Thinking

I've been on the job hunt for four years since graduating, and it's been incredibly frustrating. In February, I finally landed a job, but it's not related to my degree at all. I've sent out over a thousand applications, and the feedback is always the same: they review my resume but ultimately choose someone else. It feels like the job market is a myth for recent graduates. Even for internships, I'm told I need experience, but how can I gain that experience if no one will hire me? I'm at a crossroads now, wondering if I should give up or keep pushing forward in my search for a relevant job.

I am feeling overwhelmed and on the verge of a meltdown. I've been unemployed for 15 months now, and just typing that feels painful. I've gone through countless interviews—phone, video, and in-person—but it always ends the same way. They move quickly through the process, ask a few questions during the phone interview, and then invite me in person, almost as if they expect I'll be working there soon. However, they always mention that there are many other candidates, and more often than not, I either get ghosted or they fill the position without any follow-up. It's discouraging to see the same job postings come back up just a month or two later. The whole experience feels surreal, as if the interviews are just a formality and they already know I'm not the one they're looking for. I had an interview on Monday and I'm getting that same vibe again.

I've been actively applying for jobs through Brassring, thinking I was a strong fit for several positions. However, I've faced challenges getting past the initial screening process. I'm curious about the common pitfalls others have encountered when using this platform. For instance, do PDF resumes cause issues? Also, I'm trying to understand if the hiring teams set specific keywords for their searches or if it's solely based on the job descriptions provided. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I’m currently navigating the job search process for the first time and have an interview tomorrow for a position that I think I might get. The company has been accommodating by switching the interview to an online format at the last minute, which I appreciate since I would have had to drive two hours otherwise. However, I’m not overly excited about this opportunity due to some administrative issues I've encountered, like them calling me by the wrong name in emails and scheduling conflicts. Plus, the hours for this role seem a bit unusual. I have three interviews lined up in total. This one is the middle option in terms of pay, but I have another interview scheduled for Sunday and Monday, which is a two-day process, and a third one on Tuesday that I’m particularly interested in because of the higher pay and the kind of work they do. The third company mentioned they might ask for five references, which indicates a longer timeline for an offer. I’m trying to figure out how to handle potential job offers. If I receive an offer from the first company, how long can I realistically take to respond? I don’t want to miss out on opportunities if the third interview doesn’t pan out, but I also need to secure a job. I’m curious if the third company would consider whether I have other offers, and if I could ask for any preliminary decisions based on my interview performance. I’m applying for academic research roles, so the environment is a bit different from corporate settings. Also, I’ve heard mixed opinions on whether reference checks are just a formality or if they truly weigh into the decision-making process.

Today, I learned that Elastic has laid off 7% of its workforce. As an employee, this news was quite shocking and unsettling. The CEO, Ash Kulkarni, made the announcement, and it seems to be part of a larger strategy that might hint at an upcoming acquisition, especially with the current investor activity. There’s a lot of speculation among my colleagues about the implications of this decision. Some are frustrated and suggested that the leadership, including the CEO, should take a cut instead. It’s tough to see how these layoffs impact those who have dedicated themselves to the company. I’m trying to process this change and what it means for my role and the future of our team.

I've been on the job hunt for over a year now since graduating with my master's in legal studies. My goal was to land a position in risk and compliance, but I've faced rejection after rejection. So far, I've applied to 37 companies and 53 different roles, including compliance, risk management, administrative positions, and even paralegal jobs, but nothing has come through. My siblings suggested that networking might help, so I've been trying to reach out, but I rarely hear back from hiring managers or HR. I have work experience, having held jobs throughout college while managing my rent and expenses, but it feels like my degree, which I obtained later in my 30s, might be working against me. I've been told that companies often prefer candidates with prior experience in risk or compliance, which I lack. I’m considering having my resume evaluated since I’m not getting any responses at all. Any advice on how to improve my chances would be greatly appreciated.

I graduated with a degree in Pharmacy last year and have been struggling to find a job in my field. I’m 24 and have started taking preparatory courses to enhance my resume, but I can't shake the disappointment I feel about my college experience. I spent most of my time feeling isolated as my classmates treated me poorly, which affected my motivation. I know I could have been a better student, but the environment was tough, and I ended up just getting by with Cs. Pharmacy is a challenging field, and even those grades required effort. I genuinely enjoy studying, but I wanted to distance myself from the negative atmosphere of college. Now, I'm hoping for better opportunities to come my way. I'm open to any job in the pharmacy industry, as long as it’s not retail. I would even consider an unpaid internship if it means being in a structured environment.

I had my references contacted about a week ago via email by a potential employer who wanted to set up a call. Since then, I haven't heard anything from either the company or my references, and it's making me really anxious. I don't want to bother my references to ask if they've been contacted, but I can't shake the worry that they might have forgotten. I'm also wondering if the company would have reached out to me by now if they were having trouble getting in touch with my references.

I recently went through a two-round interview process with a tech startup after receiving a referral for a role I was really excited about. I put a lot of effort into my presentation for the second round, feeling hopeful about the opportunity. However, while working my part-time job today, I received a rejection email. The person who referred me reached out to find out more details and was told that I performed well in the interview, with the hiring managers mentioning they would keep my resume on file and that I was 'next in line.' I've heard the 'resume on file' line before, and it has never led to anything positive for me. The 'next in line' comment feels like a generic excuse, and I'm struggling with feelings of frustration and anger about the whole situation. I can handle the rejection itself, but the follow-up remarks are really weighing on me.

I'm currently working as a Registered Dental Hygienist, earning around $53 per hour, but I'm struggling to get more than 24 hours a week due to the nature of temp agency work in the dental field. I completed my A.S. in Science and Arts in 2016, followed by a BSc in Geology with an Environmental Concentration in 2018, and I also have minors in Biology and Humanities along with a certificate in mapping software. My past work experience includes a year in a Hydrogeology Laboratory, a year in a Histology Laboratory, a brief stint as a Construction Materials Technician, and a few months as an IT Analyst. I'm feeling quite dissatisfied with my current role, especially since I lack benefits like PTO, health insurance, and a 401k. I’m looking for a job or career path that offers a maximum of 40 hours a week, provides employer health insurance, and has a salary comparable to what I currently make. I'm open to exploring opportunities within STEM or even outside of it, and I’m willing to share more about my skills and experiences if needed.

I had a virtual interview scheduled for a position at a local store today at 3:20 PM. By 5:30 PM, the interviewer was still not available. I called the store around 4:15 PM, and they informed me that the interviews had been delayed, assuring me that I would be let into the call when they could. However, I haven't received any email about a cancellation or rescheduling. I'm feeling quite confused about what my next steps should be. I know I should have probably left after 15 or 20 minutes, but I was hoping to still get the chance to speak with them.

I’ve been working in Public Relations for the past 4-5 years, primarily focusing on B2B tech companies. Even during my college years, I sensed that this career path wasn’t the right fit for me, but I ended up in it anyway. Now, I’m eager to switch careers before I feel too entrenched in this industry. I'm exploring other communications roles, particularly in internal communications, and have also applied for event coordination and executive assistant positions. I believe I have transferable skills for these roles, but I’m having a tough time getting responses from employers. I’d really appreciate any advice from those in hiring or admin roles on how to navigate this transition in the current job market.

I’ve been feeling really stuck in my current role at a small talent agency for the past two years. Despite having a good job with decent benefits, a supportive boss, and opportunities for growth, I find the work increasingly uninteresting. I know I don’t want to continue as an agent or in any desk job, but I’m at a loss about what to do next. I’m passionate about creativity and enjoy hands-on activities like drawing, sculpting, and even video games. I’m eager to explore new career paths, but I feel completely directionless right now. I would appreciate any random ideas or advice to help me figure out my next steps, as the anxiety and frustration from my current situation are really overwhelming.

I recently went through four rounds of interviews for a position at a company and on June 12, they asked me to provide references, which I did right away. I informed my references to expect a call or email from the HR team. On June 17, I was notified that HR had reached out to my references to schedule a time for a call. I followed up with my references on June 18 to ensure they received the communication, and both confirmed they did. One of my references mentioned they provided their availability for this week (June 22-26), but the other didn't confirm if they responded. I'm feeling a bit anxious that they might have overlooked the email and not followed up. I haven't heard anything from either my references or HR since then. I'm wondering when would be a good time to check in with my references to make sure they completed the reference check, as I'm worried they might forget. I also want to know who I should contact about this—my references directly or HR? I don't want to seem like I'm micromanaging my references, but I also don't want to annoy HR. I'm a recent graduate, so I'm feeling a bit out of my depth here.

I recently went through an interview process for a role that I was really excited about. The company reached out to me via LinkedIn, and I made it all the way to the final rounds. However, I was left feeling confused about the outcome. It seemed odd to me that they would hire externally when they had internal candidates available, especially since one of the final candidates was a former employee who had left the company. It made me wonder why they would go through the trouble of interviewing me if they already had someone in mind who was familiar with the company culture and role. I guess it's just part of the job search process, and I'll have to keep looking for the right opportunity.

I recently received a job offer that I'm starting to think might be a scam. An email came through from someone named William Anderson, claiming to be with The Guardian, for an editorial assistant position. Instead of the typical interview process, he sent me a PDF with questions to answer at my convenience. This struck me as odd since I’ve never encountered a job application like this before. What raised my suspicions even more was the pay he mentioned. He offered $20 to $30 an hour, which translates to less than $62,000 a year. That just doesn’t seem right to me. I’m reaching out to see if anyone else has had a similar experience or if they have any advice on how to proceed. Should I respond, or is this a red flag?

I'm currently weighing two job offers and could really use some advice. I've received an offer from Job 1, which has similar hours to my current position, but I was hoping for a better work-life balance. I'm still waiting on an offer from Job 2, so I don't have all the details on compensation yet, but I know that both positions offer a better salary than what I'm currently making. Job 2's salary is slightly higher than Job 1's. Remote or hybrid work isn't a major factor for me, but I thought I should mention it just in case. This is my first time reaching out for advice like this, so if there's a better place to post, please let me know!

I'm currently exploring job opportunities since I've completed two years toward my degree but haven't graduated yet. I'm particularly interested in ESL international teaching jobs, as I've found that only a couple of countries accept candidates with this level of education. I'm seeking advice or suggestions for jobs that are open to individuals who haven't finished or have dropped out of college, whether in the USA or abroad. One helpful suggestion I received was to look into AmeriCorps or Peace Corps opportunities, which provide a living stipend and a small allowance, along with a scholarship of about $7,000 to $10,000 for further education upon completion.

I just received a job offer in the public administration field, which is exciting, but I have mixed feelings about it. The role doesn’t require a degree, it's located in a less than ideal area, and it involves legal work that I’m uncertain about. The pay isn’t great either. After applying to hundreds of jobs over the past six months, I felt compelled to accept the offer, especially since it’s been so challenging to find work. However, I’m also in the running for a position that aligns more with my passions, offers better pay, and is in a more desirable location. The company that offered me the job has expressed concerns about hiring a recent graduate like me, fearing I might leave for a better opportunity. Honestly, I’m worried that if I do get the other job, I might end up leaving this one shortly after starting. I know I should prioritize my career and well-being, but I feel conflicted about the situation. I’m hoping for better timing with the other opportunity.

I received a callback from a company I met at a career fair back in February. After a decent interview in March, I didn't hear back until the end of April. They requested additional information for my application for the University Check-In position, which I provided through their website. Since then, I haven’t received any further communication, and my application status still says 'under consideration.' As a new graduate navigating the job market, I'm feeling a bit lost and confused about this process. Is this typical? I’ve been continuing my job search in the meantime.