on July 1, with my last day being July 15, and I'm set to start a new job on July 16. Given the brutal commute and some personal issues I’m dealing with at home, I'm considering asking if I can work from home during my final week and a half. I did ask my manager if I could have my last day on the 10th, but she requested that I stay until the 15th. Now I'm wondering if it's reasonable to request to work from home during this time. I know I didn't have that option for the past nine months, so I’m unsure if I should even bring it up. If I do decide to ask, how should I phrase it? I’m aware that two weeks' notice is more of a courtesy and that they could let me go immediately if they wanted to, so I’m weighing my options carefully.

I recently applied for what I believe is my dream job at a small company with about 20 employees. I found the position on LinkedIn last Wednesday and was thrilled to see it was exactly what I had been searching for. Just days before discovering the job, I had a conversation with a friend about this very type of role, which made me even more excited. Since I was one of the first applicants and there are only around 30 people in the pool, I'm hopeful that the feedback timeframe will be shorter. I’m considering reaching out to the co-founder, who I believe is the hiring manager, via LinkedIn if I don’t hear back in about a week. I want to express my enthusiasm for the position, but I'm unsure if that would come off as too forward. I really want to stand out, but I’m also cautious about how to approach this.

I recently had to leave my full-time job due to changes in our childcare situation. My wife and I welcomed our first baby, and we had initially planned for my mother-in-law to help with childcare. Unfortunately, she's been dealing with health issues and can no longer assist us. Since my wife earns significantly more, it made sense for me to step back from my job. Now, I'm on the hunt for a part-time position that fits around my wife's schedule, which is from 11 AM to 9:30 PM, Wednesday through Sunday. I’ve been considering early morning shifts, ideally starting around 6 AM and wrapping up by 10 AM. I also have a second interview lined up for a part-time night position, but I’m hesitant because my daughter is starting to sleep through the night, and I worry about functioning on just a few hours of sleep during the day. I’m 38, and I feel like age is catching up with me, making the thought of working overnight shifts a bit daunting. I’ve looked into grocery stores for early morning positions, but I’d appreciate any other suggestions that might not be listed on job boards like Indeed. I live upstate, so while it’s not completely rural, it’s not as dense as NYC either. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I'm currently applying for trainee patent attorney positions in Sweden. I have a background as a former UKIPO examiner with 8 years of experience, along with 3 years as a patent consultant. Initially, I focused my job search in the UK, but a recruiter pointed out two significant challenges I might face. First, the sheer volume of applicants makes it tough for my applications to stand out among hundreds of candidates. Second, despite holding a PhD, my undergraduate degree is only a 2:2, which may lead to me being filtered out of consideration for many roles that require at least a 2:1 or a first-class degree. I've heard that in Sweden, these hurdles might not be as pronounced. I'm curious to know if that's accurate.