Thinking

I just found out that the warehouse I've been working at for the past 16 years is closing down. The company announced that the plant will shut its doors at the end of September 30, 2024, affecting all shifts. Honestly, I thought I would be there until retirement, so this news has really shaken me. I've been looking for other job opportunities on and off, but I feel pretty freaked out about the whole situation. The only reason I haven't left yet is because of my benefits package, but the work environment has become increasingly difficult. Last week, for instance, I only managed to get 20 hours of work because there wasn't enough light work available. It's a tough spot to be in.

I recently lost my job at a gaming company after 12 years of working there, where I specialized in harnessing casino machines from bare cabinets to fully operational units. My role involved slot repairs, restoring old machines, delivering them, and setting up casinos, giving me extensive experience with various manufacturers like Summits, U1s, Trestle, and Epic. Now, living in Montana, I'm struggling to find new job opportunities and feel like I wasted my time at my previous company. I do have some forklift experience, but it's limited. I'm feeling lost and unsure about what roles to apply for or how to leverage my skills in a new position. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I have decided to resign from my current position, and it was a mutual decision with my employer. They have agreed to let me stay on for a short period while I search for a new job. I want to draft a resignation letter that clearly states this arrangement, as I plan to leave by the end of the month but still need the income during my job search. I'm looking for advice on how to phrase this in my letter.

I was laid off 2.5 months ago from a leadership position at a company where I envisioned building my career. Since then, I've been tirelessly searching for new opportunities, applying to around 200 positions with customized resumes, cover letters, and portfolios. I've dedicated countless hours to networking and developing relationships, hoping for referrals with every outreach. So far, I've gone through nearly 100 interviews, repeating the same questions, and some companies have put me through over a dozen interviews before ultimately rejecting me. Currently, I'm in the 'final stage' with a couple of companies that I've been engaging with throughout this entire process. However, I feel completely exhausted. My anxiety has escalated to a point where I can't even take a deep breath. My heart races, my palms are sweaty, and my hands tremble constantly. This anxiety isn't just tied to interviews or applications; it's a persistent state I find myself in every day. I feel somewhat ridiculous for how my body is reacting, especially since I'm doing well in terms of interviews and opportunities. Yet, this job search is wreaking havoc on my nervous system, and I'm worried that if I don't secure a position soon, my ability to present myself effectively will start to decline. I've never faced a situation like this before. It feels like the ground has been pulled out from under me, and the reality of my circumstances is beginning to sink in.

I've been struggling with interview preparation lately, feeling torn between two extremes that are both sabotaging my chances. On one hand, I dive deep into preparation, spending days stressing over every detail and scripting out answers. This has led me to the point of skipping meals, and when I inevitably forget a line during the interview, I completely freeze and it all falls apart. On the other hand, I try to wing it to sound more natural, but without enough prep, I lose my train of thought and end up rambling, filled with 'ums' and 'likes.' I'm searching for that sweet spot between being overly robotic and a disorganized mess. I'm curious how others prepare without memorizing every word. Do you focus on high-level bullet points instead? Also, any tips on managing the stress and avoiding the meal-skipping would be greatly appreciated!

I recently found myself in a tough situation with my job security at my current company in Saudi Arabia, where I work with Oracle Fusion. I've been actively applying for new roles but haven't had any luck so far. This is my first time reaching out for advice, and I'm wondering if my CV might be the problem. I would really appreciate any feedback on it. I've heard some suggestions that I might have too many positions listed, as I've only been in my second role since 2019. Some people advised me to remove internships and my current role from the CV. I’m also considering reaching out to former colleagues for references instead of just managers. I’m feeling a bit lost and could really use some guidance on how to improve my chances in this job market.

I am currently 38 weeks pregnant and trying to navigate my unemployment claim. I've been collecting unemployment benefits since April, but I'm aware that I won't be able to continue once I give birth until my doctor clears me. I have a few questions for anyone who has been in a similar situation. First, is there a specific waiting period before my payments can resume after giving birth, or is it just based on when my doctor says I can return to work? Second, should I keep filling out my weekly claims and just select 'no' when asked if I'm physically able to work? If I do need to continue filing weekly claims, do I still have to apply for jobs and meet work requirements even though I won't be able to work and won't be getting paid? If I shouldn't be submitting weekly claims, do I need to call someone to notify them? Will my claim go inactive, and if so, what is the process to reactivate it? I appreciate any advice or experiences you can share!

Today, I took a step to negotiate my severance package after my position as an Internal Auditor was eliminated. I joined the company as an intern and transitioned to a full-time role in August 2025. Unfortunately, my layoff was due to my position being cut, not because of any performance issues. I was offered 4 weeks of severance at my regular pay, along with some benefits outlined in the separation agreement. Given my recent home purchase and relocation, the timing of this layoff is particularly challenging for me. I had not expected to be looking for a new job so soon in my career. I'm considering asking HR if they would be willing to increase my severance from 4 weeks to 6 or even 8 weeks. Additionally, I had personally paid $310 for the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certification registration and had been preparing for Part 1. Since my employment is ending before I can take the exam, I'm thinking about requesting reimbursement for that fee as part of my separation package. I drafted a professional email to HR, where I plan to express my appreciation for the time I spent at the company and simply ask if they would reconsider my severance package to include the increase and the CIA reimbursement. I’m feeling a bit uncertain about whether asking for 6 weeks is reasonable or if I should just accept the 4 weeks. I’m also curious if it’s common to negotiate severance packages in situations like mine. I’ve read mixed opinions on the matter, and I hope to gain some insight from others who have been through similar experiences.

I recently accepted a new job after being laid off, but I'm finding the fast pace overwhelming. With 7 years of experience as a developer, I was eager to leave my previous role, which was filled with rude staff and high pressure. I turned down higher-paying offers because I wanted to avoid that kind of stress and thought I found a more relaxed position. However, it turns out that my current team has incredibly high expectations for delivery, and I'm not prepared for that kind of pace. I'm now considering interviewing again since there aren't any options to switch teams in this small setup. I'm struggling with how to determine if a company is genuinely chill before and during the interview process. Also, I'm unsure if I can communicate my concerns about the pace to my manager. Honestly, I'm so exhausted that I'm contemplating quitting tech altogether and possibly taking a break to work part-time in retail. Has anyone else faced a similar situation? On top of this, I'm worried about the security of my current role, as the future of the entire team seems uncertain, relying on nothing but hopes and AI.

I've been actively searching for a new role as an AI engineer, and I've noticed that the job market is quite challenging right now. One of the biggest bottlenecks I face is the overwhelming number of application forms. It feels like I'm constantly submitting applications into a 'black hole' with little to no feedback. The burnout from managing the volume of tasks is real, and it often feels like I'm juggling too many things at once. I find myself frustrated with the need to tailor my resume for each position and keeping track of all my submissions. The mental load of organizing everything is exhausting. I'm trying to refine my approach to make this process more manageable.

I recently received a job offer for an individual contributor consultant role at a reputable firm, which comes with a significant pay raise and is a step up from my current position. However, I'm struggling with feelings of imposter syndrome as the higher salary and level weigh heavily on my mind. My journey hasn't been easy; my first role in management consulting ended poorly after a year, culminating in a performance improvement plan (PIP) that I fully deserved. I was not performing well due to a combination of factors, including untreated ADHD and personal issues that contributed to my struggles as a consultant. For the past 1.5 years, I've been working in a much lower-stress industry role, where I've focused on upskilling and improving myself. I've earned multiple certifications and have become more technical, achieving tangible results that I take pride in. Despite these improvements, I'm now facing anxiety about whether I'm truly capable of succeeding in this new role. I'm worried that I might constantly reflect on my past experience and the PIP I received, which makes me question my readiness for this opportunity.

I recently came across a company called HighFiveTasks.com and felt compelled to share my experience and concerns. They are promoting a work-from-home opportunity that raises several red flags, which I believe indicate it could be a scam. Initially, they provided some equipment for free, but now they require you to pay for it upfront, with costs increasing from $9.99 to $24.99. Additionally, they charge a "platform access fee" to access any work, which is another warning sign. I received messages from a bot using my area code, which felt manipulative. The onboarding process is run by a single individual who conducts large group Zoom calls, and you only get paid if you earn at least $100 in a pay period—common practice among scams to keep you invested. Their website lacks transparency, with minimal contact information and no significant online presence. The testimonials I found were mostly from affiliates promoting the service. The work involves filming household tasks for AI training, which sounds appealing but is often a tactic used by illegitimate companies. I signed up for the onboarding session out of curiosity but chose not to attend. Despite notifying the bot that I wouldn’t be there, I received an email afterward demanding the platform access fee and headset purchase, contradicting their earlier warnings about missing the session. I discovered that I could easily sign up again for another onboarding session without any issues, which further confirmed my suspicions. Others have reported not receiving payouts after completing their required work, and inquiries about the company's legitimacy were met with dismissal. I wanted to raise awareness about this company as it seems to be gaining traction online, and I hope sharing my experience helps others avoid potential scams.

I was selected by Kaar Tech back in July/August 2025 as part of the 2026 batch, along with over 300 other students from various colleges. However, we are still waiting to be onboarded, and it feels like a nightmare. They came to our campuses to recruit top-tier students with high academic standards, but now it seems like they don't care about us at all. The offer letter was vague about the internship duration, and now it looks like it could stretch to 10-12 months instead of the 6 months that was initially stated in the job description. The pay is incredibly low too—just 5k for the first three months and 10k for the remaining period, despite them advertising a package of 6.5 to 8 LPA to attract candidates. Many of us are struggling with this uncertainty and it's affecting our mental health. It's frustrating to reach out to HR, only to be told that they are also waiting on management for updates. If they aren't part of management, how can they not know anything about the project pipeline? We feel trapped by the 'few months' promise that led us to believe we would be onboarded quickly. What we really need is a clear timeline. To my fellow candidates still waiting, I urge you to start looking for other opportunities.

I'm feeling really demotivated with my career as an iOS developer. I've been in this field since 2010, but with all the recent discussions about AI, I can't help but feel like my role is becoming obsolete. My company has informed me that I will be laid off in the next few days, which has left me feeling desperate, especially with bills piling up. I've tried to adapt by using AI tools at work, but it wasn't enough to save my job. I even started a personal project, but it only got 30 downloads, which is disheartening. I'm considering whether I should pivot and start studying machine learning, but I'm unsure if that's the right move. Has anyone else experienced something similar? I'm looking for advice on how to navigate this tough situation.

I recently gave my two weeks' notice at my retail job, and things have taken a turn for the worse. My boss has been incredibly rude and sarcastic since I announced my departure. I'm starting to wonder if I should just leave today instead of sticking it out for the full notice period. I'm not really concerned about getting a reference from this job in the future, but I've been here for quite a while, and I don't want to burn any bridges if I can avoid it. I've heard mixed opinions on whether leaving early could have any repercussions on my record or future job prospects. Some people say it won’t hurt my career if I don’t plan to use them as a reference, while others suggest I should remain professional and finish out my notice. I’m really torn on what to do, especially with my boss's behavior making the work environment so unpleasant.

I have been in my first job for the past five years, and I am feeling quite stuck. I'm looking to switch jobs but find it challenging to navigate the process. I'm wondering if anyone else is facing a similar situation or if anyone would like to join me in this job-switching challenge. I could really use some support and tips from others who are also trying to make a change.

I recently applied for a new position within my current company and was initially excited when the hiring supervisor mentioned that it would pay more than my current salary. However, the next day, he informed me that HR had decided I would keep my current pay for the first 90 days, with any increase dependent on my performance. This situation feels really odd to me, and I can't shake the feeling that I'm being singled out because I'm autistic. I've talked to other supervisors and coworkers, and none of them have experienced anything like this before. I'm now left wondering if this is legal and how I should approach HR with my concerns. I'm considering my options and whether I should accept this role without knowing the base pay.

I was laid off from my job in mid-June and just started receiving my unemployment benefits last week. My previous employer provided me with severance pay before I applied for benefits, and I included that information in my application. However, I recently received an unexpected payment of $560 for accrued PTO, which I only found out about last week. I believe I need to report this amount in my weekly certification, and I think the 'vacation pay' option is the most accurate choice for this. But when I try to save the earnings verification page after entering the information, I get an error message that says 'no record found' instead of seeing the earnings info I just entered. I'm planning to call the unemployment office tomorrow, but I've heard it's really hard to get through to someone. I'm looking for advice on how to resolve this issue on my own before I make the call.

I was laid off just 5 days ago due to a reduction in force after working for a year as a Software Engineer. Currently, I'm facing a tough decision: I signed a lease to live in Atlanta before I found out about the layoff, but now I'm considering moving back in with my parents. They are relocating to a very remote area, which I really don't want to do because it could negatively impact my mental health. I've calculated that I can afford to live in Atlanta for about 15 months using my emergency savings, and I also received a few weeks of severance pay. I’ve started applying for jobs and reaching out to former employers, but with the current job market, my optimism is low. Additionally, I'm set to start my master's program this fall while I continue my job search. I know that financially, moving in with my parents might be the smarter choice, but I’m weighing the pros and cons carefully. Living in Atlanta could potentially help my job applications and allow me to be closer to my partner, with whom I was hoping to end long-distance living. I just want to make a level-headed decision during this challenging time.

I have been unemployed for over a year now, and it's been a tough journey. I’ve been actively searching for jobs, applying to anything that seems within my skill set, but I often feel like I'm just spinning my wheels. I get ghosted by employers, or I hear that they chose someone else, even though I have a lot of experience and have updated my resume. I’m 41 years old and have been working since my teens, yet I feel invisible in this job market. I've even tried gig jobs and ambassadorships, but those haven’t panned out either. It’s disheartening to hear stories of others who have sent out thousands of applications and still find themselves in the same boat. Sometimes I wonder if companies are even hiring at all. I’m trying to stay hopeful, but the weight of this burden is really getting to me.